ONE THING that could change EVERYTHING This Year (Setting Goals You Can Actually Achieve – Part 2)

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. People are burned out on New Year’s resolutions because they 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.

(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.)

That’s why I suggest starting with just ONE THING. 

That’s right, just one goal.

Why Your Goals Aren’t Working

If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably fallen short of more goals and resolutions than you’ve accomplished. At least you’re trying, but falling short of your goals can also be discouraging. This happens for several reasons:

• We spread ourselves too thin. Our eyes are bigger than our stomachs when it comes to goal setting.
• We overestimate what we can do in the short term and underestimate what we can do in the long term.
• We bite off more than we can chew in the short term and do not dream big enough when it comes to our long-term goals.
• Our goals lack specificity.

Instead of Everything, Choose ONE THING!

Out of all the goal-setting systems I’ve tried, I’ve had the most success with the one I’ve developed. 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 posed by Andy Stanley in a message 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 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-like focus.

Getting Clear On Your ONE THING

If all your goals pale in comparison to one obvious goal, you can choose just ONE for the year. By default, having just one goal guarantees that you will be laser-focused!

Most years I choose ONE THING in each of the major areas of my life – personal, marriage/family, and business. It’s okay to have more than one for the whole year but I recommend not going beyond 8-12. Then each quarter, you can have up to one big goal in each category I mentioned. You may need to accomplish more than one goal per quarter for your job or career, and that’s okay because you spend a lot of time at work, but I recommend having no more than three per quarter with one as a priority and two secondary goals.

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!

To begin, look at the following areas and write out a goal for each area.

• 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

Is there ONE that seems MOST important?

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 them every day.

Research shows that people who do these three simple steps dramatically increase the likelihood of achieving their goals:

1. Write down your goals (I’ve even typed my major goals up on a postcard and hung them in conspicuous places to keep them in front of me – including the shower!)
2. Commit to goal-oriented actions
3. Create accountability for those actions.

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? 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 to help you with your dreams, goals, and desires.

Other Posts I’ve Written on Goal Setting

1. Setting Goals You Can Achieve
2. No Expectations
3. Unfulfilled Expectations
4. No Pressure

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Photo by Chase Clark on Unsplash