Last year I wrote a book on goal setting. I am now in the process of editing that book. As I edit, I will post excerpts here on my blog. This is from chapter two:
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We are about to learn exactly how to set and track goals.
But first, how do you pick a goal?
What if you have no idea what you want to do?
I struggled with this question for a while.
I started my career and my adult life with little direction.
I was all over the map. I had no goals. I just did whatever was next. I went to college because that’s what people did.
When I finally start setting goals, my goals were too vague. I couldn’t figure out how to categorize them.
I would set financial goals, career goals, reading goals, exercise goals, weightlifting goals, hiking goals, travel goals, and everything else under the sun goals.
I was like the man who jumped on his horse and rode off in every direction.
Then, I remembered an old quote by Benjamin Franklin.
Early to bed, Early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.
Suddenly, it hit me. Ben Franklin had created perfect goal-setting categories.
From that point on, I set three goals for myself.
I set a healthy goal.
I set a wealthy goal.
And, I set a wise goal.
I still use this formula. For the rest of this book, I will show you how to use the same formula.
Fair warning
When choosing goals, it’s easy to confuse goals with the means to achieving goals.
What do I mean?
Let’s say I set a wealthy goal. I decide I want to be a millionaire. So, I write my goal down. I want to be a millionaire.
I do not think that is a good goal.
Instead of setting a goal to become a millionaire, set a goal that will make you a millionaire.
To see how this works, we will set two goals.
The first goal is: I want to become a millionaire.
The second goal is: I want to create something that will generate a million dollars.
If you choose the first goal, you are automatically stuck.
You may sit at your kitchen table wondering, “How am I going to earn a million dollars?”
If you choose the second goal, your mind will look for ideas.
“What could I create that would generate a million dollars?”
See the difference?
Instead of sitting around wishing for one million dollars, you can take action. You can create something that could generate one million dollars.
What should you create?
I suggest you narrow your interests down and choose a topic. Go all in on that topic. Master your chosen field and bring your unique perspective. No one else has your perspective.
Start a blog. Start an Instagram channel, a Facebook page, or a YouTube channel. Start sharing what you are learning.
If you have mastered none of these tools, then pick one and focus in for a while. I do not recommend you try to learn all of them at once.
Start publishing posts, blogs, ebooks, reels, videos, or courses.
The three most popular topics, by the way, are health, fitness, and finance. If you are having trouble coming up with a topic you want to master, consider mastering a topic related to health, fitness, or finance.
