Goal Setting Tip 1 – Start With The End In Mind

Happy New Year! Did you know that nearly 91% of New Year’s resolutions fail? This year, let’s defy the odds. In this post, I’ll share the first of four transformative goal setting tips to help you succeed: start with the end in mind.

This approach ensures your efforts align with your long-term aspirations, both personally and professionally. By focusing on the bigger picture, you’ll avoid the trap of busy work and make meaningful progress towards the life and business you desire.

Transcription:

You will fail at your New Year’s resolutions this year. Happy New Year by the way. About 90%, 91% of New Year’s resolutions fail, so it’s highly probable that yours will too.

So, this week I’m sharing 4 tips to make sure that your resolutions and your goals for this year are set up for success. Today is tip number one and that is to start with the end in mind.

It can be far too tempting sometimes with your goals for the year to start thinking about right, what do I need to do this this week, what I need to do next week and I need to do some marketing, I need to hire that person, whatever it might be, and we start in the sort of, present tense, from where we are now.

The danger in that is sometimes the goals can be a bit sort of to do listed they’re not actually very exciting. I liken it to climbing a ladder. And when you’re on a rung of a ladder, very, very busy, very, very, you know, getting stuff done, very important you’re just focusing on the in the present day, on the rung that you’re on.

You might have some successes along the way, and you get up to the next rung of the ladder and then you’re very focused on that rung. And what can happen is that it’s only when you climb all the way to the top of the ladder over a long period of time that you realise you have the ladder up against the wrong wall all along and that can happen in in personal life, it can happen in your career and business life.

And so, if you want to set really effective goals, goals, goals that are set up for success, start with the end in mind. Figure out what the wall is to start with, figure out what you want from your personal life, figure out what you want from your career and your business life in three to five years from now that sort of time frame.

Only when you’ve spent time on getting really, really clear, really specific on some of those things that you want personally and career wise, only then do you work backwards so get set your goals for five years only then say right, well what do I need to achieve in three years from now and if that’s the case, what do I need to achieve in the next 12 months and if that’s the case, what do my absolute priorities need to be over the next quarter?

The whole point of that is that you just end up with three or so quarterly priorities rather than a list of 25 wonderful things you want to achieve. You’ve just got a list of three or so quarterly priorities. But you know that just by focusing on those three things, they are working towards your end of the year goals, you know that they are working towards your 3 three-year goals, you know they are working towards your five-year goals both personally and professionally.

So that’s my first of four tips this week to make sure you’re setting up resolutions and goals that are set up for success. Check out all four tips I’ll be sharing this week I’d love to hear how you’re getting on.

Key Takeaways

• Avoid the Trap of “To-Do List” Goals: Starting from your current situation often leads to uninspiring, short-sighted goals. Think beyond the immediate tasks to define goals that genuinely excite and motivate you.
• Visualise Your Ideal Future: Spend time imagining where you want to be in three to five years, both personally and professionally. This long-term vision serves as your guiding “wall” for the metaphorical ladder of success.
• Work Backwards from Your Vision: Once you’ve clarified your five-year goals, determine what milestones are necessary to achieve them. Break these down into three-year goals, annual goals, and quarterly priorities.
• Focus on Quarterly Priorities: Limit yourself to three high-impact priorities per quarter. This sharp focus ensures you’re always working towards your larger goals without becoming overwhelmed.
• Ensure Alignment Across All Timelines: Every action you take today should contribute to your quarterly, annual, and multi-year objectives. This ensures a cohesive strategy that drives meaningful results.

The Wrap Up

Setting goals that truly matter starts with envisioning your ultimate destination. By starting with the end in mind, you’ll gain clarity, focus, and the motivation needed to achieve your aspirations.

Ready to take your goal-setting to the next level? Book a free 45-minute coaching call today. Let’s discuss your challenges, dreams, and strategies to turn your vision into a thriving reality personally and professionally!