“The better you are at planning your day based on the future you want to create — and then living in accordance with that plan — the more motivation and passion you’ll experience in your life. And also more confidence.”
–Benjamin P. Hardy

Focus on 3 types of goals:

When you’re doing something new, here are the 3 types of goals to create, along with examples for each.

Cautionary Note: these are just examples to stimulate your thinking and creativity. You need to adopt goals that are right for your personal situation, intentions, and preferences.

1. Lifestyle Activity Goals (include activities you do or would enjoy in your future envisioned life). Here’s where the inspiration is. These are things you’ll be able to do when you’ve reached your intended goal. For example:
   • Playing catch with grandchildren at the park
   • Taking selfies and proudly sharing them on Facebook
   • Hiking in Colorado with your family
   • Ziplining or riding a rollercoaster
   • Triathlon
2. Process Goals and Actions You Can Take Now that will support achieving your long term goals. These are activities you’ll do and things you’ll watch while you work toward your goal. For example:
   • Healthy, whole foods in the fridge at all times.
   • Being proud of yourself.
   • Reduce then eliminate triggers in Places you spend your time.
   • Reduce then eliminate triggers among your people.
   • Reduce then eliminate your cravings and responsiveness to triggers.
3. Maintenance End State Goals (easily verifiable metrics to determine progress or overall success). These are goals you intend to meet at the end state of your initiative. For Example:
   • BMI = 24
   • Visible Body definition (tendons, veins, knees, ankles, abdominals)
   • Pants size 10
   • Weight = 140 pounds
   • Specific Circumference Measurements (waist, chest, stomach, neck, arms, wrists, ankles)
   • Metabolic numbers
     • Cholesterol
     • H1C
     • Insulin
     • Blood Pressure

How to write your goals

Work from your foundation

All of your most powerful goals will arise from your values, vision statement(s), and mission statement(s). As you work on these various views of yourself and your life, consider the alignment between them. If there is an inconsistency between them, consider the source of the difference. Update the appropriate document(s) to realign them and portray what you’re out to do.

When our policies and our operating goals are inconsistent, we experience dissonance and discomfort. We ultimately find ourselves stuck, not making desired progress.

Be specific

Define  SMART goals, as much as possible. Reach out for help if you aren’t sure. (The link at will open in a new window. Just close it when you’re done and you’ll be back here.)

Caution:

We will not willingly take action that is inconsistent with our core values.

Practice

Begin to notice times and places you become stopped or stuck. Look at them closely: there’s likely a misalignment between them.

Once you look openly and authentically and sort out the inconsistency, you will find newfound freedom for action and unhindered forward progress.

Caution:

Do not get caught up in using goals as tools for instilling shame or as yardsticks for failure.

Goals are aspirational milestones we use to orient actions, name appropriate (vs inappropriate) behaviors, and create habits over time.

Analogous to what we said in the Power segment of this program, if responsibility is a place to find power, goals are a place to find direction and inspiration.

If a goal is not inspiring and motivational, it is not a goal. For example, some people will be empowered by a daily or weekly weigh-in, while others will find it stressful and unproductive.

Practice

Remember your commitment to Play, also from the Power segment of this program. (This link will open in a new window. Just close it and you’ll be back here.)

Have fun with this!

Be inspired by what’s possible.

Don’t beat yourself (or others) up over what’s not yet achieved.

Any unmet goal or step backward in results is just a signal to consider what actions you can take to resume the trend in the direction you want. Then, it’s your opportunity to take that action!

The whole truth of innovation and meaningful change is: it hasn’t been done before. Don’t give up or get overwhelmed if you don’t get it right on the first try. Try again!

It will get done as you thoughtfully Plan your Purpose, Plot your Path, Perform and Produce results.

Reflect

Write short answers to these questions, and include them in your PowerBoard.

• What was most useful for you here?
• What one idea can you put to use immediately?

Results

You now have 3 or more goals to expand your original goal, and you have another technique you can use in future planning.

“Keep your goals in front of you and your fears behind you.”

–Tony Robbins

Examples

In addition to the examples above, here are some places I’ve found helpful for identifying and managing various types of goals.

Simple internet search

Just ask your specific question in a search engine.

For example:

• “weight loss goals”
• “relationships goals”
• “work life goals”

Eating Goals

• USDA Dietary Guidelines
• Science Explains How the Body Reacts to Sugar (hint: it’s not great)
• The Diet Cure: The 8-Step Program to Rebalance Your Body Chemistry and End Food Cravings, Weight Gain, and Mood Swings–Naturally
• MyFitnessPal.com

Movement Goals

• US HHS Physical Activity Guidelines
• sparkpeople.com

Relationship Goals

• 28 Real Relationship Goals You (actually) Want
• PsychologyToday.com (search for “relationship goals” in the site search)

Work Life Goals

• How To Achieve Work Life Balance (By Using 3 Types Of Goals)

Next: Take a week off to practice what you’ve learned, then

Click Here and Assess Your Team

For More Information

• The Power of Writing Down Your Goals and Dreams
• SMART goals
  • How to Set SMART goals
  • Write achievable goals with the SMART goals framework
• Mini-bios excerpted from:
  • Benjamin P. Hardy: his website
  • Tony Robbins: his website
• Reflection questions are inspired by The Coaching Habit.

Photo Credits

• apple device beverage chat woman working at computer: Photo by rawpixel.com from Pexels. Link.
• Benjamin P. Hardy: Photo provided by Benjamin P. Hardy
• Tony Robbins: By Randy Stewart – https://www.flickr.com/photos/stewtopia/3948482669/, CC BY-SA 2.0, Link.
• Mont Blanc ascent: Photo by Charlie Hammond on Unsplash. Link.