How To Choose Your Next Goal
Sometimes I steal my kids’ scooters.
In my defense, they are fun.
I had been riding next to one of my girls up and down the street.
From a distance, we could see my son walk down the driveway toward the side walk where we were riding.
He had a bow and arrow.
Now, this was not a real bow and arrow but a wooden one with arrows that had a felt-tip. It would be most comparable to a NERF bow and arrow.
With the arrow pulled back, ready to fire, I yell from our neighbor’s driveway, “Not a good idea, bud!”
He holds his stance as we approach.
As we get about 10 feet away, my daughter looks over and says, “Don’t worry, daddy, he’s not very accurate.”
Famous last words.
No sooner than her finishing that sentence is when my son releases the arrow from roughly 5 feet away.
You guessed it.
It hits me straight between the legs and drops me right there on the sidewalk.
Bullseye.
No wonder I neighbors across the straight tell us they love watching us play out front with our kids.
Whether he knew it or not, my son went through a series of quick decisions.
He knew he wanted to hit me and not his sister (Narrowing the target).
He knows from our nerf gun battles that he shouldn’t hit someone in the face (Narrowing the target).
Who aims for the feet or legs? (Narrowing the target).
Torso Target Initiated.
Choosing a target or having a goal is one the very best starting points to living a life on purpose.
I’ve sat across the table from too many people who felt a lack of purpose or passion in their stories.
I have been that person across the table from others.
So how do we find a goal and get specific?
First, We ask ourselves this question: Who and where do I want to be in 5 years? 5 months? 5 days?
This may not be an answer that comes to you a quickly but it is a good place to begin. Have you spent time thinking about this? It’s an important exercise and one that helped launch All Good Stories!
Next, we ask ourselves this question: What on my to-do list takes me another step closer to this?
This may involve creating a to-do list for yourself and spending time determining what is most important. Have you ever written out your tasks? I need to create them in my phone and sometimes write them down on paper. I’ve found that having it all in my head gets too overwhelming too fast.
Lastly, we narrow this down into what is most urgent and important.
This exercise is leadership 101 and can change the way we think about our days. It comes from what is known as the Eisenhower Matrix.
It’s critical to know what quadrant your tasks fit into.
In light of steps 1-2, what in front of you is most urgent and most important?
Maybe you’ve already determined what your goal for the day is. Maybe you have some homework.
Either way, this goal will not accomplish it self. It’s time to execute.
Do you have your target in mind?
*Watch for our next post on how to plan your steps to hit your target!
**If you are in need of help finding your target personally or professionally, contact Chris to set up a time to talk!