Want to chase down your BIG goals?
Whether you call them BHAGS, SMUUT or just massive goals - USE THIS PROCESS!
The GiFT of 1+3+6
The sheer magnitude of a SMUUT goal (one based on opportunity not history, one that is so big its transformational!) can create a sense of overwhelm that translates into a lack of belief. When this happens, big dreams stay exactly as that: dreams.
Instead of starting on the journey to achievement, we condition our minds to believe that it is too big and there is too much to do so……… we do nothing. In effect we are overwhelmed.
Another challenge is the logical/analytical side of our brain wants to know the how, as in how can we achieve that goal? When we set-off in the pursuit of a big goal, we cannot answer that question, or else it wouldn’t fit the definition of a SMUUT goal in the first place. If we allow the logical/analytical side of the brain to take-over, we will start to reduce the size/scale of the goal until it represents a SMART not a SMUUT goal. One that is small enough we know exactly how to do it.
We also need a process to prevent energy/enthusiasm from fizzling out when immediate results are not seen and the going gets tough. It is a system and process that keeps us going - for me and many of my clients, this is the GiFT631 power of 10: the 1+3+6 process.
The 1 - Establish one purpose/SMUUT goal. Clarify what matters most and what you want to achieve. This can be a desired future state or a big life goal, such as running your first marathon, starting a local business, purchasing your dream home, moving to Hawaii, paying off your mortgage by a certain age or date, or leaving your job to become an entrepreneur. Represent the 1 on your vision board and in as many other places as you can. Create an emotional anchor based around the ‘why?’ you want to pursue this goal.
The 3 - Break this big SMUUT goal down into 3 sub or actionable goals. By doing this you create some milestones which are important. They provide a sense of accomplishment and reasons to celebrate. This is important as success breeds success, and we like to feel we are making progress. It can help create a sense of momentum, so we keep moving forward at pace. Once you achieve a sub-goal, replace it.
The 6 - Create 6 next best actions. I say 6 because too many actions can be overwhelming, which inhibits you from starting to achieve this goal in the first place. A busy person with 26 additional actions is bound to become overwhelmed. Equally, 1 or 2 actions do not create the required momentum and sense of progress one needs to persist in their goals. The action level is the critical place to focus. Consistently acting will mean you are continually moving in the direction of your sub-goals which are ultimately moving you in the direction of your SMUUT goal (the 1). When I think of a goal related action in my daily mind-cleanse it is one that I star because it then gets priority in my daily activity. It provides the discipline we all need to act.
This is a fluid process; every time you take an action, replace it with another. Your first actions can include creating a vision board and other visuals (if you haven’t done that already). Other immediate actions can include writing the goal down as clearly as you can, sharing it with key people to create a supportive network that will hold you accountable, or picking a song that helps you think about the goal daily (and playing it on repeat). Other immediate actions can include allocating Mozart time to focus on what you need to do to move closer to this goal. These are set-up actions. They prepare your arena for you to take actions that are going to move you toward your goal.
If your goal is to run your first marathon, you need to complete these set-up actions, but sometime soon, you need to actually start running.
In this way, a big SMUUT goal becomes small. It is about the daily discipline to take and replace actions.
Here is an example of how I use 1+3+6 process. This is the start of a process hence some of the sub-goals and actions are basic. Once you take the actions and achieve the sub-goals you can increase the difficulty as you build towards your SMUUT goal.
The 1: Run a marathon by the end of 2024.
The 3: These sub-goals are within reach as I want to build my confidence and create some momentum.
One 10km run within the next 7 days
A minimum 10,000 steps each day for the next two weeks
Zero alcohol for the next two weeks
The 6: Again, these actions are about getting started and putting some building blocks in place:
Research marathons for the November/December
Agree travel plans with Leona (need to be in the right place at the right time and no big holidays in the month pre the marathon)
Enter a half marathon for May/June this year
Ask Leona to be an accountability partner
Ask my son Tom to be an accountability partner
Go for a 45-minute run today!
👉For those of you serious about your goals, check out the goals playlist I created on YouTube!
👉Want and need help to set, go after and reach your 2024 goals?
👉Want help to create and build a high performing team?
👉Contact me today: andyfell@gift631.com