CHUNK DOWN YOUR GOALS

The Secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret of getting started is breaking your complex, overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks, and then starting on the first one.

MARK TWAIN.

Sometimes our biggest life goal seem so overwhelming. We rarely see them as a series of small, achievable tasks, but in reality, breaking down a large goal into smaller tasks – and accomplishing them one at a time – is exactly how any big goal gets achieved. So after you have decided what you really want and set measurable goals with specific deadlines, the next step is to determine all of the individual action steps you will need to take to accomplish your goal.

HOW TO CHUNK IT DOWN

There are several ways to figure out the action steps you will need to take to accomplish any goal. One is to consult with people who have already done what you want to do and ask what step they took. From their experience, they can give you all of the necessary steps as well as advice on what pitfalls to avoid. Another way is to purchase a book or manual that outlines the process. Yet another way is to start from the end and look backward. You simply close your eyes and imagine that it is now future and you have already achieved your goal. Then just look back and see what you had to do to get to where you now are. Look back and see the series of steps you took in your mind back to the first step you took. It is okay not to know how to do something and to ask for guidance and advice from those who do know. You might have to pay for it and it might be free. Know how to ask questions like “can you tell me how to go about….?”  “What would I have to do to…?” and “How did you…?”  Keep researching and asking until you can create a realistic action plan that will get you from where you want to go. Action plans like:

·         What will I need to do?

·         How much money will I need to save or raise?

·         What new sills do I need to learn?

·         What resources will I need to mobilize?

·         Who will I need to enroll in my vision?

·         Who will I need to ask for assistance?

·         What new habit do I need to adopt?

A valuable technique for creating an action plan for your goals is called mind mapping.

We’ll discuss more on mind mapping on the next article….











(Thoughts by Jack Canfield)