Setting specific but flexible outcome targets tied to specific general goals and then reinforcing the proper habits to achieve those goals is the surest path to success.

A few months ago I wrote about embracing success by developing habits.  In the essay, I denigrated the traditional idea of setting goals with specific outcomes and deadlines in favor of developing more general and desirable habits.  The idea, though correct, may be incomplete.  Perhaps there is a place for goals after all.

For example, every success book I've ever read states that written goals increase the likelihood of success.  And every single one espouses setting SPECIFIC goals...the more specific the better.  I, on the other hand, have been more of an evangelist regarding developing habits and character.  And I still am.  But lately, I've been experimenting with setting goals and I must say, there is something to it....if done properly.

Let me explain.

As an artist, let's say you follow the traditional advice and set a specific goal of painting 60 paintings this year.  That's five paintings a month. OK.  That's fine as a goal but what if you only finish 48 paintings?  Did you fail?  Traditional goal setting would make it appear that you did fail, which is why I believe that traditional goal setting itself fails.  It seems contrived and artificial.  It's OK to set the WHAT (60 paintings this year).  But you should also write down the WHY.  WHY do you want to paint 60 paintings this year?  Let's say the why is to have "enough" paintings for a one person show.  Keep asking WHY and digging.  WHY do you need enough for a one person show?  Perhaps you want to have an event that showcases your work, an event that gets attention, an event that impresses people, an event that makes people remember your work.  You're looking for the WHY that really satisfies your soul.  Now, hypothetically, let's say halfway through the year you've finished 25 paintings and you have an idea for a grand 12 foot long masterpiece....so you paint it over the next six months.  Now you finished the year with only 26 paintings.  Did you fail?  No!  Not if you go back and look at the WHY you set the goal in the first place.  You wanted an impressive body of work, that will garner attention, impress people, etc.  Twenty-six amazing paintings make an enormously bigger impact than 60 mediocre ones.

The WHAT must be flexible.  The WHY is the "real" goal.  The WHY is the outcome that will satisfy your goal.  After all, when you diet, your goal is not to limit your consumption to only 1500 calories a day.  Your GOAL is to look good.  We all know if a 3000 calorie-a-day diet came along that made us look good....we would all be flexible and drop the 1500 calorie a day "goal."

However, the ultimate secret to achieving the goals still lies in the HOW.  And that's where we get back to habits.  In our fictitious example, you would need to develop a habit of painting every day to take "enough" action to achieve the goal.  I still believe habits are the most important step.  In fact, even if you'd set no goal and just made it a habit to paint every day, you'd still be 90% there.

So the bottom line is:


The formula in short:  WHY, WHAT, HOW.

Sincerely,

Clint Watson
Software Craftsman and Art Fanatic


PS:  I left out WHO and WHEN because they should be obvious.  WHO is YOU...WHEN is NOW.