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.
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