How I Determined My 2024 Goals
I’ve heard it stated that by sharing your goals openly, you already receive the dopamine of the reward of accomplishing that goal and thus lose the desire to continue to pursue said goals. I’m not sure how much I buy into that, as I am a proponent of vulnerability, BUT, in the spirit of playing it safe, I decided that instead of sharing my actual 2024 goals with you (at least the ones I haven’t already), that I will walk you through how I determined my goals. This inserts you into the story of your own goal setting without having to feel a certain way about the ones that may or may not be on my list for the new year.
First off, you should know, if you don’t by now, that I am a huge fan of the Full Focus Planner from Michael Hyatt. In fact, I shared all about it in a geeked-out episode with my friend and business partner, Blake Behr, in last week’s podcast episode.
With that being said, here’s how I determined my 2024 goals that may be helpful in your similar quest:
KEEP A RUNNING LIST. I began a running list of potential ambitions for the new year back in October. Anytime something came to mind that I may have an interest in pursuing or an area I thought about growing in, I would write it down on a running note on my iPhone. I kept this up until about the end of November before starting to edit the list. I know it’s December, but its never too late to begin this practice. Start today! Take the week and jot down every ambition that comes to mind.
EDIT THE LIST. Next, I will edit down the list, ridding it of any ridiculous late-night dreams that are more fantasy than dream.
RUN IT THROUGH MAJOR LIFE AREAS. This is where the Full Focus Planner begins to kick in. Inside, Michael lists the 9 major life life domains: Body, Mind, Spirit, Love, Family, Community, Money, Work, and Hobbies. Running my goals through this list helps make sure I’m maintaining well-rounded ambitions. For example, I don’t want to put so much emphasis on money that I forget to be intentional about community.
DISCUSS WITH MY SPOUSE. This is major, and a step I think most married people often neglect. It’s important to make sure that you are not heading down a path that could potentially be life-altering without first discussing and agreeing to it with your partner in life.
5 DAYS TO YOUR BEST YEAR EVER. This year, for the first time, I read and walked through Michael Hyatt’s “5 Days To Your Best Year Ever.” It’s a simple guide to help you think through your motivations for each goal and set each of them up for success before the new year begins.
Look, I know goals can seem daunting to the point where you may have convinced yourself that you’re better off without them. However, I am a firm believer that a life without vision isn’t a life worth living. I also believe that if you’re still alive then you still have a purpose, so why not get out there and make the absolute most of each day?
Work Hard. Trust God.