4 Ways to Approach Goal Setting

Are you we doing resolutions? Goals? Lying down and avoiding everything?

I have seen a few blogs and newsletters about goal setting come through, and I didn’t really like what I saw. Harsh, but…yeah, so I thought I’d jot a few notes down before the end of the year. I’m sure most of you keeners have already work on your reflections and goals, but I haven’t and this is for those that want to but don’t know where to start! Let’s do this!!!

First of all: “what gets measured matters”.

Bafflingly, I am not really a great goal setter. I say bafflingly because I was an operations executive in large tech companies, and I used to get paid a lot of money to help executives and organizations with their goal setting. I’m good at it, and I enjoy it very much. For them. I love seeing it click for people! Name a better thrill than watching someone start to believe in themselves and their abilities…I’ll wait.

Aristotle was onto something when he proposed that purpose can cause action, but it was Edwin A. Locke in who dove deep into goal setting theory. The idea is that great goals lead to better performance. Simple, but there’s so much to it! Yes, there is the art but there is also the science and discipline around it. Toss in a seemingly infinite number of frameworks and methodologies to set goals, and it’s easier to see why some people don’t put in the time to do it. 

Should I set SMART goals? OKRs? BHAGs? The list is truly endless. Don’t worry, I’ve got a few very simple and very easy approaches below. Easy peasy, because I know you’re busy.

I’ll tell you that I’ve never used the same goal setting method twice for annual resolutions/goals. Last year, a few of my girlfriends got together over Zoom to work through the Wheel of Life goal setting methodology. It was late, we were all bagged from busy schedules of kids+work+life+etc. Some sipped wine, others yawned as they peered at their laptops horizontally from their beds. And you know what? I quite enjoyed it. The social element alone was refreshing, and I really loved learning about these women and what they are thinking about. In some cases, their goals inspired my own.

The most important takeaway is that having a dedicated goal setting session with others helps us work through out own. The next most important takeaway is to write it down with pen to paper, baby.

If you want to review a light and direct post on the art of goal setting, I’d suggest my friend post from earlier today on “the goal of goals” or, for more intensity, take a more work-related read through setting SMART goals.

Otherwise, I’ve got a few pretty simple ways to think about 2024 outlined below.

4 approaches to setting goals in 2024

First thing’s first: let’s establish that some really smart people out there think of us as each having 8 different dimensions to our lives: essentially, if we divvy up life into neat little slices, we can cover a lot of territory with the following 8 dimensions:

Physical, intellectual, emotional, social, spiritual (can mean energy, intuition, will etc not just religion), vocational (career or your art or craft), financial, and environmental (literally the things around you, eco-considerations). If you need a bit more understanding of what each dimension encompasses, read this paper.

🌶️ Word of the Year

Mild spice level, and for those that are very tired of setting goals:

Deciding on a word of the year is pretty straightforward, and is meant to be more thematic overall. Your word of the year ideally can be applied to each of these areas in your life. For example, my word last year was peace. Everything felt frantic and forced to me, and ‘peace’ became a theme I’d think about often. The year prior, the word was ‘fun’.

A friend of mine was looking to break out of her shell and opted for ‘courage’ in 2023.

My word of the year in 2024 is discipline. I’ll write more about this choice later.

So…what’s yours? Have some fun and riff on a theme. See what fits and what feels right.

🌶️ The “Less or More”

Mild spice level (but effective!):

Last year, I wasn’t really in the mood to be intense about anything, so I tried this approach of “less or more”. I made it up, but I’m sure there’s someone else doing something similar and much more scientifically valid somewhere. Anyhow, it’s easiest if I give you an example of last year’s notes:

Less cardio, more strength training.

Less processed food, more fresh produce.

Less screen time, more reading.

Less talking, more listening.

If you are thinking this approach is right for you this year, I’d try to apply it to what the smart people call the 8 dimensions (see above).

I’d recommend keeping it simple and making a chart like this (feel free to save this image, actually, if that’s helpful!). Print it off and pop it on your fridge.

I really like emphasizing “less” before “more”, but you could absolutely switch those around if you prefer a more affirmative statement first!

I’m curious to hear where your mind wanders and if this satiates your desire to jot some thoughts down for 2024!

🌶️🌶️ Long-form questions

Medium spice: A thorough reflection of the past year and thoughtful questions about goals in 8 areas of your life for 2024.

1. Memories & Milestones: What were your significant memories, milestones, and turning points in 2023?

2. Lessons & Learnings: Reflect on the last year. What were your lessons and learnings from 2023?

3. Current Life Assessment: what is your current level of satisfaction across your 8 life dimensions (physical, intellectual, emotional, social, spiritual, vocational, financial, and environmental)?

4. Goals & Intentions for 2024: what do you intend to change and accomplish in 2024?

5. Action Plan for 2024: what are the next steps to achieve your goals and intentions in 2024?

This isn’t a 5 minute exercise. If you can set aside 20-30 minutes for each question, it’s worth the effort. If you’re reading this post, I know you’re interested! So, why not give it a try? Shoot me a note if you find it easier to have a sounding board. I love this stuff and am here for you!

🌶️🌶️🌶️ OKRs

So, let’s pause here. Unless you in search of a very aggressive goal setting method, any of the options above will be absolutely sufficient for your goal setting. And if that’s your cue to close, thank you so much for reading and please do share your goals with me!! I can’t wait to hear and to support you!!!

For the rest of you, I’m all too aware that most of the crowd that reads this newsletter are a-type, highly accomplished and very ambitious women who know what they’re talking about when it comes to setting and hitting a target. I know the above is just a refresher for you, and I don’t want you to jump into learning an entirely new system just for the sake of a 2024 goal setting exercise.

However, I’m an operational systems expert and it would be very lame of me to talk about goals and targets and leave out my favourite system of all time: OKRs.

Extra hot spice level: A structured and rigid system to keep you focused and accountable on a weekly basis. This is not for beginners but I will answer any and all questions about the system if you’re serious about trying it out, and I have several templates and guides I’ve built over the years that I can share with the keeners. I love OKRs and have used them to run 300 person teams with hundred-million dollar budgets, and I’ve used them to manage my tiny little personal goals. But remember…

It’s just a system, not a solution.

A more intense approach does not mean more likely to succeed. In fact, just so we’re clear, I’ve seen some of the smart people, teams, and companies fail at this approach so badly it’s embarrassing. Stories for another time :)

The best up to date reference for all things OKRs is Christina Wodtke, who has literally made an entire business out of helping people plan and execute on OKRs. You can go to her site and get a free worksheet, buy her book on OKRs (I buy these for anyone on my teams), or explore her blog.

Here are the very, very basics of OKRs and I’ll give a few examples.

-OKR stands for Objectives and Key Results. Usually, they are set quarterly but you can flex because you’re you and you are in charge!

-It’s best to set inspiring or even ‘lofty’ Objectives and very measurable Key Results.

For example:

Objective: reduce friction in marriage by creating consistency in managing life admin and finance. Key Results may be things like: (1) create a budget together, (2) design monthly approach to financial management and kids scheduling, and (3) establish quarterly review with financial advisor.

-For each Objective, stick to max 2-3 Key Results. Give yourself a chance, and don’t make more than 3 Objectives per quarter!!. Trust me on that.

-Key Results should be difficult, not impossible. These should not feel like a To Do list. If you’re getting into a To Do list, you’re too deep in the forest. Get up to a bird’s eye view. The To Do List comes when you approach each week.

-Ideally, Key Results are measurable or quantifiable. I will decrease body fat % from 35% to 27%, or I will read a book in bed 4 nights per week or We will have 1 date night per week.

-Decide on a cadence (corporate speak for schedule) of reviewing and tracking. Generally, OKRs are great to set quarterly, and use a weekly tracking system.

Anyway, I appreciate you nerding out with me and I’m happy to jam on this stuff anytime. Seriously. Email me or slip into my DMs and we’ll chat.

For now, I’d better go and set some of my own goals! Nothing like leaving it until the last minute, I know. This year, I’m thinking…word of the year + the less or more across the 8 dimensions.

How about you?