The Push Bike Plan
Do you have a Push Bike Plan for setting your goals?
When I was a kid, I wanted a push bike really badly and asked Dad would he buy me one.
He refused, but said he would match me dollar for dollar through the pocket money I was earning. Dad gave me a list of the prices of different parts of the bike and suggested rather than waiting six to twelve months to save up the total amount, we select a bike that we could buy piece by piece.
For example, I would give Dad my $5.00 (it was actually pounds and shillings) then he would put in his $5.00. The next evening he would come home from work with the front wheel for my bike.
We agreed that it would take six months to build the bike and had a picture of it on the wall which we would colour in piece by piece as I bought the parts.
This continued until finally one day Dad came home with the seat. “Enjoy it son, you’ve earned it.” He said.
I felt fantastic. I was so proud of myself and my brand new bike.
Years later I found out that Dad had purchased the whole bike up front, took it to work and pulled it apart for me to purchase piece by piece.
What’s the Lesson?
I never knew it at the time, but that “push bike plan” taught me about the power of goal setting.
There is a real joy that comes from creating something directly linked to your own efforts. From setting the goal, committing to put the effort into achieving it and celebrating progress along the way.
“The joy of ownership comes from the joy of earnership.”
So how do we apply this to business?
- Set very clear goals with specific deadlines.
- Bring them to life with pictures or themes. I’ve seen quarterly themes work particularly well in business.
- Set very specific milestones – 30 days, 60 days, 90 days (3,6,9) that you must hit.
- Ritualise and celebrate the achievement of each milestone.
- Do your bit! Match your people 50:50 with your energy and support. Be one of the team!
- Celebrate your people along the way. Give them the recognition they deserve.
- Let them track their own progress and clearly link their efforts to the achievement of your team goals.
- Gain their commitment, not their compliance.
If you do all this and stick at it the pieces of your “push bike” will come together. You and your people will feel the exhilaration of knowing your efforts counted towards the achievement of your goal.
Cheers
Paul Mitchell
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I took the time last night to quietly read your “Beating the Depression” newsletter. Wow… Such a great piece and an important reminder of the power of optimism...Very timely, with so much “bad” news and negativity around the place...it’s hard not to get caught up in the doom and gloom.
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