Almost 15 years ago, I transitioned from being an office manager to being my own boss.
Still, to this day, I often get asked how I transitioned. Here’s my story.
In 2010 I decided it was time to make a change. My mind was overflowing with thoughts and dreams, but I felt overwhelmed and discouraged. I realized I needed a plan to transform these thoughts into action.
It all started with a simple audio program by Brian Tracy that made everything click for me. I had my moment of clarity, and I finally understood the power of writing down my goals.
So, I took action.
I wrote down my goals, but something felt off. My goals seemed scattered, and I wasn’t feeling the excitement I expected. Then, I discovered a game-changing tip
Write down your priorities before setting your goals.
This was a revelation for me. Without clear priorities, my goals were leading me away from what truly mattered.
For example, I wanted to work from home to spend more time with my son, Lane, but I also had goals that would have kept me busier than ever. But this tip allowed me to align my goals with my priorities, and that made all the difference.
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Step-By-Step Guide to Start Goal Setting
Here’s my step-by-step guide to goal setting that transformed my life in 2010. It’s fun and effective, so get ready to change your life!
Step 1: Grab Pen and Paper
Grab a pen and paper. Yes, I love my tech gadgets, but this exercise requires you to write things down manually. There’s something about writing it down on a piece of paper that makes it feel more real.
Step 2: Find a Quiet Space
Choose a quiet place where you won’t be interrupted. Focus is key. You really need to be FOCUSED while doing this exercise. So, if you have your family all around you screaming to do this or that for them, then it’s not a good time to do this. I suggest doing it before anyone wakes up or after everyone goes to bed.
Step 3: Write Your Priorities
Write down your top 3-5 priorities and OWN IT. Is it God, family, career, health? Knowing what comes first in your life is crucial for setting meaningful goals. You need to know what comes first in your life in order to know what type of life you want to create for yourself. Stick to this list, and don’t compromise.
Step 4: Set Your Goals
Write down 5-10 goals, categorized into long-term, medium-term, and short-term. Make them ambitious but realistic.
You will want to make them big goals, but you do want to make them realistic at the same time. I always tell my friends to reach for the stars but make sure it’s doable. Remember you hold the cards to your life and TODAY is the day you are going to start creating the perfect life that you want! You can do this.
Also, when you are writing out your goals, make sure you are writing them out as though you already accomplished them, and you read them out loud to yourself often!
Step 5: Plan Your Steps
For each goal, list 20 ways to achieve it. The first few ideas might come easily, but the last ones will be tougher. Push through—this step is vital.
Example:
goal one might be, “I am earning X amount of dollars”. Now, list 20 ways on how to accomplish this goal. Then repeat this for goal two, until you have made it to all of your goals.
Step 6: Review Regularly
Keep your goals top of mind. Review them daily and rewrite them weekly or monthly. This keeps you engaged and allows your goals to evolve as you do.
I also suggest writing your short-term or medium term goals along with your bigger ones. TRUST ME. Doing this without looking back at your last set of goals will help so much. It gets you thinking again, and also, you will be changing A LOT during this time, and your goals will change as you grow as a person through this exercise, so it’s important to sit down often and write them out all over again.
Step 7: Share Your Goals
Tell someone who will hold you accountable. I always encourage my team to share their goals with me so I can support them. Avoid negative people who might discourage you.
And that’s it! Writing down your goals will take a minute to get used to, but before you know it, it will be like second nature to you!
What Is a Good Goal-Setting Journal To Start With?
I highly recommend getting a dedicated notebook and planner for your goals. My FAVORITE planner is obviously the Hyper Focus Journal. It’s just so good. The journal is to the point, easy to stick with, and actually keeps you focused to bring you closer to your goals.
It’s rewarding to look back and see your progress and how your goals evolve.
Final Thoughts
So there you have it — simple yet extremely effective tips to get you started with setting your goals.
Remember, this is YOUR life. You have the power to create the life of your dreams starting today. Take control and start living intentionally!
I hope you find these tips helpful. Please share this post with a friend you think will find it useful. Oh, and make sure to subscribe to my newsletter for more tips, tricks, recipes, and more!
