GPS (Part 2)
Please know that I am participating in this process right alongside you. Throughout the week, I added new dreams to my list. As is often the case, the inner critic showed up to tell me that a few of them weren’t possible. However, per my suggestion in the last blog, I thanked my mind for doing its job and embraced the possibilities.
Below is one of my dreams.
Every home and school in America will have access to my leadership coaching.
Harvey MacKay once said, “A dream is just a dream. A goal is a dream with a plan and a deadline.” It makes sense, right? If we only completed Step 1 and hoped that all of our dreams come true, we may just spend the rest of our lives hoping.
Let’s move on to Step 2.
Step 2 – Narrow your list, specify, and create deadlines. While I would never set a limit on the number of goals you choose, I would suggest that you narrow your list down to a handful that resonate with you the most. In other words, which of these goals are you most passionate about achieving? Don’t allow the fears and doubts that you may feel at this point stop you from choosing a particular goal. If you use your GPS effectively, anything is possible.
The only way your GPS will accept the goals you’ve chosen is if they are written using specific language. Imagine entering the following information into the GPS in your car – San Francisco, California. While this is certainly a destination, it’s quite possible that you would find yourself driving all around San Francisco in an attempt to find your real destination. Your GPS in this case wouldn’t be very helpful. Now consider entering – 5109 S. Marina Way, San Francisco, CA 84573. This would be considered a specific destination.
Our personal GPS works in much the same way. Imagine entering the following information into your personal GPS – I want a new job. Based on this vague language, your GPS will do its best to arrive at this destination, but may end up somewhere that’s far from what you had originally envisioned. Now consider entering – I will be working in a top sales position for a Fortune 500 company by the end of 2015. This would be considered specific language and would therefore maximize the power of the GPS.
The final part of Step 2 is to create a deadline for your goal. Notice in the above goal that it includes a deadline – the end of 2015? Without establishing a deadline, it’s very easy to put off or procrastinate achieving your goal. This is when the excuses, reasons, and justifications sneak in and push your goal into someday land. A deadline will ultimately hold you accountable.
Below is the dream I shared above, but this time I’ve applied specific language and added a deadline.
Every home and school in America will have access to KaleidoEye Coaching by August 1, 2015 via our new online venture, KaleidoEye Online.
I’d love to hear what your specific goal is. Please share below. Remember, when you put it out there for others to view, you are establishing accountability.