Article #07: Goal Resolution(s)
“A goal without a plan is just a wish.” - Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
The Uselessness of “Five Second Goals”
Quick. Think of a goal that you have for yourself. It can be any goal, for anything. Once you have a goal in mind, think of this: what does your goal even mean? For example, imagine someone has the goal to…
“Have a good job.”
“Own a home.”
“Travel around the world.”
These goals are nice goals to have; however, they are not articulated well enough. What does a “good” job mean? That it pays well? That it gives you a sense of purpose? That it offers benefits? A light schedule that gives you loads of free time for friends and family? All of the above? Take this questioning even further. What does pay “well” mean? Enough to live contently? Enough to live lavishly? What does a sense of “purpose” mean? That you help the local, or global community? That you push your field passed the edge of what is currently possible or understood? How about “loads of free time” for friends and family? Does that mean just an open weekend? The chance to plan a few vacations? The chance to take a mini-retirement? Or a weekly schedule that you get to set, leaving you breathing room to organize the rest of your life?
Another problem with these “five second goals” is that they are not actionable. They currently offer no advice for what you should do today to make sure your goals are achieved. The rest of this article will help you figure out how to expand your goals, no matter how big or small they are (if the first goal you thought of was, “write an essay/study for my test,” the advice below still helps!)
The Different Meanings of “Goal Resolution”
You most likely are familiar with the concept of “New Year’s Resolutions”, and how a lot of people make (and a lot break) goals for themselves. There are plenty of reasons for someone to fail at achieving their goals. It could be a reason outside of their control, such as a booked schedule that does not offer necessary time. But, it could also be a reason that is within their control: maybe their goal wasn’t clear enough. For example, someone could have the goal of “eating healthy”, or “going to the gym”, but what does eating healthy or going to the gym mean? What should the person eat, and not eat? Did they go to the gym? Good start. Did they have a plan for what to do at the gym? Probably not.
The meaning of resolution in “Goal Resolution” is to accomplish the goal. Think about how this can work negatively for someone: if they have the goal of “going to the gym”, and they go ONCE, they accomplished their goal! Instead, we should use a different meaning of resolution: the clarity of an image, like a computer screen’s resolution. If an image’s resolution is low, it is difficult to see where one object ends and another begins. If a goal’s resolution is low, it is difficult to see where one objective ends and another begins. The first step you should take to accomplish your goal is clarifying what your goal means. Complete this step, and your goal will have a proper resolution.
From Intangible to Tangible — From the Goal to Today
Intangible means “incapable of being defined”. So of course, you don’t want your goals to be intangible. The problem is that every goal created begins as intangible. If a goal was tangible, it wouldn’t be a goal! You would know exactly what to do, and when to do it.
You need to figure out how to map your goal. What will be the last step you take before you cross that finish line? What will be the step before that? Continue this, until you figure out the first step to take. It is important that you write each of these steps out in a clear, and partitioned manner. It might feel natural to group things together, but this could make it difficult to begin action. Keep each part separate. I recommend using “If/Then” statements (Scientific Method!) and chaining them together. Here is an example of an If/Then chain that I recommended in the first Q&A article:
FINAL GOAL: “For my career, I want to be _____.” (e.g. a computer scientist)
Next: “If I want to be _____, then I must _____.” (a computer scientist / have a job in computer science)
Next: “If I want _____, then I must _____.” (a computer science job / have the credentials)
Next: “If I want _____, then I must _____.” (those credentials / have the experience or degree)
Next: “If I want _____, then I must _____.” (a computer science degree / go to college)
Next: “If I want _____, then I must _____.” (to go to college / have the admission requirements)
NOW: “If I want _____, then TODAY I must _____.” (e.g. what can you do today?)
This converts the intangible goal of becoming a computer scientist, into tangible steps that are easily measurable and actionable. For this example, this person now knows that IF they want to achieve this goal, THEN today they should focus on meeting the admission requirements. Define your goals to a proper resolution, articulate the steps necessary to get there, and begin working on what you should do to realize your goals.
P.A.T.H. (Purpose, Articulated, Tailored, Habits)
This next section is an older version of my take on goal resolutions. I thought it could still be beneficial for readers, since it offers a type of checklist method for writing out your goals. “If you want to get to your goal, you need to know the PATH to get there.” Here are the four parts of P.A.T.H.:
Purpose: Define the purpose of your goal. Why is this a goal for yourself? How is it useful for you? What do you get out of it?
Articulated: Get specific with your goal. Are there things you could measure to see if you are getting closer to your goal? Start measuring and documenting then.
Tailored: Like a tailored suit, make the goal and the necessary steps fit you. Is your goal reasonable for yourself? Should you aim above or below this goal for now? Do you believe in the purpose that you defined for this goal?
Habits: What are the habits that you should obtain and maintain for your goal? Be sure to repeat the goal resolution process for the habits! Make the habits approachable: easy small goals that add up to steady progress. (Spoiler: the next article will be about habits and how to define, measure, and start them.)
At A Glance:
Redefine your goals in a way that shows the necessary steps to accomplish each goal.
Create an If/Then chain for each goal that you have to help clarify where you should start and where you are heading.
Be sure to define the purpose of the goal. Determine specific things to measure and document to show that you are progressing. Set reasonable goals that fit to your current situation. Start building habits that push you towards your goal.
Recommended Exercises:
Try to create an If/Then chain for a goal that you have. Bonus points if you create an If/Then chain for each of the Minor Concerns (Article #06: Concerns of Life)
Try to edit the goal, “have a good job,” into a more articulated goal. Try to aim for more than 20 words!