Achieve Goals (By Keeping Them Secret?)
Goals keep you accountable, fostering dreams into reality. We all know that. But does blogging about your intentions to run a marathon before you turn 40 actually help your efforts? Decades of research on the topic proves not. This shocked me!
Does sharing goals help or hinder?
Keep your goals to yourself, says Derek Silvers, as they shape only the present, not the future. Carving goals in stone tricks your brain thinking you are one step closer to reaching those goals. This feeling of confidence makes it harder to actually work towards the goal. I enjoyed watching Derek explain his perspective on a recent Ted presentation (aka Tweeting goals isn’t that good of an idea):
If sharing goals doesn’t help, why have them?
One day, I want to become a full-time professional photographer. If I told everyone that was my goal, chances are I’d never become a Nikon Pro.
However, if I broke down my “big goal” into 101 smaller steps (repeated actions), this would encourage the daily effort needed to obtain a bigger goal.
Most goals have several steps needed to achieve the final result. Finding a mechanism that works for you – sticky notes or blog posts – reminds you to take little steps thereby forcing repetition in your brain that your goal hasn’t been achieved, yet.
Should you keep goals to yourself?
No. I say share those goals, because your friends and family want to witness your success. Sometimes they just need a tip, like strategic *hint* dropping during the holidays (my advice: earmark open Patagonia catalog, leave on kitchen table).
I like sharing goals. And I’m thankful for opportunities which resulted, ranging from shooting sports teams, creating a promo video, getting published, etc. Simply telling others my ambitions helped me and vice versa. A lesson I learned: keep your ego at the door.
Who’s right? There isn’t an answer. The point is what find what works for you and your personality and DO IT!
Plan. Create. Motivate. Achieve.
These are the words of Day Zero project, my recommendation if you need a lit candle under your bum to get things done…. especially if nothing else has worked.
As a blogger, however, my list 101 goals in 1,001 days serves as my self-imposed 4:45am wake-up call. Sticky notes are overrated. And checked-off lists on sticky notes are HIGHLY underrated!
I wanted to document in a single photo two little HUGE accomplishments which took an immense amount of sacrifice, worth every second and penny. Here’s to a paid-off car and 20 days of snowboarding in a single season:
Product review notes: 2010 VW Jetta Sportwagon TDI w/ moonroof that gets 43 mpg really rocks, a Patagonia Men’s Primo Down Jacket keeps me warm below zero yet cool above 40 degrees (dunno how it does it, but the pit zips help), and my Smith I/O goggles guards my photographer eyes from burning Colorado UV, protects me from elements of disguise, fits snug, is super comfy, and most times I forget I’m wearing it except when it falls off (Not a Trojan ad, I promise).
These three almost-but-not-quite-mainstream companies which offer products I believe in and match my lifestyle. That’s a 5’ Creative Light Octa in reflection.
PS : This image inspired by Christian Bale in Batman and Tom Cruise in Top Gun.
Tags: 101 goals 1001 days, becoming Nikon Pro, Derek Silvers goals, Patagonia Men’s Primo Down Jacket review, Smith I/O goggles review, VW Jetta Sportwagon TDI review
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