Almost every year, I make New Year’s goals. Maybe you are like I am, and tend to get overloaded with the list of things we would like to change. This year, I am reconsidering how I make that list. Instead of sinking under the weight of too many New Year’s goals AT ONE TIME, I am going to try to tackle them ONE AT A TIME. I have made so many goals, year after year, and this year, I am not working on a long list of goals. I am working on one practical goal until I hit the target, and then I will move onto another goal.
I am calling it my Goal Snowball.
What do I mean by a Goal Snowball? I mean, start small and gain momentum.
Here is goal #1: I am a writer and I don’t know how to type. Don’t laugh! I type with three fingers, while staring at the keyboard. It is embarrassing. I look like a chimpanzee, while I type 33 words per minute with 52 errors each time. I make more mistakes than words. My life would be ruined if the delete key broke. So, starting in January 2016, I am going to work on my typing until I can type 45 words per minute with no more than 10 errors each time WITHOUT LOOKING AT THE KEYBOARD! It’s not impressive, but it’s progress. When I can hit that target then I will think about tackling another New Year’s goal. It may take me a few weeks (or it may take me all year), but I am not moving on until I hit the target on this one practical goal! Maybe letting all of you know will hold me accountable!
In a recent blog post by Michael Hyatt, he mentioned key aspects of achieving New Years goals. I think it is a helpful resource so I have linked to it here, but honestly, I am stopping right at point #1 on his list myself. He suggests that we need to “find our why.” I have found my why where typing is concerned: I need to become a better typist because this is how I make my living. That’s good enough, I think.
If you are interested in creating a Goal Snowball this year, begin by thinking about the ONE SMALL ACCOMPLISHMENT that would make your life easier. Pick a finish line that you think you might be able to reach in one month or two. I drew my inspiration for the Goal Snowball from Dave Ramsey’s advice to beat debt by creating a “debt snowball.” He says that you should start with your SMALLEST debt balance and attack that with intensity until it is gone, then to move onto the next smallest balance and so on. Other financial advisors would insist that a person should attack the debt with the highest interest rate, no matter the size of the balance. But Ramsey says that the emotional benefit of obliterating one small bill will create unstoppable momentum for the ones to follow.
Wouldn’t it be similar with goal-setting in other areas of our lives, not just debt reduction? Think of your New Year’s resolutions as a Goal Snowball. I have my list of several other goals, but they are not worth mentioning or thinking about until I tackle typing. I am going after that one small goal with intensity and building from there.
Whether you go with the Goal Snowball approach, let me know your New Year’s goals so I can cheer you on! And let’s all keep going.
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