Let me start this off with a quick analogy:
For many of us, the Maps app has been the single greatest guide of our commuting lives.
It is especially useful in a new city, or when we find ourselves in a strange part of town fighting traffic to get to an important meeting with precious few minutes to spare. The Maps app provides direction -- a blueprint of the environment we find ourselves in -- to help us get to our destination while saving us time, energy and fuel.
Blueprints crop up in other aspects of our lives, too.
When that huge bonus comes in and we can finally put a down-payment on a new house, the first port of call is never a construction company for the bricks, or an interior designer for the décor, or a landscape artist for the lawn.
We go to an architect first to get a house plan -- a blueprint.
We don’t make a single housing-related purchase until we have a concrete blueprint to work with, just as we would never drive around aimlessly -- wasting time and fuel -- until we had the exact directions from our Maps app.
So why do we live our lives without a grand plan?
If I asked you what you’d be doing an hour from now, you probably have a rough idea. You likely also know what you’ll be doing a week from now (that doctor’s appointment), a month from now (that new project at work), and maybe even a year from now (a new job!).
But what will you be doing five years from now? What about ten? What will you be doing in your 60s after you’ve likely retired?
In short:
What is your life’s grand plan, and what values are important to you?
I ask this because so many of us want to achieve different things but don’t have a concrete plan on how to get there.
Health
We know, for example, that we want to be in better health; but we hardly make (and stick to) proper meal plans, exercise regimes, or set attainable weight goals.
Wealth
We want more money and less debt, but many of us don’t have a proper financial plan, monthly budget or even a financial advisor to help us chart a path to wealth (and out of debt).
Relationships
We want to be better friends and relatives to the people close to us, but we don’t know where to start. Should we go out more and meet new people? Should we put more effort into attending those family gatherings we sometimes try to avoid? Or should we set boundaries, shrink our social circles and focus on the few people we’ve already got?
Not having a plan for your life — a blueprint — is a sure-fire way to get nowhere fast.
or your life — a blueprint — is a sure-fire way to get nowhere fast.Just as you would be wasting fuel driving around a big city with no direction or destination, going about your life without a grand plan can cost you precious time, money and energy.
Without a proper diet plan, for instance, your mood, weight and health all suffer -- which eventually leads to higher medical bills.
Without a financial plan, reckless spending will see you struggling to survive on rainy days with no emergency funds saved up.
Without a blueprint for expanding and growing the relationships in your life, your social circle suffers and your professional life could be held back.
It is time for change.
Clearly, living without a blueprint is a tax on long-term happiness. Fortunately for you, there is a solution -- and that solution begins with you choosing to live your life purposely and with urgency.
It begins with you setting goals that motivate you -- big, hairy, audacious goals that speak to your life’s true purpose.
You’ve probably heard of S.M.A.R.T goals -- goals that are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time-bound. These are exactly the type of goals you should be setting. But you’ve probably never heard of the slightly improved version: the S.M.E.R.T.I.E goal:
Specific: readily understood by anyone who reads it
Measurable: able to measure the extent to which you complete the goal
Evidential: tangible evidence proving you have completed the goal
Responsible: the extent to which you accept responsibility for the consequences
Time-based: the specific time frame for completion
Inspirational: aligned with your values and beliefs
Emotional: the potential for emotional gain to help strengthen your conviction
But here’s a hint:
The ‘T’ in S.M.E.R.T.I.E is the key to achieving it all.
You see, instead of not having any goals, we sometimes set too many goals -- especially during a certain ritual called New Year’s Eve.
You’ve probably already set goals related to your health, wealth and/or relationships for the new year. But without a sense of urgency, those goals will inevitably fall by the wayside as life takes over and you fall back into familiar routines.
So how can you incorporate urgency into your life goals? Let’s look at some examples:
Health:
Instead of simply aiming to lose 5kg this year, aim to “lose 5kg over the next 3 months by cutting down on excess carbs and going for a run 3 times a week.”
See how much more specific that deadline is?
Finances:
Rather than simply aiming to get out of debt this year, aim to “eliminate NAD 7,000 worth of debt over the next 4 months by cutting down on fast food and paying off your outstanding accounts.”
Now that’s a truly S.M.A.R.T goal.
Career:
Instead of simply aiming to “earn more money” (who doesn’t?), aim to “make 10 more sales calls each week in order to beat your quarterly quota and apply for that raise and promotion -- by September.”
How’s that for targeted?
The Magic Formula
By now, you’ve probably spotted the magic formula for goal-setting:
Aim for [goal]
by completing [action 1, action 2,... ]
before [deadline]
in order to [benefit]
And there you have it. The secret formula to success.
By setting such big, hairy, audacious goals with very specific deadlines, you are creating a blueprint for your life that holds you fully accountable for your own success.
But there’s one more crucial step to help you get there:
Write down your goals.
That’s right; write them down in your diary, stick them on the wall or paste them on the fridge.
By writing down your goals, you make them REAL and VISIBLE.
You see, as humans, our motivation tends to wax and wane over time. You wouldn’t expect to shower only on Monday and remain clean throughout the week. You need to shower every day to maintain the same level of hygiene.
Similarly, having a burst of motivation and focus at the beginning of the year feels great, but it needs to be a daily affair.
By writing down your goals and values, you provide yourself a daily reminder of what you need to accomplish. Your blueprint remains visible at all times.
Having a blueprint brings about much needed clarity -- on what you want to achieve, how you are going to get it, and how long it will take you to get there.
And with clarity in your eyes, tenacity in your stride and determination in your heart, you can achieve even your wildest dreams.
But here’s the thing:
It definitely won’t be easy.
In fact, if you’ve been finding it hard to achieve your goals lately, you are not alone.
Over the past 25 years, I have talked to many, many individuals just like you -- intelligent people with big dreams and gigantic goals who struggle to find the time or the practical means to implement their life’s blueprint.
And in that time, here’s what I have learned:
Having a strong support system in your corner -- someone who is both your coach and your cheerleader -- can do wonders for morale and motivation.
Over the decades, I’ve come to specialize in helping people to:
craft their life’s blueprint
set S.M.E.R.T.I.E goals; and
achieve them in record time.
If you are looking for that special cocktail of practical planning, deep dedication and fiery motivation:
I have just the solution for you.
My coaching schedule has just two more slots open this year -- and by booking a session with me, we can work together on crafting your unique blueprint and bringing back direction into your life.
Visit my website to find out more about my coaching services -- or DM me here on LinkedIn for more information.
Now is your chance to make a big, impactful change in your life.
And I can’t wait to join you on your journey.
Talk soon,
Annastasia
