[PODCAST 126]: What to Look at Everyday So We Can Reach Our Goals

Now is a great time of year to think about our goals, so I’ve put together a few ideas that will hopefully be helpful.

If you’re here to quickly skim, all the information (and related links!) are below. Or if you’d like me to read them to you and share more details, click the “play” button above!

The idea for this post came when someone in our ARISE community posted this:

I responded that there are a few things–and I don’t necessarily look at all of them every day, but this is what helps me over the course of each week/month/year:

(1) My “Daily Reminders” Note in Evernote

I create a new one each quarter or so, and it holds my key goals, quotes/scriptures that speak to me, images that inspire me, specific things I want to remember, and insights I’ve received throughout the month.

(2) A Collage of Papers On the Back of My Bedroom Door

These include my word for the year, a hand-drawn picture with lots of images that represent who I want to become personally, as part of our family, and professionally/in my volunteer work.

Next to that, I have a list of specific goals I am working toward this year (like finishing a book in Spanish, doing consistent getaways as a couple, planning weekly as a family, getting 8 hours of sleep, etc. These are all inside my “Daily Reminders” note, as well. I also post my two questions that I ask at the end of each day. There is a video linked at the bottom of this page with more details, if you’d like, but these are the questions:

• Am I healthy, happy, and aligned with God?

• Have I lived my purpose deliberately, doing one day’s share?

I’m working on my collage for next year right now, and if you want to be part of our ARISE membership, we have a template and everything put together for you! (The link to ARISE is included later, too!)

(3) My Sticker Chart

This is a kind-of-silly routine that represents my progress outside of my comfort zone that will lead me toward those goals that are inside my Daily Reminders and written on the goal sheet on the back of my door. I’ll add a link to our printable template and details on how I set up this routine, if you’re feeling excited about creating your own sticker chart!

(4) Current Projects List

This is a monthly list of no more than 8 multi-step tasks (projects) that have my focus. As I create this list at the beginning of each month, I make sure that the projects align with my goals for the year and will help me grow into the person I ultimately want to become.

This project list starts out in Asana, where I have my personal, family, and professional projects listed in tiers (current, in progress, next in line, someday, and finished). But I also keep the list on a chalkboard in my office and on a sticky note in my paper planner–just so I can see it regularly and make sure I don’t get distracted. 🙂

Sometimes my daughters decorate the chalkboard for me!

(5) Weekly Planning

Each week, I check my Current Projects List and make sure my Weekly Context-Based Next Actions List and calendar will support those Current Projects.

My two-minute planner tour is linked at the bottom of this post if you want to see how my Next Actions are set up…

(6) Calendar and Daily Task List

Achieving our “ultimate goals” eventually comes down to what we do on a daily basis. Once I have my big-picture vision, my monthly focus, and my weekly list prepared, it’s primarily a matter of aligning my daily calendar and task list to those stated plans.

Over time, it all works together (even though there are definitely ups and downs and edits along the way), and my STEP Command Central keeps everything flowing because it’s a trusted system that allows my mind to be in the moment.

Life doesn’t always feel simple, and I often feel like I have to fight for my goals because a lot of unexpected things pop up, but that steady progression toward goals that lift our spirits does make an impact–on our own lives, our families, and hopefully on the broader world.

Of course this process outlined above isn’t the only way to do it…but it’s been working for me for years and years, and I genuinely feel excited at the beginning of each year because I have confidence that my goals will actually be achieved. (I want you to feel this way, too!)

LearnDoBecome Invitation:

Take some time to think about the “big picture” for your life, write down who you want to become and what you’d like to achieve next year, and then, if you haven’t already, learn how to create your own Current Projects List and Context-Based Next Actions List. (Our free training, How to Finally Stop Drowning in Piles can show you how, if you’re new! And if you’re part of Steps to Everyday Productivity and/or ARISE, there’s a link at the top of this page where you can log into your programs!)

We are cheering you on and hope that next year is your very best so far!

Related Links and Information Shared in the Post/Podcast

Books:

• Resonate by Nancy Duarte

• Evolve Your Brain by Joe Dispenza

• Your Best Year Ever by Michael Hyatt

Our Podcast and YouTube Directory

Evernote – This is Where I House My Daily Reminders

ARISE membership! Come and access our new template to create your vision page for next year. Plus, we just added the audio and digital versions of my book Thursdays with Zoe. (There’s lots more inside, as well!)

Video: Two questions I ask myself every day

The Sticker Chart Process!

2-Minute Planner Tour

Podcast #1 about Michael Hyatt Best Year Ever

Podcast #2 about Michael Hyatt Best Year Ever

Facebook Post about overwhelmed people being wrongfully judged

***If you want a picture of you posted inside my podcast room so I can see you while I record, OR if you’d like a before and after photo of your home or Command Central on the wall in my office, we are compiling them and printing them out! Please email your picture to [email protected]. 🙂

Do you need a STEP Command Central to help you organize your life?

Ruth’s Story!

Hi there,

Please find my before and after pictures below. With the pandemic I’ve had to work from home since Feb 2020, and this will carry on for the foreseeable future. 

So the spare room got rearranged and a desk added, but as this had started out as temporary and I had less space than my office at work, things just got added to piles, and then piles got added to piles.

Also I had wanted to use the desk space for my stuff, my creative side and for further learning. 

I had tried to make myself a comfortable area, but it had no structure, and looked like this all the time (see photo below).

Then I  found STEP. Omg did it make complete sense, or what.

On paper I was already pretty organised for work,  I had a master list of dates or day things had to be done and each month I updated my calendar with this. But the weekly review is a game changer for me. Same with my personal diary, I use an online one and it’s linked with my hubby, but sitting a reviewing it weekly is such a simple concept but utterly mind blowing. 

I just had never translated my paper organisational to the stuff that was in my inbox, on my desk and generally around me.

Now I love my area and every night I can clear my work stuff away soo easily, and get on with my personal stuff, which has its own command central.

I’m now taking online classes and looking at changing my career, I’ve also taken a volunteer admin role for a charity.

Thank you.

Regards, Ruth 

We are sending SO much love, and we are grateful to each one of you for your participation and support here at LearnDoBecome! Thank you, thank you–and we hope to work with you more in the future!