The Perfect Goal Worksheet

Think of this blog post as a recipe for creating the perfect goal worksheet. The most important thing is to do the right thing, at the right time, in the right way. 

Whether you use a piece of paper to complete these steps, or a software program, or the ready-to-use templates and walkthroughs in our goal setting and achievement programme, is less important.

Step 1: Write a compelling Future Vision

Everything begins with writing a vision for your future that drives you, guides your decisions and dictates your priorities. A well written future vision gives meaning to your efforts and provides direction that you can lean on every day, every week, every month, and every quarter as you work on making it a reality.

We've written a detailed guide on how to write your future vision here. There are two ways to use the content in the guide:

THE CHEAP WAY: Grab a copy of our premium Future Vision template, which includes ready-to-use templates in both Evernote and Google Sheets formats for only $5.99.
The blog post mentioned above includes step-by-step instructions for both versions of the template.

HOT TIP!! 🔥: The Google Sheets version of the premium Future Vision template includes the Annual Objectives and Achievement Blueprint, which you’ll use to plan and achieve your weekly, monthly and quarterly goals as described in Step 2 and Step 3 of this post.

THE FREE WAY: Scroll down to the very bottom of the guide page, you’ll find a Future Vision example PDF which you can reference to create your own future vision. Then follow the instructions in Step 2 and Step 3 below to capture your goals and action plan in whichever medium you wish.

Step 2: Plan your annual objectives

Now that you've written a Future Vision that excites you, the next step is to translate this vision of the future into actionable annual objectives. There are a few important principles to keep in mind when setting your annual objectives.

• LIMIT YOUR FOCUS: It's important to limit your focus to the critical few objectives that you are going to commit to for the next 12 months. I recommend limiting yourself to a maximum of five (5) personal goals and five (5) professional goals

• BE SMART: Make sure your annual objectives meet the S.M.A.R.T criteria:

  • Specific. Write objectives that describe the specific outcomes you want

  • Measurable. Write your objectives so it’s clear whether you’ve achieved them or not

  • Attainable. Write goals that can be actioned by you and aren’t dependent on the efforts of others

  • Relevant. Make sure your goals connect to the most important parts of your Future Vision

  • Time-bound. Keep in mind when you'd like to achieve each objective over the next 12 months

• PRIORITISE: While all your annual objectives are important, some are more important than others. Be sure to prioritise your goals from most important to least important

Step 3: Make an action plan

Based on your chosen annual objectives and priorities, the next step is to create an action plan to achieve your Future Vision. Use The Focusing Question to decide what the single most important thing you can do each quarter, each month, and each week might be in order to ensure that you focus your time and efforts on actions that will yield the greatest results.

“What’s the ONE thing I can do such that by doing it everything else will be easier or unnecesary?”

— The Focusing Question

Here are the steps to follow to create your action plan – The Achievement Blueprint:

1. Re-read your top priority annual objective

2. Ask yourself: What's the one thing I can do this quarter such that by doing it I know I'm on track to achieve my annual goal?

3. Capture your quarterly goal (based on the answer to the above question)

4. Ask yourself: What's the one thing I can do this month such that by doing it I know I'm on track to achieve my quarterly goal?

5. Capture your monthly goal (based on the answer to the above question)

6. Ask yourself what's the one thing I can do this week such that by doing it and I'm on track to achieve my monthly goal?

7. Capture your weekly goal (based on the answer to the above question)

8. Repeat the above steps for the remainder of your annual goals

9. Schedule time in your calendar to prioritise your weekly goals above all else!!

Step 4: Do the work

At this stage you've written your Future Vision, captured your annual objectives and come up with an action plan. The only thing left to do, is to do the work.

The most critical thing is to make your weekly goals the most important thing. At the end of the week, find some uninterrupted time to complete your Weekly Review:

1. Re-read your Future Vision. This reconnects you to your “North star”, reinvigorates you and motivates you to keep going. It also reinforces your Future Vision in your subconscious mind so your brain is constantly looking for ways to close the gap between your vision and your current reality

2. Track your progress. Mark off any weekly goals that you’ve achieved. Decide whether you will re-focus on unachieved weekly goals in the coming week, or define a different action. Take the time to introspect on why you didn’t achieve your unachieved goals. The idea is not to beat yourself up, but to learn from your failures and successes

3. Capture the highs and lows. Reflect on the past week and describe, in a sentence or two, your greatest achievement and greatest challenge for the past week. These don’t necessarily have to relate to your weekly goals, just reflect on whatever stood out for you. These reflections will serve as valuable lessons in the months to come

4. Revisit your action plan. Review your quarterly and monthly goals to make sure they’re still relevant. Use the Focusing Question to identify your critical actions for the next week

That's the recipe for designing and achieving your perfect year. Work on these steps, week after week, and before you know it, your Weekly Review habit will begin working for you as you experience the incredible feeling of accomplishment that comes with pursuing and achieving meaningful goals!

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This article was inspired by our goal setting and achievement system for busy people, Your Perfect Year. This program was built out of a passion for supporting people who’re committed to becoming someone greater than the person they are today. 

If you’d like access to our super helpful product launch bonuses, like our 15 must-avoid-traps cheatsheet and many others, as well as personalised support and high quality videos that provide step-by-step guidance every step of the way, then check out Your Perfect Year at an incredible launch price of just $89