What if you could accomplish ONE THING this year that had the power to change EVERYTHING else?
There are plenty of goal-setting techniques out there and many of them have value. But if you’re not sure where to start none of them will do you any good. Most of us are burned out on New Year’s resolutions because we’ve discovered they just don’t work. A recent study revealed most people give up on their New Year’s resolutions by January 12th and just 8% of people keep their New Year’s goals.
That’s why I suggest starting with just ONE THING.
That’s right, just one goal.
The problem with most goals isn’t that they are impossible but that they lack specificity. We also tend to overestimate what we can do in the short term and underestimate what we can do in the long term.
If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably fallen short of more goals and resolutions than you’ve accomplished. On the one hand, at least you’re trying! But on the other hand, falling short of your goals can be quite discouraging. Often this happens simply because we spread ourselves too thin. Simply put – our eyes are bigger than our stomachs when it comes to goal setting. We tend to bite off more than we can chew in the short term and not dream big enough when it comes to our long-term goals.
(This is part 2 of a series called, Setting Goals You Can Actually Achieve. If you haven’t read part 1 yet, you can do that here.)
Instead of Everything, Choose ONE THING!
Out of all the goal-setting systems I’ve tried, I’ve had the most success with this one. I call it ONE THING, and it starts with a simple question:
“If there is ONE THING you could do this year that would change your life, what would it be and how would your life be different?” I first heard this question in a message by Andy Stanley called This One Thing (it’s a free download as a part of the Rewind series).
Here are some examples he gives:
- A habit to break
- A relationship to restore
- A relationship you need to end
- An addiction to overcome
- A business or ministry to start
- A project you need to finish
- A debt you need to retire
- Going back to school
Laser-Like Focus
Andy goes on to ask, what is that nagging thing that you think about every year (or every day for that matter) but never give it the energy and focus it deserves? Why not make this the year that thing is put to rest, finished, or started? It will require a laser-like focus and a sticky resolve.
Expect resistance as you move toward your goals.
Accomplishing your most important goals is going to require laser focus. And the same goes for you.
Getting Clear On Your ONE THING
If all your goals pale in comparison to one obvious goal, you can literally choose just ONE for the year. By default, having just one guarantees that you will be laser-focused!
But most years, I choose ONE THING in each of the major areas of my life. You may also need to set more than one goal for your job or career. Start with this: take a look at the following areas and write out a goal for each area. Is there ONE that is MOST important?
- A spiritual goal
- A physical goal
- An emotional health goal
- A relationship goal (marriage, family, or friendships)
- A work or career-related goal
- A financial goal
I recommend using a working document (I use Google docs) so you can keep your Annual Goals all in one place and adjust them as needed. Print them each time you make a change and keep it somewhere you can see it every day. On the first page, I simply list my ONE THING Goal for each category.
It’s important not to exceed 10-12 goals for the year. If you don’t have a lot of experience and a track record of success, start with a few or even just one goal. If you do have more than one, make sure you identify the most important one. If all else fails, focus on that!
Research shows that people who do these three simple steps dramatically increase the likelihood of achieving their goals: 1) Write down their goals 2) Commit to goal-oriented actions 3) Create accountability for those actions.² I’ve also typed my major goals up on a postcard and hung them in conspicuous places to keep them in front of me – including the shower (I had to laminate it).
After listing out your goals for each one on the first page, the next page on your Google doc is where you will outline your next steps for the 1-3 goals you are going to attack in Q1 of the New Year. We will tackle that in the next few posts.
Get the ONE THING Worksheet
Tired of failed New Year’s resolutions? I was too! That’s why I put together this free resource to help you crush your goals this year!
Setting Goals You Can Actually Achieve (the Series)
- Part 1: Tired of Failed New Year’s Resolutions? Me Too!
- Part 3: Start with WHO Instead of WHAT
- Part 4: Four Rhythms to Help You Achieve Your Goals This Year
Here are some other resources I’ve put together over the years having to do with dreams, goals, and desires.
Other Posts I’ve Written on Goal Setting
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Photo by Chase Clark on Unsplash
Joe Jansen says
Kent,
Great blog post on achieving goals.
I like the worksheet.
Coaching is helpful in staying focused on the One thing!
Kent Murawski says
Thanks, Joe! What are some things you’ve found helpful to achieve your goals?