As I am writing this it is the 4th day of a New Year. I was browsing my news feed on Facebook and notice something interesting. Several friends were already posting their frustrations and rants about breaking their New Years’ Resolution. It has only been 4 days!
I think we often forget that changing habits is more than a one-time decision. I remember the first time I joined a gym. I joined in August and made a routine of going there everyday during lunch. I was shocked at what I saw on January 1st.
The gym was packed! All of the exercise equipment I was used to having the freedom to use I now had to wait for! A friend at the gym must have seen my frustration because he calmly replied, “Just give it a week.”
He was right. Within a week, everything was back to normal. The vast majority had already backed down on whatever commitment they made. My goal today is to share with you 4 common mistakes we make in setting or goals and share with you my personal goal setting workbook that helped me to be twice as productive as last year.
4 Goal Setting Mistakes We All Make [Podcast]
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1. We have not written down our goals
It is easy to underestimate the power of writing down our goals. It seems so simple. What makes it so powerful? For me writing down my goals is only the first step. It is an important first step. Once we write them down we must place them where we will see it often.
You could hang it on your refrigerator. Tape it to the bathroom mirror. Write it on a whiteboard in your home office. By not writing your goals down you are just give yourself an easy out. There is no commitment on your part if it isn’t written and visual somewhere. The goal setting workbook below helps you to write down your goals.
2. We have too many goals
Another mistake we can make is to have too many goals. I’ve seen this happen a lot. We get so frustrated with the lack of progress in our life that we set to conquer the world by going after too many goals at once. We keep it up for a day or two and then we give in. It’s just too much to handle at once. It is better for you to establish just a few goals in the key areas of your life.
3. We make our goals too big
I am all for having BHAG (Big, Hairy Audacious Goals) goals. However, we make a huge mistake if we do not break those goals down into smaller, more achievable outcomes. I like to break a big goal down into a 90 day goal. A smaller 90 day goal isn’t so scary. It doesn’t overwhelm us. Plus, until you put a deadline down on a goal it is just a dream. The workbook below walks you through the process I use to set and crush 90 day goals.
4. We are not specific with our goals
How specific are your goals? If you are not specific, then how do you really know if you have achieved it? Your goal should not be “get in shape.” That is not inspiring and not very specific. Instead shoot for something specific like: “Run a half marathon within the next 6 months.” Now, you can work backwards and decide all the little steps you need to do to accomplish it.
The Simple Life Habits’ Goal Crushing Workbook 2013
I put together a 12 page PDF workbook that you can download. It will walk you through the exact steps I took last year to double my online business and my productivity. The process is simple, but very powerful. I would challenge you to dedicate to this process for 90 days and see if your productivity doubles as well.
You can download the PDF workbook here: Simple Life Habits’ Goal Crushing Workbook 2013
How to Kickstart the Year
If you really want to get moving in this year, then consider taking a closer look at the Kickstart the Year Program. It was put together by some of the top experts and bloggers online.
