It’s that time again, time for everyone around you to explain that all the previous years were statistical anomalies and that this is the year that they will become who they really were all along. Don’t get me wrong, having goals is a damn good thing. But you know what’s better than having goals? Actually achieving them. I feel like the reason that most people fail is due to the fact that they don’t really think about anything they said on New Years Eve once January is over with.
Everyone means well, almost no one on the planet doesn’t have some sort of ideal version of themselves they wish they were but the problem isn’t in the goal setting, it’s in the review and achievement.
I don’t believe in The Secret. The universe doesn’t vibrate things your way because you thought about them hard enough, but I’m willing to bet most subscribers to the secret manage to achieve more than the average person. The difference between them and most everyone else is that they actually create a physical reminder of what they want to get accomplished. Yes, surprisingly if you put a giant picture of what you want somewhere and stare at it everyday you might actually remember to take action towards getting it. Not hard to believe.
Maybe that picture of your dream house next to a topless picture of Ryan Gosling with your face crudely cut out and pasted over his will guilt you into not dropping $30 on pizza. Instead of wasting your time on serial killeresque arts and crafts, this year why not try something different.
Write down your goals then work backwards to figure out what action steps you’ll need to take to actually achieve them. Once you’ve done that make a plan that will have you there in six months, that way if you stumble you will have more than enough time to pick yourself back up. Use time based goals and make sure you put in at least 5-10 hours a week towards them. Take 60 seconds once a week to review your progress, put this on your calendar for the rest of the year so you don’t forget. I think you’ll be surprised at how much progress you’ll make. Plus next time you have company over you won’t have to awkwardly explain the Ryan Gosling cutout with your face on it.
You are a great writer.
Thanks for this Stepan. I really do appreciate it and it means a lot.
Maybe that picture of your dream house next to a topless picture of Ryan Gosling with your face crudely cut out and pasted over his will guilt you into not dropping $30 on pizza. <- my favorite line in the post, I need to do this only with a photo of Eva Longoria. good call