Published on Thursday, December 21, 2020
We clinked our glasses. It was over. The event had been a huge success.
The surface is the least important.
After months of hardwork, the founder finally got to relax after I gave the closing keynote.
We discussed the future. He talked about his plans to host a larger and better event in the next year. He also spoke of the revenue goals he had set for both our businesses and the hiring spree that he had undertaken to triple the size of his team within four months.
He knew what would happen exactly and when. Goals for business on point.
After an hour I became curious and changed the subject:
What about your life outside of work? “Are there any big goals for the family in this year?” I asked.
He said “Oh, I know” after a quick sip of his third old-fashioned. Just to make sure that we are all healthy and happy.”
I raised my glass and nodded my head.
Clink.
We talked about random topics for the rest of the evening, and then said goodbye at midnight. The next day, he had to debrief his team and I had to catch a flight.
As I was getting ready to go to bed, I could not help but think of his answer and how ironic that it was.
I knew that he was not the healthiest person. He ate poorly and slept badly. The situation at home was not much better. His family members knew that his wife and he were struggling, and he only had time to spend with his son when he was able.
This is unfortunately not an unusual story in the worlds of entrepreneurship. We are so focused on the goals of our business that we neglect other aspects of our life.
When asked about their personal lives, we give a vague answer, similar to, “I’ll get to it eventually, someday.”
This is not the way it should be.
After I fell into the same trap in 2011, I decided to never again let my business be the center of my life.
The business is a part of a larger whole. Each part is equally as important and deserves time and attention for real, specific and measurable goals.
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The 6 Part Framework for Holistic Goal Setting
Inspire by Michael Hyatt’s Best Year Ever Program, I created my own 6-step system that I follow every year to continually up-level my entire life, not just my business.
Michael’s program has been my go-to every year since its launch in 2012. It’s not available online anymore. Michael’s Full Focus Journal, which is a companion to Best Year Ever, coincides with its teachings. It’s wonderful.
It is not a complete adaptation, but a slight modification of his program. He deserves all the credit.
Here is the breakdown:
Part 1: What do you want?
Part 2: What Do You Want?
Part 3: Set your top 3 goals for 2024
Part 4: Next Steps
Part 5: What is the Trigger?
Part 6: Who will support you?
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Download our 2024 Goal Design Workshop Workbook to help you with this process. Please feel free to download this worksheet. Also, please consider joining the All-Access Pass for access to our courses, workshops and community.
Part 1: What do you want?
First, you need to look at your life in terms of more than just work. You should also consider other areas that are important to yourself.
You can include categories such as emotional, intellectual, physical and relational. Business, hobbies and financial can also be added.
What would you like to achieve in each of these categories?
You don’t need to specify a specific goal or one that must be accomplished within the next 12 months. You can also write more than one goal.
This exercise is designed to get you thinking about your goals. These things will affect your decisions later.
It’s fascinating to see that every year, when I perform this exercise, a lot of my goals have changed. It is important to do this exercise every year, because circumstances and our goals change.
Part 2: What Do You Want?
“Vision without Action is a Dream.” “Vision without action is a dream.”
– Japanese Proverb
You should know the WHY of each aspiration you listed in Part 1 for each category. The WHY is the driving force behind your motivation.
Why do you even bother doing anything if it has no purpose?
This exercise can motivate you if taking action becomes difficult or you encounter a roadblock.
Create your top 3 goals for 2024
Create 3 specific SMART Goals for the Year that support three of the above aspirations (from 3 different categories).
Why 3?
Now we want to focus our attention and get on with the rest of the exercises. Continue with the remaining exercises.
Convert each of your aspirations into a clearly-defined SMART habit or goal to work towards this year.
What is a smart goal?
The goal of a SMART goal should be:
S: Specific.
Be as clear as possible.
Example: I’ll go to the gym every day.
Example: I’ll go to the gym three days a week, and work out for at least 45 mins each time.
Bad example: Do not waste time in my office.
Excellent example: By Q2, 2024, I will reduce the number of meetings my employees attend to only twice a week.
M: Measurable.
It is impossible to improve and track what you cannot measure. Goal setting is not complete without tracking. It allows you to see your progress and make adjustments if necessary.
You should rework or reword your goal if you are not sure how to know if you are on the right track.
A: Attainable.
Your goals should be realistic and achievable. It can be tricky because you may want to make your goal easier in order to ensure that you will achieve it.
If you set your goals too high, however, you won’t achieve much or grow.
Common sense is the best guide.
It’s a great sport and I use it to keep active. However, I can’t realistically join an NBA team at my age, height and skill level. The gentlemen with whom I play can attest to this, lol.
R: Risky
The R in SMART stands for Relevant. This is important because you need to be sure that these goals are meaningful to you. This is to make sure that we do not just write down random goals that are irrelevant.
Risky does not mean dangerous or extremely consequential. The word risky is used to make sure you do not include goals that are too easy. You might not succeed.
Risk can make your goal more exciting and rewarding.
T: Time-Based
This system is only effective if you include a specific date or time with your goal. It can also help to create a deadline for today that will motivate you.
All goals should include a date, either a month or a specific date, to reach the goal.
Part 4: Next Steps
Simple but powerful.
Write down the next step for each goal or habit you have written down. What’s the next step you can take to reach your goals from where you are now?
As an example, my hobby goal is to compete in at least four kayak bass fishing competitions before the end of the calendar year. What’s my first step? Join the SoCal Kayak Fishing Club to register your name and add tournament dates to your calendar.
As soon as you start, momentum will begin.
Part 5: What is the trigger?
Write down the triggers that will help you achieve each goal or habit. This is an exercise in strategy to help you achieve your goals.
In James Clear’s Atomic Habits, he suggests that you remove as much friction from your morning routine as possible. Make it a habit to put your running clothes next to your bed the night before. You’ll find your running shoes waiting for you when you get up in the morning.
Steve Kamb, from Nerd Fitness, talked about a similar experience on his journey to learn the guitar. He didn’t just put his guitar in the corner, but he placed it on a stand between his kitchen and bedroom so that he could reach his guitar every day.
Maybe you can use a sticky-note next to your computer, or set an alarm in your phone. Life is busy. Create a trigger that will help you to make things happen.
Part 6: Who will support you?
Many people can relate to this one because they don’t know that there are people around them who will support and encourage us.
You can write down the name of someone you know who will be able to help you achieve your goals. You don’t have to be coached through the process, although they may do so if they are qualified. Instead, you should realize that there are others you can turn to for help when you need it.
You can ask a business colleague, someone from a community to which you belong, your spouse, co-worker or even a child. Tell them what you want to achieve and let them know that it’s something for which you are working. You can tell them that they will be able to help you if they just root for you. You’ll be amazed at how well it works.
They can help you in a number of ways. Sometimes, they will provide you with direct assistance. But, even just the fact that you are being held accountable by them can motivate you to take action.
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This article is meant to help you think about your goals in a new way, one that looks beyond your revenue and business goals. It’s about you as an individual. You have so many other aspects of your life which are equally important and deserve your attention.
Consider joining SPI All-Access Pass if you want to network with other entrepreneurs and get access to our business training courses and workshops. We’re leading the industry with community-driven courses.
Join hundreds of entrepreneurs in the same situation as you and with the same goals.
Best wishes and cheers to you! Let’s have an incredible 2024!
SmartPassiveIncome