Setting Goals

When I create a plan, I start with my objective in mind and then brainstorm how to get there from here. At the top of a piece of paper, I write this question: What steps do I need to take to ________? Then I simply fill in the blank, ask myself the question, and write my answers.

Let’s make up an example. Suppose your wish is to become Director of Operations for XYZ Emporium. At the top of a piece of paper you write this question: What steps do I need to take to become director of operations at XYZ Emporium? Ask yourself this question and write the answers. They might look like this.

1. Call my friends to see if any of them have contacts at XYZ Emporium.
2. Identify the specific person I should contact at XYZ Emporium.
3. Line up the references most likely to get me this job.
4. Update my resume.
5. Research XYZ Emporium.

Once you have listed as many steps as you can think of, arrange them in the order in which it makes the most sense to execute them:

1. Research XYZ Emporium.
2. Call my friends to see if any of them have contacts at XYZ Emporium.
3. Identify the specific person I should contact at XYZ Emporium.
4. Update my resume.
5. Line up the references most likely to get me this job.

Then you break the larger steps into smaller steps. For example, Step 4 might look like this:

Step 4: Update my resume.

1. Read a book about writing resumes.
2. Attend a seminar about writing resumes.
3. Ask a friend for advice.
4. Write the first draft.
5. Have some friends proofread the first draft.
6. Complete my resume.
7. Make as many copies as I need.

Some of these steps could even be broken into smaller steps, and those into smaller steps still. The idea is to keep breaking down major steps until you create steps so small that they appear inviting to you. You want to feel confident that you can go from one step to the next without undue hardship. No step should be so intimidating that you can’t fact it - or else when you do reach it the whole process will come to a screeching halt.

After you’ve broken down one major step this way, repeat the process for each of the others, until each large step is reduced to a series of manageable tasks. You will then have a list of all the steps necessary to take you from where you are to where you want to go. Once you look at this list and realize how easily you can handle everything on it, you will begin to understand how simple it is to make your wish come true.