Today we will discuss the results of the goal setting workshop, working on your goals and your Happiness.

Topics:

Discussion of Workshop

We will start with a discussion of what the goal setting session was like and the upcoming assignments.

The Salami Approach to Goals

Why Do We Procrastinate Instead of Achieving our Goals?
A major reason for procrastinating on big, important tasks is that they appear so large and formidable when you first approach them (a giant salami, for example, is just too big to eat in one meal). One technique that you can use to cut a big task down to size is the "Salami slice" method of getting work done. With this method, you lay out the task in detail and then resolve to do just one slice of the job for the time being, like eating a roll of salami, one slice at a time.

Do One Small Part to Start
Psychologically, you will find it easier to do a single, small piece of a large project than to start on the whole job. Often, once you have started and completed a single part of the job, you will feel like doing just one more "slice." Soon, you will find yourself working through the job one part at a time, and before you know it, the job will be completed.

Just Get Started
Once you start working, you develop a sense of forward momentum and a feeling of accomplishment. You become energized and excited. You feel yourself internally motivated and propelled to keep going until the task is complete.

Action Exercises
Now, here are two actions you can take immediately to put these ideas into action.

First, select one big important task and lay it out in front of you. (One of your highlighted big goals from the workshop).
Second, select one part of the task and do it immediately. What is one small task you could do today? Is it an email, a phone call, some internet research, talking to someone, getting advice, stopping by some place (a store, school, business, or theatre), or buying a book?

Quadrant II: from 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

In Stephen Covey's The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People (optional extra credit reading for undergrads), Covey explains that our goals and to-dos all fall into 4 quadrants. See the image below for an illustration.

Note: The actual graph was not created by Stephen Covey. It's called the The Eisenhower Matrix. It is a decision-making model focused on time management. The method was supposedly used by former President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Eisenhower said, "What is important is seldom urgent, and what is urgent is seldom important."

Covey's research shows that the most successful people in the world spend the majority of their time in Quadrant II. They finish big issues before they get to Quadrant I. They spend very little time in quadrant III, and they spend little or no time in Quadrant IV.

Quadrant II goals are the hardest to work on because they are NOT urgent, therefore there is no pressing reason to do them now. However, the most successful people in the world, who achieve the most goals, spend their time here. They don't need to spend all their time "putting out fires" in Quadrant I, nor do they waste time in Quadrant IV. If you want to achieve the most important goals you put down in The Goal Setting Workshop, then identify what goals are in Quadrant II and put a salami approach task on your to do list for today. Small, achievable "salami" tasks in quadrant II is the way to achieve the biggest goals.

NOTE: About making it urgent. You might think, "I only have time to do urgent things right now!" So, how do you make an Quadrant II goal urgent? The answer is to make it time bound and get it on your to do list and calendar, and if possible assign consequences to NOT doing it and a reward for doing it. For example, GOOD HEALTH is one of my long term goals, and running three times a week is my "salami slice." So, I have it on my calendar to run on Wed, Sat and Monday mornings, and if I don't, I don't allow myself to watch "The Flash" with my son (he's 13) at night, but I have to run then instead. If I run in the morning, I get to watch a fun show with my son, a guilty please (Quadrant IV) for me. And if I don't, I have to run while he watches it. I don't like to run at night and I miss quality time with my son, so there are consequences to my actions.

THE ROCKS IN THE JAR

SMART GOALS

In order to achieve a goal, one of the best ways is to make sure it is SMART.

S - Specific (explain the goal in simple, specific terms, so that it is memorable)
M - Measurable (what defines success, what is the measure? - (lose 20lbs, Go to 100 auditions, 75%, $1,000)
A - Actionable or Achievable (Use an action verb to start the goal - Increase, Develop, Eliminate, Improve, Complete...)
R - Realistic or Relevant (can it really be done? is it relevant to your mission?)
T - Time Bound or Time Oriented (by Tuesday, at 3:00, February 28th)

SMARTGoals-Web.png.webp

Note: the second video adds Y for "Why are you doing i?" But that is not a usual part of the definition of SMART Goals.

Here is a short video (2:30) explaining SMART Goals from Financial Peace University:

What Is a SMART GOAL?

Here is another short video (2:50) on SMART goals we use as a learning tool for managers at Orlando Shakes.

How to Set SMART Goals