Beyond Goal Setting: Do you want to have a good year or a great year? [LEADERSHIP ARTICLE]

I know we are well into the year, yet I still thought you’d appreciate what I do to ensure I have the best year I can, every year.

1. Set Goals

Yes, first of all, I set goals.

They’re under areas such as (but not limited to):

• Personal Development
• Health
• Community
• Finances
• Travel and Fun
• Business
• Stretch Goals

Why? Because goal setting works. Here’s how I make sure they’re more than just words on a page.

2. Keeping Them Alive

1. I keep them typed up in the back of my diary (yes, I use an iPad but still use a large foolscap diary as well for my calendar) and constantly refer to them.
2. I write the key goals down on one 3×5 inch card which I keep in my wallet. I can then read my goals whenever I’m kept waiting. I see waiting time as a gift and don’t get frustrated. This is one of the many rituals around goal setting that will help you have a great year.
3. Another is cutting out pictures of places you’d like to go to, things you’d like to do, purchase, or be. I stick these pictures on the door of my wardrobe along with my written list of goals. Where could you place your visual reminders?
4. This way you’ll get the visual stimulation from the pictures and the auditory stimulation from reading your goals.

Does it work?

Absolutely. It’s amazing how setting goals triggers something in yourself and in the universe (yes, going a bit cosmic here) to rise up and support you in your achievements.

But this year I’ve gone beyond that and I’ll tell you why (and why you should too)

It’s so easy to set goals and then go about achieving them. All successful people do this in one form or another. But here’s the rub. What if you achieve these goals and the feeling of elation or whatever it is you’re seeking, quickly fades into oblivion. What’s the point?

For me, the point of achieving any goal is the way the achievement of that goal will make you FEEL. Either the gaining of pleasure or the releasing of pain.

So why not start with those feelings in the first place?

And that’s exactly what I’ve done this year. I’ve listed several “BEING” Resolutions for 2018. Emotions and behaviours I want to feel during the year.

3. Determine Who You Wish to BE

I’ve put them into 2 categories of BEING.

1. More of: 


• Productive
• Respectful
• Flowing
• Appreciative
• Inspiring

2. Less of:

• Controlling
• Know it all
• Smart Ass
• Judgemental
• Complaining

What would they be for you?

It’s crazy to think that a new car/dress/suit/guitar/trip will make you happy and if it does the feeling with rapidly fade. Why not be “happier” right now? You’ll find this state of BEING may just propel you toward your goals anyway.

4. Set at Least One Stretch Goal

Part of my goal setting process every year is to set a huge stretch goal for myself. Not just for what I’ll achieve but for who I’ll have to become to achieve it. To me, in many ways, that’s the real purpose of goal setting. Helping you become who you need to become. Helping you become the best version of yourself.

By all means, set your standard goals using your standard S.M.A.R.T. process. Hey, I won’t even spell it out. We all know it, we’ve all been there.

But here’s my advice: Set one DUM, not SMART goal every year. Yep, so DUM, you leave off the “b”.

For me, this year, it’s a shared goal with Deborah, my wife. It’s to do a property development which I have no idea of and have never done before. Property is a real shared passion of ours, we have renovated several, but never designed and built.

What’s your DUM goal going to be?

But how do you achieve such goals? Do you really know if you’ll ever get there? They are just potential possibilities, that’s all. Anything can get in the way:

“Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans”
John Lennon

So, if you can’t control your goals (the outcome), what can you control or at least have more influence on? Well, you can control the process.

Nick O’Hern in his book Tour Mentality: Inside the Mind of a Tour Pro, puts it very simply in regard to executing great golf shots:

“Stay in the present, commit to the process”

5. Commit to the Process and Rituals

So how do you commit to the process? By honouring…

The Power of Rituals

These are certain behaviours you do at set times, that if done consistently will help you achieve your goals.

Here are some goals of mine and the rituals I’ve put in place to help me achieve them.

What will your Rituals be this year?

This year, I’ve not only added to my Goals List my BEING Resolutions but also listed my Key RITUALS.

So again, here are your small tweaks to help you have a superb year.

Small Tweaks

1. Write out your goals under the areas important to you.
2. Write the key ones on a single index card.
3. Put pictures in your wardrobe or somewhere you will frequently see them.
4. Write BEING resolutions under “More of” and “Less of”.
5. Have at least one DUM goal for the year.
6. Capture the key rituals that will help you to achieve those goals and…
7. Trust the process.

Have a superb 2018.

I hope we get to partner together soon.

Until next time…

Find the Passion
Develop the Skills
Make the Numbers
Make a Difference

Paul Mitchell

P.S. Please share this with other leaders who you think might benefit from the leadership development lessons within. 

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Paul Mitchell (@Paul_S_Mitchell) is a speaker, author, transformational leadership coach and founder of the human enterprise. Through leadership coaching, leadership development programmes, keynotes and facilitation, Paul works with organisations to build cultures where everybody leads.