The following are suggested steps (in order) for achieving this goal. For maximum impact, be sure to read about how to get started with your goal project.
- Take a moment to consider why you want to meet five new people. Are you looking for new local friends to meet with for coffee? Or are you naturally shy and looking to strike up a conversation with five strangers in order to conquer your fears? The answer to this question will impact how you determine if you’ve met your goal or not.
- Prepare a list of questions you can use for small talk. For example, you could ask people how long they’ve lived in the area, if they have any kids or pets, what kinds of music or movies they like, and/or what they do for a living. If you’re feeling adventurous, come up with a couple unexpected questions. (Make sure you can answer all of these questions, too!)
- Join a local Meetup group. Groups range from “New in Town” to “Vegetarians” to “Anime Lovers,” so there’s a good chance you’ll find at least one to join. Browse through each group page to get an idea of what the members are like and how many typically show up; a popular and broad group like “Movie Watchers” is a particularly good choice for getting your feet wet.
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Join Twitter and follow other users who are in your local area. Most cities have frequent “Tweetups” where Twitter users get together for coffee or a beer and hang out; the ice is usually broken pretty quickly because you’ve read one another’s Twitter messages and already have a passing familiarity.
You can find Twitterers in your town with Tweepsearch and/or by searching Summize for people tweeting from or about your location.
- See if you can combine this goal with another goal by joining local groups, sports teams, or classes. If you always wanted to knit, a knitting class would be a great way to meet someone new.
- Share this goal with your friends and ask if you can tag along the next time they’re hanging out with a friend that you haven’t met.
The following are suggested steps (in order) for achieving this goal. For maximum impact, be sure to read about how to get started with your goal project.
- Search for existing list on Lists of Bests
- (If no list) Create list on Lists of Bests using IMDB
- (If list) Add current list to my list of lists
- Check off progress so far
- Add unwatched films to NetFlix queue
The following are suggested steps (in order) for achieving this goal. For maximum impact, be sure to read about how to get started with your goal project.
- Browse Netflix “Eastern Europe” genre for pre-1990 films
- Add all these films to Netflix queue
- Count total films added
- (If <50) Search Google for local independent video store
- Browse local video store for relevant films
- Count total films available at local video store
- Add Netflix films + local video store films
- (If still <50) Research further film sources via Google
The following are suggested steps (in order) for achieving this goal. For maximum impact, be sure to read about how to get started with your goal project.
- Search Google for local college art department(s) contact info
- Email local college art department(s) for opportunities
The following are suggested steps (in order) for achieving this goal. For maximum impact, be sure to read about how to get started with your goal project.
- Search Google for lucid dream information
- Read lucid dreaming website
- Purchase new Moleskine
- Put new Moleskine on bedside table with pen
- Add “Write down dreams” to morning routine checklist
- Add “Review lucid dream information” to tickler in two months
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This is the final post in the 101 Goals in 1,001 Days series. (If you’ve arrived here out of order, use the “How to Get Started” links on the right to start at the beginning.)
Now that you’ve brainstormed, refined, and organized your 101 goals, it’s time to execute!
To continue building on Getting Things Done, we’re going to keep your 101 project action lists in a binder, with your master 101 goal list serving as your master project list (PDF).
Next we’re going to create a Next Action list. Initially, this list should be populated with at least 101 “To Do” tasks that you can do right now — one for each goal.
Review this list constantly. Read it over a few times a day. Since it only has tasks that can be done right now, you have the freedom to choose which one(s) you are in the mood for, and which ones you aren’t. This is the beauty of organizational freedom.
You should also keep a “Waiting On” list. As you move through your goals, you will find many of your projects will be on hold for various lengths of time because you are waiting on something out of your control, such as your passport back from the government or a response back from someone. At any given time, every goal should have at least one task on either the “Next Action” list or the “Waiting On” list.
At least once per week you’ll want to do a Weekly Review. (I do mine on Sundays at 6:45pm.) During this review, you’ll want to:
- Review your Next Action list to check off items that were already done and move items you’re waiting on to your “Waiting On” list.
- Review each goal’s action list to check off completed items and look for or identify new items to add to your Next Action list
- Review your Waiting On list for items that have already been received (like a passport) or to follow-up on items that you’re still waiting on
The weekly review is key. By checking in on your progress each week, you ensure that none of your goals fall by the wayside, and that — even if you’re waiting on more time or money to complete a particular goal — you’re working toward completion.
This is the fourth post in the 101 Goals in 1,001 Days series. (If you’ve arrived here out of order, use the “How to Get Started” links on the right to start at the beginning.)
Once you’ve refined your list of 101 goals, it’s time to organize your goals in preparation for your upcoming 1,001 days of flawless execution!
Step 1 – Make a master checklist (PDF) of your 101 goals to keep track of your general progress. If you don’t use the sample provided, be sure to leave room to enter a completion date for each goal.
Step 2 – Set a start date. Today works best, but giving yourself a few days to prepare is okay as long as you pick a date now and commit to it. No excuses allowed!
Step 3 – Make a master project list for each goal, listing the action steps necessary to get from where you are today to where you want to be at the end of the goal.
Yes, this is a lot of paper. Are you really going to let 101 measly pieces of paper stand between you and your dreams?
I didn’t think so.
As I was saying…
Here’s where some “Getting Things Done” principles come in. Each project needs to be broken down into multiple, sequential actions. Each action should be small enough that you can check off progress regularly, without being so minute that it takes you longer to plan for the goal than it does to execute it.
For example, if your goal is to complete a specific calculus textbook, you would not list “finish calculus book” as an action. Instead, you would list each chapter as a single action step. Depending on the book, you may want to list “read chapter X” and “complete problem set for chapter X” as separate items.
Think of each project list as a moving walkway. As soon as you finish one task, you want to be able to flow right into the next one without having to stop and think about it. This builds momentum and prevents procrastination.
It’s okay if you don’t know every step from A-Z for all 101 goals right at the start. Just make sure you have at least one action step for each goal, even if your sole action for a goal is to research what it will actually take to achieve it.
Don’t leave any goals without an action plan. If you have a goal like “visit Italy” and you don’t think you have the funds and/or time available right now, make your first step compiling a list of must-see attractions and must-do activities for your trip. Then, you’ll want to determine the least amount of time and/or money you could spend while incorporating those priorities. As another step, you’ll want to determine what preparations you can handle beforehand, like getting a passport — and then researching passport requirements, compiling the paperwork and photo, sending it in, and checking on your application’s progress.
Planning for 101 goals can seem overwhelming at first, but without the right scaffolding beneath you, you won’t go anywhere near as far as you would if you had to stop after every single step and reevaluate your path. Not having a clear plan is why you haven’t achieved these 101 goals already!
Next, we’ll cover how to execute your goals once you’ve taken care of the initial planning.
This is the third post in the 101 Goals in 1,001 days series. (If you’ve arrived here out of order, use the “How to Get Started” links on the right to start at the beginning.)
Now it’s time to whittle your brainstorming list down to the chosen 101, and make sure you define each of your goals in a way that will propel your progress.
When you’re choosing and refining your final goals, keep these points in mind:
Challenge Yourself – Sure, copying all of Wikipedia by hand would be hard (if not impossible), but that’s because it would require an incredible amount of time, not because it’s mentally or physically stimulating. Jump out of your comfort zone. Push your boundaries. Make it your goal to have those student loans paid off in full or that novel in an agent’s hands 1,001 days from now.
Be Specific – You could technically check off a goal like “put money in savings” by depositing a penny you found on the sidewalk. How much money do you want in savings? Commit to a figure. “Learn to drive stick-shift” is an okay goal; “parallel park a manual car in Manhattan” is an awesome one.
Make It Measurable – You need an objective way to determine if a goal is completed or not. Don’t make it your goal to “wake up early,” make it your goal to “wake up at 6am for 30 days in a row.” A total stranger should be able to look at your goal 1,001 days from now and be able to tell if you achieved it.
Break Big Goals Into Smaller Ones – Ideally, you want to be able to check off different goals as you go along in order to constantly stay inspired and motivated. Having 101 goals that won’t or can’t be completed in less than 1,001 days can make for a discouraging few years. For example, if you are $50,000 in debt, instead of listing one goal of “be debt-free,” break it down into a few smaller goals, like “pay off student loan” and “pay off Sears Card,” or “put $10,000 toward debt.”
Vary It Up – The Goal Generator Worksheet can be a great help in making sure your 101 goals are spread across a number of areas. A list of mostly financial goals is probably overlooking a number of cultural, physical, or educational goals that are just as important to you in the long run.
Most importantly, when you review your 101 goals, ask yourself:
- Will accomplishing this goal make me happier?
Too often, we choose goals for the wrong reasons: to impress someone else, for example, or because we “think we should.”
As Tim Ferriss puts forth in his book, The Four Hour Work Week, many people decide they want to be millionaires when really they want they experiences that being a millionaire affords, which more often than not doesn’t require anywhere near a million dollars at all.
Next, we’ll organize your final 101 goals so you’ll sail through the next 1,001 days with ease.
This is the second post in the 101 Goals in 1,001 days series. (If you’ve arrived here out of order, use the “How to Get Started” links on the right to start at the beginning.)
Now that you have a healthy list of goals, I encourage you to read other people’s goal lists for even more ideas.
Even better: talk to people in the your life about your goals, and ask them to brainstorm with you!
For your convenience, we keep a fresh list of goal lists for you to explore.
When you’re ready, learn how to refine your goals so you have 101 specific, executable, rewarding things to work toward.
