My last post examined how I did with the 100 goals I set for myself in 2015. This post is about the process – and changes – I made setting my 100 goals for 2016.
At almost the exact time that I was starting the process of thinking about my 2016 goals, Michael gave a podcast that discussed goal setting. He insisted that you shouldn’t set any more than 7-9 major goals for the year. While listening I immediately thought, “I group my goals into categories so it’s OK for me to set 100 goals for the year.” Within a minute on that podcast, he said, “One guy sets 55 goals but claims it’s OK by grouping them!” Busted.
But I still like the idea of setting 100 goals. Some of my goals are minor and by grouping them categorically I’m thinking rationally and with a hierarchy. But … the 7-9 major goals for the year seed was planted in my mind.
Here is strategically how I proceeded:
- Made the decision to set 7-9 major goals for the year
- Attempt to have the remaining goals be consistent with and supportive of those major goals
- Attempt to tighten up the 16 categories that I had from last year
- Start with a fresh list of 100 goals for 2016
- Review and merge last year’s list with the new list only after the 2016 list was completed.
When I finished my list of 100 Goals for 2016, here is what I had:
- 7 major overall goals
- 10 categories of goals (reduced from 16)
- 17 sub-categories of goals (increased from 0)
- 117 total goals (increased from 100)
- 15 concept or state-of-mind goals (increased from 12)
- 4 of my 7 major overall goals are concept or state-of-mind goals
- Word of the year: Courageous (this is major goal #2)
Additionally, I further refined my goal-setting process in the following ways:
- Gave more specific time frames for goals by giving either a specific date or Quarter to complete. i.e. I gave myself a deadline.
- Made goals more specific – attempted to eliminate vague, hard-to-measure goals
- By making the goals more specific – they would be easier to measure and achieve
- Made goals more incremental as opposed to monster steps forward
- Made my 100 Goals more of a blueprint – or strategic plan – for 2016. 2015 was more of a long, to-do list
With this list of 100 goals for 2016 completed, I then made the decision to work Quarterly instead of Quarterly and Monthly. What does this mean?
- My Quarterly goals will be my immediate big-picture focus. I won’t regularly review my list of 100 Goals for the year. I’ll only look at that big list a few times at strategic times throughout the year.
- Quarterly goals/objectives are derived from the 100 goals because I’ve set time frames. I know what I need to concentrate on first. And what I don’t have to worry about for the time being.
- Monthly goals will not be used in 2016. The reality is I didn’t use them well in 2015. Several strategic planning experts suggest that Quarterly is more effective because it gives some big, juicy goals with enough time to achieve them. Monthly to me seemed like just making another list as opposed to taking action.
- Weekly goals will continue to be used but with the following adjustment. Weekly goals will be my short-term focus. Use as a planning tool each week, as opposed to simply a daily to-do list. In 2015, my Weekly goals was used mostly as a daily planner. I found myself regularly setting daily goals that wouldn’t (or couldn’t) be achieved in a single day. So the weekly planning process needs to establish bigger projects. While the daily to-do is for bite-size pieces.
With all that said, here is my goal towards achieving my 117 goals for 2016?
- 50% of the goals completed (up from 37% in 2015)
- 25% of my goals kinda-sorta completed (down from 30% in 2015)
- 75% of my goals completed or significant progress made (up from 67% in 2015)
If you remember from my previous post, one of the caveats for setting 100 goals for the year is that it’s OK to not achieve all of the goals. And it’s not OK to beat myself up for not achieving some of my goals. I’m stretching myself. I’m putting myself out there. I’ll achieve more by committing than by not committing. I’ll amaze myself with what I achieve. I’ll forgive myself if I fall short.
I’ll report back in December 2016 to let you know how I did.
Have a successful and productive 2016!