There are so many opinions flying around about goals right now. Should we be setting January goals? Are resolutions destined to fail? Which type is better? Having worked with thousands of people on their goals, I know one thing for sure - there's no one size fits all.
For some of my clients, those big, hairy, audacious goals are really motivating right now. They've had some reflective time and they're ready to release those goals into the world. For others, it's about creating some smart habits and systems. And for some, this isn't even a time to be setting goals at all. All of these are equally valid.
Let me break down the three key types of goals I keep seeing, and the mistakes and wins I've noticed with each:
Outcome Goals
These are your traditional goals - the really visible, measurable ones. Think getting a promotion, buying that dream house, or hitting specific income levels. Here's the thing - they're never entirely within our control. Yes, we can influence them, but there's always an element of luck or timing we can't marshal.
The biggest mistake I see? Trying to put a SMART sticker on them. Especially that 'time-bound' bit - it's basically the kiss of death to an outcome goal. We end up stifling the goal's opportunity to manifest according to its own timings.
What works better? (And I know I might lose some of you here...) These are perfect for manifestation work. I've seen it repeatedly - the quicker we let go of attachment, the more likely it arrives. I remember wanting to become an affiliate faculty member at London Business School. It was only when I thought "gosh, that doesn't feel so important anymore" that the invitation landed in my inbox two weeks later.
Fun Projects
These need multiple steps - they're not something you can tick off your to-do list in a day. I call them 'fun projects' because they should add richness to life. The mistake I see most? Starting too many at once. You end up with admin overhead for each one, making slower progress overall.
What I've found works is taking a slow productivity approach. Last year, I had a really long list of fun projects. I had no particular expectation about completing them all, but by approaching them slowly, I smashed through quite a lot at a rate that was much faster than expected.
Systems and Routines
This is the underpinning of everything else. I'm always on the lookout for good systems. Last year, I set up:
My Calendly to give me a day off each week
Automated monthly investing
Downloaded all our domestic tasks so we knew what needed to happen daily
Regular catch-ups with my husband on shared tasks
The funniest part? People often come to me saying "I want to do more LinkedIn" or "I want to read more." That word 'more' is so unspecific! We need to get really clear on what we mean.
Whatever approach you choose, I want this to feel easeful. Yes, we might be full of motivation right now, but in a few weeks when Blue Monday hits, we may just want to surrender into the wintering experience that is January. And that's perfectly okay.
To catch up on the full episode and find out more about the different types of goals, you can listen to the podcast at Apple Podcasts or Spotify
For the step by step process to setting up outcome goals for success, read here
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