Goal Setting for Busy Realists: Achieving More in Less Time
Explore my favourite, practical, down-to-earth strategy for setting and accomplishing goals, perfect for those with packed schedules who want to do more.
Happy New Year! I hope you had a wonderful break if you were off, and if not, I hope since my last email you’ve been keeping well. I’m already back to work, kicking off another 3 months of a contract, which is always a great way to start the year as freelancer. Getting back into the rhythm of work has got me thinking about the importance of setting goals, which is something I'd like to dive into today.
I was debating whether to write about goal setting. It seems like everyone has been talking about it since December. What more could I possibly add. But as I tell most mentees, your personal experience and how you approach things are important to share.
So, let's talk about it! I'll delve into why goal setting is essential, its occasional pitfalls, and, most importantly, I’ll share a goal-setting framework that’s worked for me and my novelty driven neurodivergent brain. Buckle up with your favourite drink and let’s get too it.
🏆 Why goals work
Society seems obsessed with goals, ranging from New Year’s resolutions to quarterly company KPIs. They are everywhere. And there is solid reason for this: Goals are effective.
When we set a goal like finding a new job or learning a new design program we essentially mark an endpoint for ourselves. This acts as a beacon, guiding our focus and behaviours, shaping the steps we take to reach that destination.
Imagine you're plotting a route to a new place, scribbling down directions. However, if you haven't decided on the final destination. Deciding which route to take becomes impossible as you don’t know where you’re going in the first place. Similarly, striving for progress in your career without a clear goal is like navigating without a compass.
Setting goals isn't just about helping us achieve, having goals are also linked with higher motivation, self-esteem, self-confidence, and autonomy (Locke & Latham, 2006) and who doesn’t want that!
🫠 Why they don’t always work
Just because you’ve set a goal, doesn’t mean you can kick back and relax, you still need to show up and put the work in to reach the desired outcome.
And here’s the kicker: even with hard work, success isn't guaranteed. Goals simply increase the likelihood of success.
At times we can fall short of our goals, which can dent our confidence and self-esteem. Our goals may have been overly ambitious and frankly unrealistic. Having big dreams is important, but there is a fine balance between dreaming big and unconsciously setting yourself up for feeling demotivated and disheartened.
Goal setting can also seem rigid, particularly for someone like me who tends toward binary thinking or an all-or-nothing approach. Life is fluid, and the goals we set on January 1st might not align with our reality a few months later.
With all that said, I have discovered a framework that aligns beautifully with my need for novelty and deadlines: the 12 Week Year.
♟️ My favourite goal setting strategy
Introducing the 12 week year
The 12 Week Year, developed by Brian P. Moran and Michael Lennington, is a unique method that reimagines a year into 12 weeks. Instead of setting annual goals, you focus on shorter and achievable 12-week cycles. This framework compresses your timeframe, creating a sense of urgency and a laser focus on what matters most.
How it works
The beauty of the 12 Week Year lies in its simplicity. You start by setting a few specific, measurable goals for the next 12 weeks. Then, you break these goals down into weekly and even daily actions. Each week, you review your progress, adjust your actions, and plan for the next week. It's about continuous learning and adapting, making every week count like it's the end of a mini-year.
Why it works for me
The reason I swear by the 12 Week Year is its alignment with my need for quick feedback and visible progress. Traditional yearly goals can feel overwhelming and far away. But with a 12-week horizon, goals feel more immediate and the commitment to one or two things for 3 months feels achievable. This framework keeps me motivated, helps me to rapidly adapt to changes in my life that crop up, and allows me to celebrate small wins regularly, which is a huge boost for my productivity and morale.
In 2022, I set myself the ambitious goal of reading 22 books. By September, I had only managed to get through 4 or 5, and my pile of unread books was steadily growing. Realising I was running out of time, I decided to apply the 12 Week Year method to tackle this challenge.
This approach transformed my reading habit. I broke down my goal into smaller, more manageable targets for the 12-week cycle. By focusing on a set number of pages or chapters each day and week, I gradually but steadily made my way through the pile. This method not only helped me catch up but also made the process enjoyable and less daunting.
By the end of the year, I had successfully completed my reading goal, reading around 1 and half books per week, thanks to the structure and motivation the 12 Week Year provided.
In the past, my New Year’s resolutions often faltered because I’d set too many. Even four or five goals can quickly become daunting once you break them down into monthly, weekly, or daily steps. The 12 Week Year sidesteps this overwhelm by narrowing the focus and making each step more actionable.
Additionally, I'm sharing a FREE notion template that I personally use. Feel free to duplicate and modify it as you see fit. Remember, this is about your goal setting journey, so it's crucial to tailor it to your needs and preferences.
💎 Recommended resources
To dive into the 12 Week Year, I can't recommend enough the book by Moran and Lennington. It's a comprehensive guide that thoroughly explains the methodology. For those keen on a more visual and immediate understanding, here are some YouTube videos I found incredibly helpful:
🔑 Key things to remember when setting and striving for your goals
Choose goals you can handle
Let’s say you’re looking for a new job or trying to get fit - make sure your goal is something you can actually do something about. For example, if I’m aiming for 500 new subscribers in 3 months, that isn’t really in my hands, right? I can’t make people subscribe. So, a better goal for me is to post content every week. This way, I’m doing my bit, and hopefully, the subscribers will follow.
Mistakes happen, and that’s okay
This might sound a bit obvious, but you’re going to mess up at some point – and guess what? That’s totally fine. What matters is what you do next. For instance, I tried to write a blog post every morning at 5 am. It worked for a week, then it just wasn’t happening. So, I switched it up, picked a different time, and cut down to writing twice a week. Just keep going and learn as you go along.
Think of it as a bit of an experiment
Goals don’t have to be this big, serious thing. Try to have fun with them and treat the whole thing like an experiment. With the 12 Week Year method, you get to stop at the end of each week, think about how things are going, make changes if needed, and get ready to smash the next week. It’s all about trying, learning, and tweaking
Conclusion
And there we have it! We've explored the highs and lows of goal setting, delved into why traditional methods can fall short, and uncovered the game-changing approach of the 12 Week Year. Remember, the journey to achieving our goals is personal and unique to each of us. What works for one might not for another, but the beauty of the 12 Week Year is its flexibility and adaptability to different lifestyles and mindsets.
Now, for the cherry on top: I'm thrilled to share with you my personal Notion template, crafted to complement the 12 Week Year framework. It's been a game-changer for me, and I'm excited for you to give it a try. Feel free to download, customise, and use it to navigate your own goal-setting journey. You can access the template here.
But don't just stop there! If you find this approach helpful, or if you've got your own twist on it, I'd love to hear about it. Share your experiences, successes, and even the stumbles.
Lastly, if you know someone who might benefit from a fresh take on goal setting, or someone who's feeling stuck with their New Year's resolutions, pass this post along. Sometimes, a new perspective is all we need to kickstart our journey towards success.
Here's to a productive, fulfilling, and goal-smashing year ahead. Let's make every week count!
🤑 Jobs
As I mentioned at the end of 2023 I wanted to start sharing the jobs I’ve seen just incase you’re on the look out. So here’s the top 3 jobs I’ve found this week:
Cleo: Lead Product Designer
Cleo’s the digital assistant that makes the money thing easy. From cash advances to budgeting and building credit, Cleo’s here to help you reach your goals.
Amazon: UX Design Internship
Amazon design teams include every flavour of UI, UX, visual, motion, illustration, brand, and marketing design roles—as well as design technologists, researchers, writers, and more…. As a UX Design Intern, you will collaborate with a team that defines and designs user interfaces, systems, and interaction, visual, and motion design patterns.
Natwest: Middleweight UI Designer (12 months)
You’ll enjoy collaborating with a range of stakeholders on a daily basis, including UX designers, product owners, researchers, digital experience managers and developers, working closely with them to help ensure great digital experiences.
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Happy New Year Liz! 🎉🎉🎉I keep hearing about the 12 week year, it feels so achievable when you break it down!
Trying to keep this year as light as possible as last year was heavy 💓