The concept of goals and targets can cause a sense of anxiety in some.

This is not intrinsic to goals but due to a misapplication of them. If your goals breed fear and paralysis, you are setting your initial goal too large.

Instead, deconstruct the larger monolithic goal into something more manageable and inspire progress forward.

When determining the direction you want to move in, you need three things: Vision, Goals, and Tasks.

Vision

A vision answers the question,

“What kind of person do I want to be?”

The purpose of a vision is to give you a direction to progress in.

For example, Apple’s vision is:

Bringing the best user experience to customers through innovative hardware, software, and services.

(We can debate on if they still live up to this vision later…)

What is your vision?

Who do you want to become?

How do you want others to see you?

Write it down.

Goals

“Bringing the best user experience to customers through innovative hardware, software, and services” is a great byline to have but how do they recognize when this has happened?

This is the purpose of the goal.

The goal is what the vision looks like in reality.

Apple's goals, for example, could be:

• Having a 95% user satisfaction score when poling 80% of their customers

• Including an innovative feature with each new release.

• Creating a seamless entry point for VR usage

Look at your vision to discover your goals

For example:

Vision: To become a wise, insightful person

Goals:

• Read 40 books

• Do morning routine daily

• Spend 30 min outside daily

When the goal is reached, you can confirm you are heading in the direction that realizes your vision.

What Goals will you need to accomplish to make your Vision a reality?

Tasks

Goals can be too big in size, scale, or complexity to complete in one fell swoop.

Tasks are the steps you take to reach your larger, overarching goal.

Breaking the larger goal down into manageable tasks makes doing the work more approachable. This lessens the sense of anxiety you can experience when facing a momentous goal.

It is easier to create the task of taking steps than it is to focus on the goal of climbing Everest.

You can break down a goal into as small of tasks as you wish.

The initial goal of reading 100 books in a year might be too daunting.

Break that goal into tasks:

• Find the first book you want to read

• Open the book

• Read 1 page

All of these tasks are valid because they move you toward your goal’s completion. 

What tasks do you need to complete to reach your goals?

TIP: DO THESE FIRST!

Life will always try to get in the way but the great thing is, it will always be there.

Even after you accomplish your tasks.

In Mastery,

Matthew

P.S. If you want more help during the year, I am hosting monthly accountability sessions!

Accountability groups have been instrumental in helping me achieve my goals

(I have been a part of the same group since 2018!)

Get help in support throughout the year and stay accountable for your process.

If you are interested, click here to sign up!