2 Goals Are Better Than 1
It’s hard to succeed at anything without a clear goal.
Confusion of goals and perfection of means seems, in my opinion, to characterize our age. Albert Einstein
I think Albert Einstein is right. We must have clear goals and we must have defined values about how we will achieve them.
It’s hard to just set one goal; setting two is easier.
When you establish both a quantified goal and a behavioral goal at the same time, they work hand in hand to propel you forward.
For example
I want to get 100 people to an Art Show (quantified goal). A behavioral goal might be to make 5 calls to invite people each day.
This is how it works
The behavioral goal outlines the way he will reach the quantifiable goal. Alone, the quantifiable objective might be overwhelming; but the behavioral goal breaks it down into manageable activities.
Every minute you spend in your life is either spent bringing you closer to your goals or moving you away from your goals. Bo Bennett
Of course, as you work toward your goal, don’t neglect to set aside time on a regular basis to evaluate your progress. Done this way, the goal-setting formula looks much like directions for a trip: You set a destination, chart a way there, evaluate progress along the way, and repeat as needed.
Don’t be a time manager, be a priority manager. Cut your major goals into bite-sized pieces. Each small priority or requirement on the way to ultimate goal becomes a mini goal in itself. Denis Waitley
Roadmap
- Quantified Goal
- Behavioral Goal
- Evaluate Progress
A winner is someone who recognizes his God-given talents, works his tail off to develop them into skills, and uses these skills to accomplish his goals. Larry Bird
Question
What is your Goal setting approach?
I like this idea. Andy Stanley says, “Direction, not intention, determines destination.” In my classroom I teach kids to set goals but then make sure their daily choices match those goals. The idea of two kinds of goals makes sense and might even be a more effective way of presenting this to my 8th graders.
The other idea in this article that I like is managing priorities. I’ve long struggled with the term “time management” and had tried changing it to “life management” but I am really beginning to embrace “priority management” as the most descriptive term for what I’m looking for in my own life and to help my students. It’s all about establishing priorities and then living our lives in a way that supports those priorities.