setting 2023 goals (part 2 of 2)

Happy 2023 friends 🎉

I hope that January has greeted you with renewed strength and optimism for the new year 🧡

Like many of you, I've spent the last couple of weeks in reflection mode. As I mentioned in Part 1, this reflection is an essential step prior to creating new goals. If we skip this step, we put ourselves at risk for creating goals for the sake of creating goals, ultimately making us even more busy and less fulfilled.

Today, I'm sharing a step by step framework that I've used for personal and business goal setting for the last 3 years. It's not only proven to be successful for myself, but also the team that I lead as an executive leader prior to founding Changemakers HQ .

I've sprinkled personal examples throughout the framework as a way of supporting you in implementing this in your own life. As not all readers own a business or have people-leadership responsibilities, I've refrained from providing business examples.

If you're interested in learning how to apply this framework in your leadership, there are two opportunities available to you at the end of this newsletter.

Before we dive in, I want to impart on you a nugget of wisdom that I always carry with me:

The only reason why you want what you want is because of how you think it will make you feel.

Goal setting 101

Step 1: Define your ultimate outcome (15 min)

The first order of business is to get clear on your ultimate outcome. What do you really want out of life? Consider this your north star ⭐️.

Grab your journal and write whatever comes to mind as you reflect on these questions:

• What do you ultimately want in life?
• What experiences do you want to have?
• How do you want to spend your time?
• What do you want to create?
• How do you want to contribute?
• How do you want to grow?
• What dominant emotions do you want to experience?
• What do you want to receive?
• Who do you want to be surrounded with?
• How do you define a well-lived life?
• How do you want to be remembered?

Step 2: Identify the overarching themes (5 min)

Review your responses in Step 1 to identify overarching themes.

For example, there may be a theme around spending quality time with loved ones. Or perhaps a theme on living an active and adventurous life.

Each theme represents a "life category". Your objective in this step is to capture the categories that stand out as most important to you.

There are some categories that will likely be with you throughout your life, while others show up for a cycle or season. As you evolved, so will your categories. Know that there are no "right" or "wrong" categories.

To further illustrate, I'm sharing my 2023 categories:

• Vitality (previously entitled Health)
• Financial abundance
• Spirituality
• Community
• Family (new for 2023)
• Resistance (new for 2023)

Step 3: Define your ultimate outcome for each category (15 min)

Once you have clarity on which life categories you want to bring into focus at this moment in time, the next step is to define your ultimate outcome for each category.

I liken ultimate outcomes to infinite goals: they are meant to be expressed in the form of a continuous journey.

Examples from my 2023 outcomes include:

• Vitality: to feel strong in my body and be a fountain of energy 
• Financial abundance: to work for fun, knowing that my core financial needs are already taken care of

Step 4: Establish your why (10 min)

You can either push or pull your way towards your goals.

Pushing entails force. Needing to "will" yourself to taking uncomfortable actions. A valid, yet sometimes grueling approach.

Pulling entails being drawn in. Being compelled by your internal conviction to take action. Equally valid, and possibly more powerful than pushing.

For each category, decide: why must you work towards your ultimate outcome?

What's the cost of you not taking action towards your ultimate desire?

The juicier you make this, the more leverage you will generate in moving you towards your ultimate outcome.

Step 5: Create your identity (20 min)

One of the quickest ways to create behavioural change is through making a conscious shift in identity.

The best example that I can offer is when I decided to run my first half marathon in 2020.

Up until that point, I did not consider myself to be a runner. I was an avid obstacle course racer, and while that involved some running, I mostly strength trained to prepare for races.

In fact, I had a limiting belief engrained in me from past running experiences that I physically couldn't run more than 10km because "my shins wouldn't let me". Signing up for a half marathon was a giant leap of faith. One that required a change in identity.

Once I registered for my race, I made a conscious decision to align my identity to that of an athlete. The first thing I asked myself was, as an athlete, what do I need to do to prepare for this race? The answers came to me immediately. I needed a proper training plan, athletic therapy support, nutritional advice, and new running shoes.

On days when I didn't feel like training, I'd ask myself, what would an athlete do? Every time I walked into the grocery store, I'd ask myself, what would an athlete eat while they are training?

Consistently reminding myself of my new identity made it so much easier to follow through on my commitments.

This is not faking it until you make it. This is understanding that there is a version of yourself that could accomplish your goals and that creating alignment to that identity supports the behavioural change necessary in getting to where you want to go.

More examples:

• Vitality - Vibrant Athlete: I am disciplined about how I take care of my body. I fuel my body with nutritious meals. I prioritize resting my body.
• Financial Abundance - Money Master: I am the master of my money. I put my money to work for me.

Imagine that there's a version of yourself that has already achieved your outcomes.

• What are they like?
• What characteristics do they have?
• What do they value?
• How are they spending their time?
• What are their belief systems?
• What did they need to learn to get there?
• If you could give them a name, what would it be?

Grab your pen and start writing! Create an identity for each life category.

Step 6: Define your 1-year outcome (20 min)

This is where we get S.M.A.R.T. (sort of 😉).

Now that you're clear on what you ultimately want to experience, I invite you to define your 1-year lag goals. I call them lag goals because they are ultimately result of performance measures that have taken place throughout the year.

Using my half marathon example, I had a lag goal of completing the race in 2hrs and 15 minutes. Accomplishing this lag goal is a culmination of achieving a series of lead goals (training, resting, nutrition, etc.). We'll circle back to lead goals in Step 7.

How specific you are with your 1-year lag goals will be dependent on the nature of each category. For example, I have very specific (quantitative) vitality goals this year because my focus is on physical strength and fitness (e.g. strength goals). On the other hand, I have less specific (qualitative) goals for financial abundance (e.g. a stronger money mindset).

I encourage having anywhere from one to five 1-year lag goals for each category.

Step 6: Establish better beliefs (20 min)

After identity, beliefs are the second most important aspect of any goal setting process. This is because if we don't truly believe we can accomplish something, the likelihood of us taking action towards it is low.

Examine each outcome you've created across your life categories.

Ask yourself: What are the limiting beliefs you need to let go of?

One of the limiting beliefs that I am letting go of is that I don't like managing my money (ironic for someone who worked in finance for 15 years, I'm aware 😂). Another belief that I am releasing (one that is more deep seeded) is that I need to perform to earn love and acceptance.

Now that you're clear on what isn't serving you, identify...

What new beliefs do you claim?

I've replaced the two above limiting beliefs with:

• My money is sacred and I love taking care of it
• I know my worth and refuse to settle for less than anything I deserve

Step 7: Create systems

How are you feeling? A little tired? If so, not to worry.

This approach to goal setting (which isn't really goal setting but rather, creating your life by design) requires a lot of introspection, which can be exhausting. Just remember, this is an upfront investment that will pay dividends - I promise!

As this was likely a lot to digest, I am saving Step 7: Create systems for the next edition.

Opportunities to work together

As promised... if you would love the opportunity to receive support in integrating this framework in your leadership, here are 2 opportunities available to you:

Opportunity #1: Changemaker Leadership Academy

Changemaker Leadership Academy a small cohort, 1-on-1 coaching program that is designed for mission-driven executive leaders who are eager to grow their leadership capacity in 2023.

This is perfect for you if you are:

⚡️ feeling like there is never enough time to do it all

⚡️ tired of living in survival mode

⚡️ eager to spend more time in your zone of genius

⚡️ ready to embrace a new, peaceful way of being - filled with ease and flow

In this program, we take a deep dive into:

🎉 optimizing your time and energy

🎉 cultivating a high performance culture

🎉 creating a well-balanced, full life (this is where we apply the goal setting 101 framework!)

To apply: Book a 60-minute assessment call to see if this program is right for you. (Note: this call includes a complimentary 45-minute coaching session).

Applications are processed on a first-come, first-serve basis. Enrolment closes Friday, January 13th.

Opportunity #2: Strategic Advisory & Coaching

If you are interested in strengthening your organization's operational planning process so that you can:

⚡️ spend more time on activities that drive results

⚡️ spend less time on "busy work" and putting out fires

⚡️ increase the likelihood of achieving your 2023 goals (without the burnout)

Book a complimentary 60-minute breakthrough session.

During this call, we will assess your needs, explore your roadblocks, and equip you with 1-2 actionable strategies that you can implement pronto. Of course, if there is an opportunity to work together, then we will explore this at the end of our call.

Until next time ✨