Here we are - the last Guiding Star Exercise. Today you will choose specific goals that you want to focus on for the next 12 months. Not your best friend, not your partner, not me. You. Your life. Your focuse. Our previous exercises led to the Why and the How. Today's exercise leads to the What.
This exercise motivates and excites me. It also requires me to stay committed and to do the work all year long. While I could just write these goals down and walk away, I don't. More on that later. For now, let's exercise.
Materials: For this exercise, you will need something to write on or in. A journal, a computer, or scratch paper - doesn't matter.
Time: Start with 20 minutes, but give yourself the gift of more time. Spread it out over a few days. Stay as joyful and engaged as possible. If this becomes heavy, walk away and return later.
- List anything you would like to accomplish in the next 12 months. Anything. Don't edit. Be attentive to all parts of your life - professional, personal, family and just because.
- Assign each goal A, B or C. A is for priority goals, B is for important goals and C is for goals that could wait.
- Review your rankings. Have you included a mix of personal and career goals? Are you excited by all of the goals?
- Choose 5-10 goals that will be your 2019 goals. Your instincts will tell you when you have the right number.
Very Important Pro Tip: Choose active, positive words.
Another Extremely Important Pro Tip: To help you stay focused, be specific. Here's an example:
Tonya wants to lose weight. She starts with the goal of lose 10 pounds. She has failed at this goal for years, but knows it is important. She rephrases the goal as attend one exercise class every week for three months. The specificity of this goal (one class per week for three months) feels doable to Tonya. It's also realistic - even though Tonya works fulltime and cares for her father on the weekends, she already has an exercise class she enjoys in her schedule. In addition, maintaining a specific commitment for a realistic amount of time (three months) will help Tonya create a habit. Finally, unlike the abstract lose 10 pounds of the original goal, Tonya has more control over achieving this goal. That feels good to Tonya. No, wait - that feels exciting to Tonya!
Tomorrow, we put it all together.
Feeling stuck? Starting January 1, 2019, one-on-one assistance is available at the discounted rate of $30/hour. This offer expires on February 7, 2019. (Click here to schedule a session).
