It’s a time of year when many set goals and go out, pursuing and achieving them.
It’s also a time of year when New Year’s resolutions are declared with the best of intentions with many falling by the wayside as quickly as they have been said.
You will know what group you fall into. I know mine.
The difference I believe between both camps is two-fold,
Firstly, get clarity on what you want to achieve, and secondly, take action.
It’s those people who have clarity in the direction who know where they want to go and how to take action that manufacture change who succeed the quickest.
I’ve been setting and achieving goals since 2003 and have thoroughly enjoyed the process.
Without bumming about myself I’ve:
- Competed in 4 different sports.
- Completed half Marathons in Glasgow, the London Marathon and the 56 mile cross country 24 hr Cateran Yomp challenge.
- Built 2 successful coaching companies.
- Won awards for business and being a motivational speaker.
- I take my family on holidays every few months, although we’ve stayed local during 2020-22 due to Covid, but we’re looking forward to getting back out there in 2023.
I’ll stop there because I’m sure you get the gist that all of the above achievements were originally goals that I thought about and then went about achieving.
When I am setting my goals I have a system that works best for me I’ll outline it below.
Step one I ask myself some quality questions…
1- What do I want to achieve?
Then my next question is…
2- How will this enhance or add value to my life or career? This is where I go into deep detail.
3- Who do I know who has achieved this or can help me with the goal?(the answer to this question usually means I invest in a coaching program)
4- How long ‘realistically’ will this take me to achieve?
5- Have I tried to achieve this before and what did I learn from my past attempts?
6- What if anything stands in my way or will stop me from achieving the goal?
7- Lastly I future pace the completion of my goal and I list the emotions I will feel once it’s achieved. (this list is between 5 and 10 emotions )
Once I have set my overall goals then I break them down into micro goals and set them into my daily tasks and actions.
Either the night before or first thing that morning I set the 3 intentions I aim to achieve for that day and I set about achieving them.
On most days I will have way more than 3 things to achieve but that’s not the point. The point is to keep the task list small on purpose so everything else achieved goes onto the bonus list.
I’ve sat with to-do lists in the past that just keep getting longer and longer and I feel it’s a fast way to distraction or procrastinating, so now I set my intentions that allow for some flexibility in case of fastballs or emergencies. So the daily 3 task rule works best for me.
At the end of each week, on a Sunday, I review my performance by completing my journal then after each quarter and at the end of the year, I review my journals and I remember all the small, medium, and big wins I’ve enjoyed, the magic moments I’ve loved and any major challenges I’ve faced or been overwhelmed with.
This might look or feel like a long and time-consuming task. It takes an hour or so to begin with then 15 – 20 mins each. For me, it’s time well invested.
“I’d rather be a meaningful specific than a wandering generality” – Zig Ziglar
I really do wish that 2022 gives you everything that you desire and that you achieve all you intend to.
If I can help you with your goal setting or achieving them, then please let me know!
“Strength For Life”
Davie
Davie McConnachie
Davie McConnachie is Scotland’s leading health and wellness coach, multi-award-winning gym owner, motivational speaker and the founder of DMC Fitness, a fitness education facility known as the premier choice for 1-2-1 personal training. He has inspired thousands of people to fall in love with fitness – his true purpose and mission in life.
Diving into the world of fitness and wellness has helped Davie to deal with his own trauma and inner demons. He, overcame many dark times using his own unique methods to continue his cycle of healing.