Set, Keep & Realize CLEAR Goals

“What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals.”  
- Henry David Thoreau 
American author, poet, philosopher, abolitionist, naturalist, tax resister, development critic, surveyor, historian, and leading transcendentalist. (1817 – 1862)  

Part of what bring on disinterest or those excuses is how the goals are set.  Many goals are "fuzzy".  Fuzzy goals are goals with "more", "less", "better", or "try harder" in them.  These are fuzzy because they are not quantifiable.  Things that are not measurable, are not track-able, and therefore, their attainment is also fuzzy!

For you, and if you coach/encourage others, ensure you set CLEAR goals, meaning the goals are:  

Captured - If they aren't recorded, they are not likely going to even get remembered!

Livable - If the goals are possible and realistic within your world, they can be taken seriously.   
Evaluative - If there is a way to assess movement/progression, you can show advancement! 

Actionable- When there is a first step, there can/will be a second and so on.  Action begets action! 

Resonating - Goals that are personable and connect are those that click with/for you! 

With CLEAR goals in January, or anytime, you are able to hold yourself accountable, and realize what has been accomplished...and leave the fuzzy behind!

State Vs. Question When Seeking Input

“Any general statement is like a check drawn on a bank. Its value depends on what is there to meet it.”

-Ezra Pound

American poet and critic who was a major figure of the early modernist movement.

(1885 – 1972)

How many times have you said “Did you get my email?” or “Did you get my voicemail?” when running into someone after sending or leaving a message?  or how many times have you heard “Did you get my email?” or “Did you get my voicemail?” from someone when running into that person after s/he sent or left a message?  

Either way, people can feel slighted and/or put on the spot.  This type of inquiry typically leads to excuses, explanations, and a lot of chatter that does not address the issue, rather just answers the question posed.

If you are the one doing the asking, instead, please consider changing that question to a statement. Greeting someone with a kind “Hello” that is eventually followed by “You may or may not have received my email and…”, or “You may or may not have heard my voicemail, and…”.  This verbiage is kind, shares there was previous communication, and doesn’t put someone on the spot.  There will likely be no mention of whether or not s/he read or listened to your message, and at that point, that’s okay, as you can move to addressing the topic at hand rather the receipt of a previous send.