Questions- Or How to Stay on Target

December 18, 2009 · Comments

question mark In How to Make Goals Happen Pt. 1 – Goalbox, we discussed a very simple visual trick for keeping the execution of your goals foremost in your mind. Now, in part two, let’s talk about the value of a few well-used questions to act as compasses to guide you towards your success.

As with part 1, this isn’t especially hard, and yet, if we don’t work at it, we won’t execute on our goals in 2010 without this. You can use this method for business as well as your personal goals.

How to Stay On Target with Questions

  1. Come up with three to five very brief statements that summarize your goals. Try to make them SMART goals. For instance, your goal might be “Get 3000 blog subscribers by June 2010.” That’s specific, measurable, attainable (one hopes), realistic, and timebound.
  2. Write very simple questions that reference these goals. “Will doing this get me 3000 subscribers by June 2010?”
  3. Ask yourself these questions before committing to any request. Be relentless. If you’re asked to help organize a new meetup in your community for other bloggers, will this get you those 3000 new subscribers? Maybe, but that’s up to you to decide.
  4. Take action accordingly.
  5. Repeat.

Learning how to say no will keep you much more focused and will keep you tied into those goals that matter most to your development in 2010. As I said before, you can do this for business goals: “make $140,000 in revenue per month by March, by closing 5 sales a month” is your SMART goal and “Is this helping me get more sales prospects?” might be the question. The more times that answer is no, the more times you’ll realize that you’re not working on what matters to your goals.

Speaking of Questions

It’s simple, but does it make sense? Have you tried something like this? What do you think it’ll do for your goal-setting in 2010?

Photo credit burning karma

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  • goldankauf1
    Thx for this. Interesting article
  • goldankauf1
    Thx for this. Interesting article
  • It is very important to be what you be. So don`t try to be somebody other!
  • Realtormike
    as I stumble around looking for a definition of what I be !
  • Chris, it makes total sense to use SMART goals. Have I tried something like this before? Absolutely! I had a life coach (for personal goals) for about two years and we used SMART goals during this entire time. This system is priceless. I have been using a similar system to increase blogging success, but you have enabled me to define my system even further. Thanks! I'm looking for 2010 to be my best year in blogging.

    krissy knox
    follow me on twitter:
    www.twitter.com/iamkrissy
  • deborahhinton
    Interesting Chris. I've been working with Structural Tension [Creating] - Robert Fritz, Path of Least Resistance for the past 15 years and create 'end states' for body, mind, spirit, life [business and personal - somehow can't really separate] at the end of the year. I like the simplicity of what you're proposing Chris - goal boxes are genius - and think there's something in Robert's work you and your readers would find helpful - being in touch with where you are in relationship to what your trying to do and adjusting your plans accordingly. Thanks for adding a twist on thinking about next years goals. Best
  • One of the new ways I approached goals this year was to actually set three for each, one aspirational, one achievable, one acceptable.

    For recovering perfectionists like myself, it's easy to see success as black and white--and goal-setting as a minefield of potential failures. So I decided to expand my definitions of success, and to set goals that accounted for the inevitable ups and downs of life, of things beyond our control.

    Here's how it works: The easiest goal to set is usually the "achievable" one. It's the one that, if you continue to do what you're doing (and the universe cooperates) as is, or with modest changes, you'll achieve. The aspirational goal is the one that takes a significant amount of change to achieve, but is still possible with focus and hard work. The acceptable goal is the one I describe as what you'd be happy with, and consider an achievement of note, if everything, everything went wrong).

    You'll notice that the last is not a way to let yourself off the hook--it's a way to make sure you find a way to keep moving towards your goals even when the tide seems turned against you.
  • Chris, when developing a social media strategy, do you think it is wise to make goals like "I want one million facebook fans by March?" The reason I ask is because I am doing this right now. I am trying to define my goals/what I want out of social media for my company and don't want to focus on something superficial like number of fans for my overall goal, although more fans is definitely something I want to achieve. Based on your experience, how do you feel about goals like this? (I realize your example was similar, but may purely just be an example). Thanks so much for your great advice. Reading "Trust Agents" right now and love it.
  • marryroy01
    I am working so hard" when I ask what are your goals for the year, quarter and month, they look at me with deer in headlight look.I want to know suggestion from others.I agree with the point that goals for small children are easier sometimes. I.E learn how to ride a bike without training wheels at x age, tie shoes at x age, learn how to read at 5.

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  • Shane
    Thanks for sharing this Chris, have applied it for my goals next year ! Though was wondering if you think making your goals public would ensure you stay committed to them ? Any thoughts?
  • @Shane: My .2 cents on making your goals public..I feel that in some ways it can be beneficial to make your goals public to stay committed. However, there is also probably some strategy for people especially those in personal branding or their business that might want to keep some goals from the public.
  • Mike Warfel
    Your advice is always good. This helps to take the mystery out of goal setting. I have passed it on to others.
    Thank you
  • I am a big proponent of SMART goals as part of my business coaching process. I really like the added step of creating simple questions to use in reviewing tasks as the come up to assure they are aligned with my goals. Thanks!!
  • Thx for this. Interesting article
  • marryroy01
    I do not know why business is not good, I am working so hard" when I ask what are your goals for the year, quarter and month, they look at me with deer in headlight look.It helps take the focus off me and allows me to concentrate more on how my sites are viewed by others.

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  • Rex
    Chris, I think these questions would also be effective for individuals in a corporate setting. Usually at the beginning of the year there is a lot of time spent documenting a whole set of organizational goals at every level all the way down to your individual goals that will help your organization.

    But then it is filed away in the system and brought out maybe half way through the year, but usually only at the end of the year during your performance review where there are all kinds of excuses because the environment changed so much or you were asked to work on different things.

    If your goals and these questions are always in front of you, I think it could help deflect some of the requests from your manager that do not support the goals you two agreed upon at the beginning of the year.
  • I agree Rex, that the goals should be in front of you, essentially at all times. I have my goals scattered all over my house (which is also my workplace). They are constantly there reminding me of what I want to achieve in life and help keep me focused. They are like blinders to keep my values and decisions in line with my goals and what I want out of life.
  • I believe goals to be one of the single most important factors in achieving the life experiences that you want to have. I just did a post on goal setting and new years resolutions for 2010 and they have some of the same thoughts as well as others that you have towards goals. But I am sure most of us can agree goal setting is a valuable and important tool if utilized right.

    @prosperitygal, I also agree how many people do not know what they want in life, what their goals are. Its amazing how people can get so far without setting effective goals..Imagine where they could get if they did set effective goals.
    Tanner
  • I know I have to write them down this year. I seem to be getting side tracked and taking short cuts which are NOT really short cuts after all. Which then I wind up not producing the end result which I would like.

    So this is a great way to remember what needs to be done to make 2010 the year it should be instead of doing the same things over and over.
  • Good, easy to follow advice.
  • Chris, this definitely makes sense. Using SMART goals is key, especially the 'measurable' aspect; "if you can't measure it it's just a wish." This is not only important for personal goals, but also for team/organization goals. Leaders, pay attention!

    -Michael
  • Chris

    One of the first things I ask a client is what do want to get out of this? This being what they are asking of me to do. I then start to map out the goals and how we will achieve these goals. At the end of the exercise, it feels like the paper is mashed into a draw somewhere as when I go to revisit the goals, to see how we are doing, it is almost like we have to start over sometimes.

    Goals for small children are easier sometimes. Ie learn how to ride a bike without training wheels at x age, tie shoes at x age, learn how to read at 5. We seem to lose that part of us as we get older as so many just want the results that they want to be immediate.

    Great reminder to us all that goals need to be set, revisited and repeated.
  • Hi Chris,

    Great into. I learned about the importance of SMART goals in a seminar, but I have never seen them in a blog post! Bravo!

    I love the fact that you are doing your goals series at the end of the year because it is such a great time to set us up for success next year. Thanks!
  • In a recent event I was organizing I realized that in some ways it was at cross purposes with my business. I re-evaluated what I was doing and refocused my energy to make it benefit my business. I try to ask myself every time I am doing something professionally "How does this make me achieve my current business goals?". Thank you for the reminder!
  • I often ask myself questions like this when it comes to content rather than business goals. For example, "Is this something my readers would really want to know more about?" or "What type of content do people want to read right now about X topic?" I also ask my questions about expectations -- "how often will people want updates? what type of posting schedule will keep people interested?" It helps take the focus off me and allows me to concentrate more on how my sites are viewed by others.
  • prosperitygal
    Chris it is funny how any times people hear this and yet they do not commit to it by action then ask me, "I do not know why business is not good, I am working so hard" when I ask what are your goals for the year, quarter and month, they look at me with deer in headlight look
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