Are you an overachiever? Do you bite off more than you can chew? If you set goals that are impossible to achieve, it’s not going to help you much. Stretch a bit, yes. But don’t make a list that Superwoman couldn’t accomplish. If you realize that you’ve set goals too big to achieve, just come back and change the goals.
Okay, so I’m an overachiever. I started reading and being left at home alone to watch my brother when I was three years old. I got into the habit early. I was trained to push myself until I collapsed, and I did that for nearly thirty years, though I tempered it somewhat over the last decade. Something substantial changed recently, though.
A friend of mine taught me a question that changed my life. Whether or not it was a good change remains to be seen. It drained the Jenergizer Bunny’s battery pack, but it also means that now I treat myself gently instead of like a machine. Of course, that means I’m not getting as much done. I am hoping and praying that it balances out and good wins in the end.
Goals too big to achieve?
Yesterday, I saw my list of goals, and my eyes popped. Holy Hannah. It occurred to me that even if I didn’t have children (I do), even if I didn’t need to teach them (I do), and even if I had all day every day to devote to these goals (I don’t), I might not be able to accomplish all of the goals I set for the year. Now, if this list had just been examples of goals a person could set, it would be okay. I could say they were just examples, that I didn’t intend to reach all of them myself this year, but that would be a lie and anyone who has known me for very long would see through it!
Here’s the list I made in December:
I worship at home at least five days a week during 2015.
I earn $50,000 by December 31, 2015.
I publish six books by December 31, 2015.
I edit 12 books by December 31, 2015.
I get up at 4:00 a.m. local time, every day of this year.
I write 730,000 words by December 31, 2015.
I write every day and produce an average of 2,000 words a day.
I attend church at least twice a month during 2015.
I paint or do some other art or craft for an hour each week, for the enjoyment and relaxation (recreation), not the product.
I take one action toward cultivating my relationship with each of my family members daily, and one action toward cultivating each of 50 business relationships each month during 2015. This means setting up a contact management system of some kind, by January 5, 2015. ABC the list?
I exercise 260 times in 2015. This is an average of five days a week. A workout consists of one mile or 15 minutes of aerobic exercise or three minutes of anaerobic exercise.
I weigh 175 or am pronounced “in good shape” by my doctor by May 1, 2015. (A word about weight-loss goals: list your desired weight, not number of pounds you want to lose. Why? Because if you say, “I lose 20 pounds by May 1, 2015” then you may lose five pounds, gain them back, lose five pounds, gain them back…you will have lost a total of 20 pounds by that date, but it might be the same five pounds over and over! So it’s much better to state how much you will weigh in your goal. The human brain can be very tricky! Outsmart it.)
My hemoglobin A1C is 7 or lower, by March 1, 2015. This means checking my blood sugar three times a day and taking all of my insulin shots on time, and possibly decreasing carb or overall food intake.
I read for an hour a day every day during 2015. The only allowable exception is if I’m too ill to read that day. Too busy does not count. There is no such thing as too busy to feed the mind.
I read at least one book a week during 2015, take notes on it, and apply what I’ve learned.
I do what I say I will do, 95% of the time, by February 1, 2015. This means saying “no” much more.
I make 365 sales calls during 2015.
I make 1,300 acts of promotion during 2015. That is an average of twenty-five promotion actions per week.
I spend at least 15 minutes each day with each of my children.
I consciously and deliberately make decisions about my life by setting aside 15 minutes every morning to plan and make decisions. In this way, I cultivate good things and eliminate bad ones.
I attend some form of Mastermind group at least once a month during 2015.
I invest in my business and growth monthly (Platform University, Free Agent Academy, 48Days.net, AWeber, books, etc.).
I obtain a third P. A. C. E. client by January 31, 2015.
My passive income is at least $5,000 a month by November 1, 2015.
I own a Kitchen Aid or Hobart mixer by June 1, 2015.
I have an up-to-code kitchen sink by March 15, 2015.
I install our clothes-washing machine by March 15, 2015.
I have a working automatic dishwasher by May 15, 2015.
I give thanks to God every day for something or someone in my life.
I thank at least one person, daily, during 2015.
I teach my children the principles of success by sharing with them verbally and visually (they see my actions, which tell them more than my words ever could).
I give my husband attention daily and encourage him in his efforts, whatever they may be.
I invest in my children by ensuring that they are at or above grade level in core subjects by March 1, 2015.
I soak in a hottub or water spa by April 15, 2015. (I wrote hottub as one word, so my brain can’t interpret “hot tub” to mean a warmer-than-average bath. Oh, no, I mean the large, multi-person luxury container.)
Some of those have been met. Some of them will be met. Some of them will not.
This list is too long. It’s time to take an ax to it.
New list of goals
The ones in teal are the ones I’m on track for. For the other ones, I’ll need to step up my game or fail. I usually revisit goals in June, but this year I realized my list was far too ambitious, even for me, so I revisited it sooner. The new list has fewer and smaller goals.
I worship at home at least five days a week.
I earn $50,000 by December 31, 2015.
I publish two books by December 31, 2015.
I edit 12 books by December 31, 2015.
I get up at 4:00 a.m. local time, every day.
I write 200,000 words by December 31, 2015.
I attend church at least twice a month during 2015.
I paint or do some other art or craft for an hour each week, for the enjoyment and relaxation (recreation), not the product.
I exercise 260 times in 2015. This is an average of five days a week. A workout consists of one mile or 15 minutes of aerobic exercise or three minutes of anaerobic exercise.
My hemoglobin A1C is 7 or lower, by August 1, 2015.
I read for an hour a day every day during 2015. The only allowable exception is if I’m too ill to read that day. Too busy does not count. There is no such thing as too busy to feed the mind.
I read at least one book a week during 2015, take notes on it, and apply what I’ve learned.
I make at least 365 acts toward sales/marketing during 2015.
I spend at least 15 minutes each day with each of my children.
I consciously and deliberately make decisions about my life by setting aside 15 minutes every morning to plan and make decisions. In this way, I cultivate good things and eliminate bad ones.
I invest in my business and growth monthly (Platform University, Free Agent Academy, 48Days.net, AWeber, books, etc.).
My passive income is at least $1,000 a month by November 1, 2015.
I have an up-to-code kitchen sink by July 15, 2015.
I install our clothes-washing machine by May 15, 2015.
I give thanks to God every day for something or someone in my life.
I thank at least one person, daily, during 2015.
I give my husband attention daily and encourage him in his efforts, whatever they may be.
So, while it’s good to stretch to reach a goal, don’t set yourself up for failure. Feel free to take an ax to your list if there are too many goals on it or if you have made your goals too big to achieve.