Developing Focus

When you have a clearer understanding of the important aspects of your life, and associated values, you can then sharpen you focus on these by developing goals for the various parts of your life.

The process of setting goals can be likened to setting out on a journey. Your destination is clear, you know where you are going, you know how to get there, and you know when you would like to arrive.

Imagine stepping off on a journey with no destination or planned route. Without heading towards something, you might as well stay where you are.

I think this is what happens to many people in life. There is no direction, so it is just as easy to stay put. As Dr Suess wrote in his book “Oh the place you’ll go”:

You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And you are the one who’ll decide where to go…..

Goal Setting – short, medium and longer term

To enjoy a truly self directed life you will need short, medium and longer term goals. The goal setting process works like this:

• Your longer terms goals will be closely aligned with your life purpose and mission – typically set these for 3 to 5 years ahead from now
• Medium term goals are a set of interim goals, which when achieved, contribute to the attainment of your longer term goals.
• Short term goals typically will be those you set for a year. The attainment of these goals will  be further influenced by the goals you set for:
  • each month
  • each week within each month
  • each day in each week of the year

Goal achievement is really all about taking action on a consistent daily basis – achieving a series of mini-goals if you like, which when combined lead to the realisation of the bigger goals you have set for yourself.

Can you still be flexible?

There is absolutely room for flexibility. In fact you will need to be flexible along the way.

Your needs and priorities will change over time, and life circumstances sometimes will also dictate a change in direction. Here is is a link to my blog article on steps for goal setting to assist you with goal setting if this is new to you.

You might also like to take a look at this short video from Tony Robbins about the benefits of purpose and clarity:

You may also be interested in this slightly longer video (about 20 mins) by motivator and educator about different types of goals, for example the difference between ‘means goals’ and ‘end goals’

Next Steps

Having developed clarity about the important things in your life and set goals around the changes you want to make in your life, the final step is to take action. This is all about making your goals a reality.

Click here for information to assist you with taking consistent action to achieve your goals.