Does Motivation Really Ensure Success When it Comes to Setting Goals?

In his book Motivation and Goal Setting, Jim Cairo takes a different approach to goal setting by asking the audience questions to uncover their “true” identity. This process helps you start building momentum that can carry into the accomplishments of your goals. 

First, he suggests that you must identify your desired outcome - ok, that isn’t rocket science!  However, his approach is very different from the HARD goals criteria we defined last week and the SMART goals definition I will be going into next week!  Every journey starts with the end in mind:  the ideal state you want to create for your life or your business.  He defines eight steps to get there:

1.       Examine your identity:  who you are and who you want to become.  Evaluate everything about yourself, from your attitudes and self-image to how you treat your fellow man.  Here are some questions he suggests:

a.       When thinking about myself, what am I proud of?

b.       How would my best friend describe (in terms of qualities, skills, and characteristics)?

c.       What are the three most important areas of my personal life?

d.       What are the three most important job functions I currently perform?

e.       How would I describe my “ideal” job or career?

f.        Does my current job allow me to express my true identity?

g.       Do my co-workers view me the same way I view myself?

h.       If I could, how would I restructure my current job?

2.       Define your values because they can provide the basic structure you need to build your life.  Values are our most fundamental beliefs.  They provide the foundation for your life, career, and any other important part of your life.  For a list of values you might find helpful for this evaluation, go HERE.  When you have reviewed the list, rank them 1 for the ones that are most important to 5 least important to you.  He suggests that the top 5 values should receive 80% of your time and energy.  Those values will help you guide your life and if you run all your goals through them as a filter.  It reminds you of what is most important.

3.       Establish your goals as an extension of what you value the most.  Fear of failure and fear of success both can cripple people so much that they don’t do anything.  Here are some guidelines he suggests for setting effective goals:

a.       Your goals should be an extension of your values:  what are your top 2-3 priorities?  Focus on them before moving to the next goal.

b.       Set specific goals.  Don’t define your goal loosely.  For example, use “I will lose 25 pounds,” not “lose weight.”  By defining the amount, you clarify what you want to accomplish. 

c.       Write down your goals.  Writing it down makes it more tangible and real!  Keeping it in your head doesn’t allow your subconscious to start working on how to make it happen. 

d.       Develop intermediate goals that bring you closer to your ultimate goal.  For example, when I wanted to become a dentist, I didn’t set the goal with the intention that I would accomplish that goal in 1 year.  At 14 years old, I broke it down into what I had to do in high school and then college in order to get into dental school.  Once you get into dental school, you will have four years of focused attention to reach that goal.  Breaking it down by year, then by class, by what I had to do each week made it easier and easier for me to accomplish what I truly wanted. 

e.       Visualize your goals.  Daydreaming is one of my favorite things to do when I drive.  I “daydream” while driving and envision whatever it is that I am currently working on successfully accomplishing.  To me, this is the biggest advantage I have.  I have an innate ability to visualize since I was very young.  Something to encourage if you have young children!

f.        Reward yourself.  Incentives can drive a lot of people.  When I work on something really hard, I will set myself up with small incentives to help me get there.  For example, when I finished my MBA, which was two years of attending classes all day on Saturday after working all week, I rewarded myself with a Louis Vuitton pocketbook.  When I use that purse, it reminds me of that accomplishment and reaching my goal.

4.       Create an Action Plan.  Breaking down your goals into chunks and taking the steps necessary to accomplish them is critical to your success.  It also helps you to “eat the elephant” not in one piece but one piece at a time. 

5.       Keep your motivation in check.  Believe in your ability to accomplish your goal.  If you need help, find it.  Get a coach.  Do you struggle with accountability?  A coach or a close friend can help you with that.  He suggests these four guidelines to build motivation:

a.       Believe in yourself.

b.       Feel the fear and do it anyway!

c.       View your mistakes and failures as opportunities for learning what not to do!

d.       Start now!  NOW… not tomorrow.  Because tomorrow becomes next week, then next month, then next year.  So much wasted time. 

6.       Establish discipline.  In addition, I would add focus.  You have to have your goals in front of you and review them once per week.  I have them on my phone in my task list and can review them daily.  I then review my action plan once per week. 

7.       Maintain flexibility – Survival and success require adapting to change.  Change is difficult for everyone.  I think we have all learned that during the COVID-19 Pandemic better than at any other time in our lives.  Here are a few coping techniques that might help you adapt to change in your life:

a.       View change as an opportunity, not a problem

b.       Don’t just stand there, change!

c.       Accept that change is normal and positive.

8.       Reach our outcome – Reach your goals by following your values, acting with your objectives in mind, and staying disciplined. 

For a Free SMARTER Goal reminder, see below!