A general formula for success

[WarrenG]

If I want to get a particular result, I've found that one way of improving my odds is to break the task down into smaller parts, then work out more effective ways to do each part (or improve my skills in these areas). This worked really well with studying, so just for an experiment I tried to break down a few other things into their constituent parts, and I found that I could make a very broad, very generalised structure out of almost everything.

There are probably other ways, possibly better ways of breaking tasks down, and different breakdowns might be needed for different tasks. But I wanted to throw this out and get some feedback. Am I on to something? Is it too simplified? Does it apply only to certain goals? Let me know what you think!

I broke success (or goal-achievement if you prefer) into these parts:

• Goal setting and planning
• Motivation
• Performance
• Feedback
• Review

Here's a rough description of each one.

Goal setting and planning

This involves all of the planning phase. Setting goals, intermittent targets, making sure the goal is right for you and organising your time with whatever system you prefer or is most appropriate to the task at hand.

Motivation

Finding and taking any necessary steps to increase your motivation to complete the tasks that you have identified in the previous step. This might be things like reminding yourself of the benefits, telling friends so there's social pressure, finding a partner or some friendly competition, and reworking the tasks you'll need to complete so that they are more interesting and fulfilling to you. Things like this.

Performance

Thinking about the actual things you will need to do, what can you do to make yourself better at these tasks? Are there specific skills they need that can be developed separately? Are there more efficient ways of doing them? Can you do them in a better location, or in a way that brings your personal strengths more into use. This step is about finding ways to take actions in a more efficient way.

Feedback

To know whether actions are working, I think it's essential to have a reliable and accurate way of measuring the outcomes. Sometimes this is obvious, such as if you're goal is to lose weight or earn more money. But sometimes you might have to try other things, like self-report questionnaires. Some self-tracking methods are more effective than others of course, and the more accurate your feedback the better.

Review

Using feedback you can then reflect on your approach and whether it's getting the results you predicted. Then you can go back to the start, and make tweaks in different areas. So the formula becomes a cycle which is continually adapted and refined based on the results you are getting.

When I actually type this out it looks a little simplistic and just common sense, but that's OK - I'm just looking for a generalised framework that more specific things can be slotted into. I also think it's no well-suited to certain goals, it might be too structured and inorganic for relationship goals, for instance, but I suppose people don't generally think of relationships when they think of 'success' (more's the pity, perhaps).

What do you think? Have I missed anything out? Would you change the formula? Would thinking about your goals in this way be useful? Or not?

Looking forward to your feedback!

[Swede]

I think you are right. And the basics of personal development are very much common sense. Nonetheless, they make sense.

However, I think that goal-setting is only the first step. To be driven by values and ideas makes us stronger and more flexible. I would also like to emphasize the value of co-operation, I think that is closer to the key to success than goal setting. Evalute who can help you, seek out that person. Give and gain.

[Mounds]

I very much like this Warren! I love using systems to achieve goals. Linear personal development if you will

I've thought about this from time to time. Someone should create a program where you enter your goal and it asks you all the appropriate questions, resulting in a handy report to print off. Now usually when someone says something like I just said, people drop everything they are doing in order to say, "You shouldn't need that!!!11!!!1". Well naysayers, I'm living in the 21st century and I'm a busy man. I would go ape over something like that. I sincerely hope that there is a tech savvy entrepreneur reading this. I have a difficult time keeping track of my goals and I've tried it all. I need a virtual coach. Ignore every upcoming post that says this is an unnecessary product and just create it. I will buy it and I will push it on my loved ones! Seriously, some guy is selling journalling software for $40 a pop. Why has no one created goal software?
I've also gone through the myriad of internet goal setting sites. If it requires me to find the site, register and continuously log in to check my progress, I'm not going to use it. Been there, done that. We need something just like "The Journal". Call it "The Goal Binder" if you will! Just someone please create it!

/plea off

-Tim

[Sue_B]

Hey Warren - breaking goals into smaller tasks is right on the money. Otherwise a goal can look daunting causing procrastination. I think chunking a goal down is applicable to all goals.

The other advantage of breaking goals into smaller pieces is you can feel victorious every time you complete one piece. Those small victories feel great and help keep us motivated.

Another piece in goal setting is setting ourselves up for success by managing ourselves around time. I've heard a number of experts say to write out your top 3 income producing activities for the next day before you go to sleep. Work on the first activity for 1-1.5 hours. Take a 10-15 min. break where you get up and stretch or walk around. Then work on it or the 2nd activity (if you've completed the 1st activity) for 1-1.5 hours. Then you can take 15 min. to read and answer emails.

I've also heard experts say to start the day off with meditation/breathing exercises, exercise, reading/listening to motivational or inspirational material and eating a really healthy breakfast before starting work.

[Mark Dykeman]

Makes a lot of sense, Warren!

[WarrenG]

Appreciate the feedback!

Originally Posted by Swede

I think you are right. And the basics of personal development are very much common sense. Nonetheless, they make sense.

However, I think that goal-setting is only the first step. To be driven by values and ideas makes us stronger and more flexible. I would also like to emphasize the value of co-operation, I think that is closer to the key to success than goal setting. Evalute who can help you, seek out that person. Give and gain.

Very good point, making sure your goals are concordant with your values and beliefs makes you more likely to reach them, and more satisfied when you do. I'll add that in. Cheers!

Originally Posted by Mounds

I very much like this Warren! I love using systems to achieve goals. Linear personal development if you will

I've thought about this from time to time. Someone should create a program where you enter your goal and it asks you all the appropriate questions, resulting in a handy report to print off. Now usually when someone says something like I just said, people drop everything they are doing in order to say, "You shouldn't need that!!!11!!!1". Well naysayers, I'm living in the 21st century and I'm a busy man.

Tim,

I don't have the programming skills to pull that off. But I like the idea... you're saying the program would ask you, what your goal is, what the intermittent targets are, and you move through a 'Wizard' type thing that ensures all the recommended goal setting and planning steps have been taken. Then perhaps gives you daily reminders and so on, pops up in your screen and stuff? Maybe you add your feedback and it monitors your progress, and if you're falling short of target brings up motivational techniques and reminders and stuff? Something like that?

Originally Posted by Sue_B

Another piece in goal setting is setting ourselves up for success by managing ourselves around time. I've heard a number of experts say to write out your top 3 income producing activities for the next day before you go to sleep. Work on the first activity for 1-1.5 hours. Take a 10-15 min. break where you get up and stretch or walk around. Then work on it or the 2nd activity (if you've completed the 1st activity) for 1-1.5 hours. Then you can take 15 min. to read and answer emails.

I've also heard experts say to start the day off with meditation/breathing exercises, exercise, reading/listening to motivational or inspirational material and eating a really healthy breakfast before starting work.

I hear you on the meditation. I track my productivity with RescueTime (pay program but there's a free account version that gives me all I need - day-to-day tracking), and I also write down how many minutes of meditation I do each day. I found there was no correlation between the two (yes I actually ran the data through SPSS...I'm that way inclined), BUT...on days where I did meditation the productivity was significantly higher. So I don't even have to do a lot, if I just force myself to sit at the start of the day, it helps.

Thanks for your other idea about prioritising too... I like the idea of working out the top income producing activities. I'll definitely implement that idea, although with web stuff it's often hard to tell what will work.

Originally Posted by Mark Dykeman

Makes a lot of sense, Warren!

Thanks Mark!

[WarrenG]

Originally Posted by Mounds

I've also gone through the myriad of internet goal setting sites. If it requires me to find the site, register and continuously log in to check my progress, I'm not going to use it. Been there, done that. We need something just like "The Journal". Call it "The Goal Binder" if you will! Just someone please create it!

/plea off

-Tim

It'd be cool if it could sync with your phone too... Damnit Tim, now you've got me wanting this program too!