Hello loves! Last week we talked about using time to reset dormant ideas. This week the comeback continues. We’re going to establish our goals and maintain them. It sounds daunting but it isn’t.

In the Bible, Habakkuk 2:2 in part reads, “Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.”(KJV) This is one of my favorite Bible verses. It’s simple, straightforward, and can apply to anyone no matter their beliefs. In order to establish a goal:

1. Write your goal down – It is impossible to maintain a goal if you have no idea what it is. Writing down what you want to accomplish gives it a reality you don’t have when the goal only exists in your mind. I personally advocate for a planner or notebook to physically write my goals down, but this may not be the best for everyone. My youngest son prefers to write things on his phone or laptop. His older brother does both. The key is to write your end goal down.

Now that you have a written goal and you’re probably thinking, “OK I wrote it down. Now what?” I’m so glad you asked! Your next task will be to:

2. Create a plan and break it down – I use a planner called the Passion Planner to keep track of my goals. One of the first tasks in a Passion Planner is to fill out a road map – goals you want to accomplish this year and beyond. You then break one goal down into steps you need to take to accomplish it by the date you set. Give these steps dates to finish. Be as specific as possible when breaking down your goal. It is better to have too many steps you can trim down then not enough steps so you have to start over. Complete this process for every goal you are currently working on.

I strongly suggest that you only work on a few goals at a time. It might get overwhelming, and it would be difficult to track progress for multiple goals. Limit yourself to one major goal, but no more than two or three. Plug your steps into a planner or onto your phone’s calendar. This leads me to the next step:

3. Build consistency – When you add dates to your steps and make steady progress you are building consistency. Consistency is magic. It creates momentum allowing you to meet your goal faster. People love knowing you are working steadily towards completing a goal and are more willing to help. Consistency gives you a routine that others can anticipate and show up for. So be consistent.

While we are on the subject of building routines, let me take a detour to explain the difference between a routine and a tradition. A routine is a system designed to get something done as efficiently as possible. Routines are temporary in nature. As you improve so will your methods. A tradition is a routine that is passed down but is no longer the best method. I’m not saying all traditions are bad. When tradition bogs down a process – done only because “we’ve always done it this way” – put it to the side to establish a new routine and incorporate a new tradition.

For instance, I am a temporary worker. Most companies hire people like me to fulfill a short term need. I get in, learn their routines to keep them going, then I get out. Then there are companies that want a temporary solution to a permanent problem. They keep temps indefinitely for no other reason than to avoid looking for a permanent person. I can’t change the tradition because I am not a part of the company. The company gets bogged down using less efficient routines and spending way more money than if they hired the temp permanently or found someone else. I often can’t bring my full skill set nor learn anything new because I do not have full access. The only one benefiting from this arrangement is the agency. I said all of that to say:

4. Don’t let tradition bog down your routines – I want you to reach your goals as quickly as possible. Renovating your routine is one of the best ways to do that. If you are only doing something because you’ve always done it then you need to reevaluate your process.

Thanks for joining me today. If this has helped you in any way, please comment below and share. Click here if you would like to get a goal breakdown road map. Later loves!