I am a living example of why setting a goal that is specific and measurable is not good enough when it comes to successfully accomplishing your Year Of project.
I named 2011, the Year of the Book - a project that by many people’s standards was already highly specific and measureable. My goal was to write a book containing a beginning, middle, and an end and then measure success by either doing it or not doing it.
But then I went one step further.
I used the back of my Planner Pad to outline a 50-week plan that, if followed, would carry me swiftly and aptly toward victory. Twelve months to write eight chapters, three months for editing, and still two weeks off for holidays. So what was the problem and why, one year later, am I still bookless?
Because my goal was not achievable.
Cranking out a chapter a month was not the neat and clean process it seemed to be in January, when I so smugly placed it in my calendar.
Some chapters took longer to write and other flat out never materialized because they were poorly conceived from the beginning.
My schedule didn’t take into account sick kids, disruptions to my workplace, travel, the addition of new responsibilities, or the severe case of writers block I contracted somewhere around April or May.
So, while it is true that in 2011 my monthly, weekly, and daily goals for writing a book were specific and measurable, they were not achievable and that is why my year was not successful.
What about this year?
This year I am focused on finding peace and as such, I have set a specific goal to learn meditation. My progress will be measured by how disciplined I am in meditating two times a week for 15 minutes. And, I have decided my commitment is achievable because I already spend some of my personal time walking or writing in my journal.
How about you? If you have been following along then you’ve already identified a specific goal that supports your Year Of project and you’ve already given thought to how you will measure progress toward that goal. Now take time to write in your journal (or in our comment section) some reasons why you believe your goal is achievable.