I attended a leadership summit that a friend invited me to.
I had no idea what to expect, but I walked away with the perfect solution for setting and accomplishing goals.
It was a live event in Atlanta, GA, but streamed to our location (a great way to include a much larger number of people at a lower cost).
I quickly realized that this would be great for me as a small business owner and was an intelligent use of my time.
I took away two action items from the seminar.
After two days, that’s it?
Just two items? (OK, I did get some free snacks out of it, which rocked).
If you can take even small items and make them consistent in your life, they can have a significant impact.
(look at how rocks can become smooth stones from consistent water over long periods!)
And I am utilizing these two items – every day.
OK, so what are they?
The 1st is a daily devotion — thanking – preparing for the big day ahead, getting ready to serve others, and taking on the world while smiling.
I’ve read this positive message every morning since spending those two days at the seminar.
The 2nd thing I turned into action was something that the speaker said.
“When I look at what I’ve got to get done, it’s overwhelming,
so I break down my future goals and projects into 6 week goals.
6 weeks is the perfect horizon for large goals but still making them attainable.”
Using this timeframe is an excellent idea for goal setting.
I went home and scribbled on a notecard – 6 weeks and 6 goals.
I posted them on the wall in my office closet directly before me. [I highly recommend putting your goals where you can see them daily.]
Now, I have to admit I had set goals plenty of times.
After a week or so, I felt like I would forget them – some I would get done, others not.
But this time was different.
And after the first 6 weeks, I was ready to set the next 6 weeks and renew my vision.
I also altered his plans slightly and made it my own.
Every six weeks, I set 6 specific tasks.
I also don’t necessarily limit myself to projects; lately, I’ve also been including habits I want to create (patterns I want to break!)
This new process has helped me to Get Sh*t Done.
Surprisingly, I’ve been very accountable, even though it’s been to myself.
I have 1 or 2 others asking me how my goals are going.
Accountability.
This is key.
[ the main interest being my goal of not snoozing my alarm before getting up – as of this writing, I’m almost two weeks in and awaking on the first go of the alarm – of course, cold water in my face is required – but I’m super pleased with myself! ]
Now, I’ll be sharing these goals with you.
And I’ll be accountable to you.
I want you to be setting goals, too.
And I’ll also be cheering for you in return.
Set the goals.
Post the goals and habits that you want to create.
And take action and do them.
On a side note, this reminds me of an incredible book on taking action I’ve read multiple times called Eat That Frog (aff link).
You’ve got my support!
And don’t forget, I’m someone who has ‘tried’ this many times but with not much success.
What’s different now?
I haven’t figured it out yet, but I’m staying accountable.
And it gets better!
When my 6 weeks were up, and it was a habit that I wanted to develop, that habit has stuck!
In my last 6 weeks, I wanted to spend each morning in quiet time reflecting on creation and my Creator.
I did this for 6 weeks.
And now, without snoozing so far in my current 6 weeks, the first thing I’ve been doing is spending solo Creator time.
Was this on my new list?
No!
The only plausible explanation is that I’ve created a solid habit for this.
Get ready for my future lists! (I’m keeping a running list for potentials now).
Checking Facebook only once per day and flossing every day are two new habits that I potentially hope to develop, along with memorizing a poem that I’ve always wanted to learn – more on that later.
So grab your notecard.
Write ‘6 Goals in 6 Weeks’ at the top and include the dates.
Write down 6 items you’d like to do: projects, goals, whatever.
Are you going to get them all done?
It’s the same exponential effect I had from taking away only two items from an entire 2-day seminar.
It’s done even if you accomplished 2 out of 6 or can develop a long-term habit.
You can move on to the next and build on your exponential growth.
Success tends to happen slowly — and then all at once.
We often overestimate what we can accomplish in a year but grossly underestimate what we can get done in 5 years.
This is a significant part of my thinking about the compound effect and getting 1% better daily.
I can’t wait to grow with you!
What items do you want to rock in the next 6 weeks?
What goals? Aspirations? Habits? Projects? Tasks?
Join our private group below and share them with all of us; that’s a solid first step at being accountable to them!
