My Lucid Reality

Welcome to the third part of the goal management post where we’re taking project management principles and adding them to personal goal management to create a hybrid concept that makes achieving your desires within your grasp.  The first week we discussed the SMART method, how to choose a goal that’s specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and based on a real time schedule.  The second week we addressed distractions and risks that you may face, planning for these things, and finding a stakeholder who can stand by your side and support you stay in the right direction.

Let’s begin by breaking the task down into bite size pieces, this enables success, and gives you short term realistic goals that you can achieve. (Which will also help build confidence)  This is where the detail oriented ones out there really shine.  Each task consists of many subtasks, and some subtasks have other subtasks. 

For example, let’s look at completing a college diploma as the goal.  The end goal is to walk away with a degree, but to list that as the goal then wander around a college campus without direction is far less productive than to sit down with a counselor and figure out what sub-goals will get you to that destination.  For me the moment of realization was that taking drama classes wouldn’t help me a lot with a business degree. (Though this is open to argument)  With college the sub-goals were to complete each class that was required for the diploma, and a sub-goal for each course was to pass the tests and exams for that given week.  In the same way many of our goals can be broken into smaller pieces.  A popular weight loss program has realistic weekly goals, and as you obtain these goals you get closer to reaching your end goal.  Remember how to eat an elephant.  (one bite at a time)

Can you think of any other goals that are broken down into smaller goals?  Do you have any goals that you’ve been able to break down?

Next let’s take a moment to identify assets, these are the things, people, places, or activities that can help us achieve our goal.  For weight loss having access to an exercise bike or gym membership might be listed as an asset if it’s useable and close enough.  Having a friend who shares the same goal would be a valuable asset, anyone who supports you in your goal can be an asset, and you should be comfortable writing these things down.  One thing about your goal, a lack of assets may not make your goal unattainable, and shouldn’t be an excuse not to try for it, just take that into consideration when building a schedule.

One asset that comes to mind as I write, and continue to practice writing is my computer, without it, typing is just not as much fun.

Once the goal is broken down and your assets are listed you can develop a time table around each sub-goal.  Remember the importance of a complete list of tasks, more than one college diploma has been held back because of an omitted requirement.  As you build the schedule remember that underestimating the time or resources required may make you miss your schedule.  Build your schedule in order of tasks that need to be completed, one example that I like is cooking a turkey, the turkey needs to be thawed before it is cooked.  A popular example is getting ready to leave the house in the morning; generally if you plan on showering before you leave, you do not put on your clothes before you shower.  After making a list of tasks I like to highlight the “critical path” the tasks that absolutely must be accomplished in order to reach your final goal.

Report progress, as mentioned last week, finding a stakeholder is vital to the success of a long term or life changing goal, this task is directly related to that lucky individual.  Pick a regular time to report progress on your goal to someone who has an interest in seeing you achieve that end.

Chart your progress towards your goal as you go, keep a log, even a casual measurement of your progress can serve as proper motivation, or if you’re not making progress your stakeholder can work with you to figure out what’s slowing you down.  We mentioned that a goal that isn’t written down is just a wish; this is emphasized as you work towards your goal.  As with a bodybuilder you cannot chart progress towards a goal without knowing where you’re at now.  A couple of easy methods is a journal, a blog, or even easier, a calendar.  I once had a goal that involved blackening days on the calendar when I wouldn’t achieve my subtasks; it was an effective enough reminder to keep me in the right direction.

Finally, take action, achieving something, anything, is an admirable desire, it sets you apart from the average and makes you someone to be envied.  Don’t get discouraged, a saying I use in my own life is: “When you can’t run, walk, when you can’t walk, crawl; just keep moving.”  I also reference an obscure family motto that comes from a cartoon I watched while growing up.  “I must succeed!”  and you can.

Please let me know what you think about this goal management series, what do you find particularly value, do you have any specific methods I’ve left out? 

If you know someone who is working towards a specific goal, let them know if you think this will help.

Thank you.

Bibliography

Project Management Institute

Top Achievement

Goal Tracking Tools and Ideas

Establishing a Schedule