Three goal types and their benefits and challenges
In this post you’ll learn about three goal types and the top three ways to achieve more of the goals you set. These goal types describe different levels and each have their unique benefits and challenges.
The three goal types are:
Short-term goals.
These are goals you want to achieve soon, typically in a period under 12 months. That could be today, this week, this month or this year. Example: I want to buy a boat
Long-term goals.
These are longer, often multi-year goals that depend on achieving related short-term goals (and possibly other long-term goals too). Example: I want to create a foundation for marginalised communities
Lifetime goals.
These are goals that encompass your highest sense of self. They describe the things you dream to have, be, do or contribute. Example: I want to spend my 70th birthday surrounded by my family
Short-term goals
How to achieve them
Make them S.M.A.R.T – decide what you want, when you want it and how you’ll know if you get it
Break your goals down to-the-now. What’s the best thing you can do right now to move towards your goal?
Track your progress and course correct where necessary. Stick it to until you get there
Benefits
Immediate feedback
Clear next actions
Relatively quick results
Challenges
Susceptible to self-sabotage if goals aren’t in alignment to values
Can be difficult to figure out priorities
Can be difficult to stay consistent
Long-term goals
How to achieve them:
Have a clear why. Go beyond describing what you want and understand why you want it
Think backwards from the end goal.
Evaluate periodically. Check in on your commitment to the goal and progress made to make sure you still want it and that you’re moving in the right direction
Benefits:
Sense of purpose provides powerful motivation
Expands scope of what’s possible
Creates a bridge between someday that might happen to one day that will happen
Challenges:
Susceptible to self-sabotage if goals aren’t in alignment to values
Can’t rely on willpower alone
Ability to achieve without the support of others is limited
Lifetime goals
How to achieve them:
Define your 100 lifetime goals.
Know your Ikigai. AKA: your reason for being. Why do you get up in the morning?
Take a 10,000 ft view. Have a holistic view of who and where you are relative to who and where you want to be
Benefits:
Engages the furthest reaches of your imagination
Shifts your paradigm, you work off a different set of rules of what you’re capable of
Exposes the most valuable aspect of goal achievement – who you become
Challenges:
The further away in the future something is, the less likely we are to value it
Can be difficult to visualise
Effective self-assessment can be difficult to do objectively
How can I achieve goals at all three levels?
First things first, decide what you want. The first step is to define your goals at each level. With your life goals and long-term goals in hand, you can roll up your sleeves and get to work on making the short-term goals that will get you there happen!
When it comes to setting and achieving your short-term goals, the best approach is whichever approach you’re most likely to stick with.
Generally the best option is the simplest and most un-intimidating one. That’s why we built Your Perfect Year, the SIMPLEST short-term goal setting and achievement system you’ll find.
Your Perfect Year is based on well-evidenced behavioural and scientific learnings, but packaged in a template that’s so easy to use, it feels like cheating 🤭