You have likely heard of the SMART (or S.M.A.R.T.) system of goal achievement based on setting goals which are specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely. While this is a very useful way of looking at goals, I believe it misses out on MANY other key factors that you will want to consider if you wish to achieve huge goals.
Over the next weeks, I will share with you a FOOLPROOF way to achieve any goal, based on a system that is well illustrated within my book Keep Any Promise: a blueprint for designing your future.
I will use the example of a HUGE goal I set, and share with you how I went about thinking through and achieving this audacious goal.
When thinking about the results or goals you want to achieve, start by focusing on those goals that have the most meaning to you. Think of those achievements from which you have the most to gain. You will discover a simple truth: our minds do not change their deeply-ingrained ways of thinking if we set small goals.
Here’s an example. Say you want to lose weight. If you set a small goal of five to ten pounds, you might make some progress but chances are you won’t make very much because your mind does not have to think differently.
Now supposing you had an audacious goal such as loosing forty pounds or more and keeping the weight off permanently? To accomplish this goal, your mind needs to engage on a different level. It knows that tinkering with food choices, exercise, etc., is not the answer. Something needs to change in a drastic way. Indeed, significant lifestyle changes are needed.
Keep in mind that no matter how large your goal, you will achieve results in small chunks. But the act of setting large, seemingly impossible goals spurs your mind to think differently. And thinking differently is key to achieving your goal, because after all, it’s your current thinking that has landed you where you are today!
My audacious goal was to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro, at 19,340 feet, one of the world’s seven peaks and Africa’s tallest mountain. In mid 2003, most people would have dismissed it as a pipe dream, given I could not walk to the end of my driveway. But I set this HUGE goal, and in the next few posts, I will share with you how I reached it.
What Is Your Most Important and Audacious Goal?
So now it’s your turn, pick a goal that is most important to you and simply write below. Where would you like to be in three years? REMEMBER: make this a huge, audacious goal, one that makes you gasp. The more uncomfortable and daunting it seems, the better.
You have begun your journey of goal achievement with the simple task of stating a huge goal, which I hope seems challenging to you. Stay tuned for the rest of the steps which will help you actually achieve those goals!
My Audacious Goal:
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