Stolen from Stephen Covey: Alternative to goal setting in the new year.

6 replies
This is not an original idea from me but it may help to put a different perspective (and emphasis) on your efforts in 2012.

Normally when talking about goal setting on this site the focus is on $2per day, $1000 per month, $20000 per week etc. Sometimes someone will come up with an alternative such as pay your rent for this month, pay all your billls, gain financial freedom, etc.

I can see the benefits of goal setting this way, but it has one or two drawbacks. Firstly it describes the end result and not the process and secondly it describes a result which is not directly under your control.

Instead of goal setting this way how about setting goals that describe procedure rather than end result and are in your control. For example after spending significant time on he warrior forum I have decided to make a niche site business in 2012. So my goal is:

In January I will set up 20 niche sites...

The beauty of this goal is it is under my control completely, there is no pressure for the sites to perform, I just need to get them built. It is a 'lead' indicator that will lead to my (everyones?!) 'lag' goal of financial freedom.

All I have to do is focus on what I can do rather than have the worry of weather this will work.

Thoughts?
#alternative #covey #goal #goal setting #setting #stephen #stolen #year
  • Profile picture of the author Eddie Titan
    I don't think the problem revolves around making goals. I think the problem is: people do not take action on their goals.

    There is nothing wrong with setting a goal like: I want to make $1000 per month. You can have one big goal and then many small goals within a given day, week, or month, that will help you achieve the big goal you have set in the first place.
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  • Profile picture of the author JamieBright
    As far as I see it, it's much better to set goals on what you can do - if you can set up 20 sites in a month - fabulous - you can't always predict how much those sites will make.

    If you're going to set goals, which I totally agree with, make sure it's something tangible over which you have control. The benefits will be secondary to your efforts.

    Just my 2p!
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  • Profile picture of the author MikeTucker
    Originally Posted by Tim Jackson View Post

    This is not an original idea from me but it may help to put a different perspective (and emphasis) on your efforts in 2012.

    Normally when talking about goal setting on this site the focus is on $2per day, $1000 per month, $20000 per week etc. Sometimes someone will come up with an alternative such as pay your rent for this month, pay all your billls, gain financial freedom, etc.

    I can see the benefits of goal setting this way, but it has one or two drawbacks. Firstly it describes the end result and not the process and secondly it describes a result which is not directly under your control.

    Instead of goal setting this way how about setting goals that describe procedure rather than end result and are in your control. For example after spending significant time on he warrior forum I have decided to make a niche site business in 2012. So my goal is:

    In January I will set up 20 niche sites...

    The beauty of this goal is it is under my control completely, there is no pressure for the sites to perform, I just need to get them built. It is a 'lead' indicator that will lead to my (everyones?!) 'lag' goal of financial freedom.

    All I have to do is focus on what I can do rather than have the worry of weather this will work.

    Thoughts?


    I agree 100%. Focus on what you can control, and set reasonable goals.


    1. Write down your goal, aim high but keep it realistic. Only focus on things that you can control.

    2. Write down three ways you can accomplish your goal.

    3. Write down three things that can stop you from reaching your goals.

    4. Write down three ways to overcome each of those three things that can stop you from reaching your goals.

    5. Now that you have your complete goal written down, read it 25 times. Then read it everyday at least 3 times-- When you first wake-up before you do anything else. In the middle of the day when you are tired and feeling down. At the end of the day as the last thing you do before you go to sleep.



    Wish I could find old Bill... I owe him a lot of money for this one.
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    • Profile picture of the author dfs_dean
      I believe your goal setting should be a mixture of the process and the results. To set a goal to build 20 sites in a month may be within your control but could cause you to focus on simply getting 20 domains, installing Wordpress, adding some posts, and calling the goal met. There has to be a purpose to the goal. Why are you wanting to build 20 websites? Just to have the sites or to produce an income from them? How much income? It really does all tie together.

      Setting a goal along the lines of "building 20 quality niche websites that over time will provide an average of $200 per month per site" will require action to build the sites and it gives your goal some purpose. It will also require diligence and attention to quality content, keyword research, SEO, tweaks, and improvements so you're less likely to take shortcuts and try to fool yourself into thinking you met your goal.

      Anyway, that just my $0.02.

      Peace
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      Find something to enjoy about reality. It's not going to go away.
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  • Profile picture of the author hamzidosh
    I think I like this way of thinking about goal setting.
    I'd just find out exactly what process would get me to make how much I want and use that as my goal!
    Check this out;
    I will build 3 amazon product sites and create backlinks to them until they all get to page one of google SERPs! Each site will have 100 backlinks from 5 articles submitted to 10 directories before the 30th Day of January 2012
    and just so you know,...I've built em sites and written the articles already!!!...
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    For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. - Jeremiah 29:11

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  • Profile picture of the author Big Al
    I found that I'm better with Action based results (eg. write 2 pages per day or create 1 website per month) than income based.

    Personally I think it depends on how you are motivated - action or goal.
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