INTRO

This week we’re taking a deep dive into unclear and unrealistic goals.

• Potential outcomes of having unclear goals

• How to think through your goals to see how to improve

• Actionable steps to help attain higher-reaching goals quickly

Let’s get into it:

Lingchi
Having Unclear or Unrealistic Goals

Taking a drive to nowhere is sometimes an adventure in itself. “Getting lost” and finding yourself somewhere can be a thrill.

Unfortunately, when we’re talking about our personal growth, Google Maps can’t suddenly put us back on track.

That’s why it’s important to set clear goals for personal development at work and at home.

The problem doesn’t just end with an inability to achieve them. It means there’s no way to measure success, which can lead to stress, a loss of self-confidence, and a severe lack in going on those vacations you’ve already dreamed of taking.

Yes, you can achieve those through goal-setting as well. Not just dull financial or work goals!

The process unfolds as follows:

1. Constant Stress and Frustration: you continuously strive for targets that feel unreachable, leading to a persistent state of stress and frustration.

2. Diminished Self-Confidence: As you repeatedly fail to meet unrealistic expectations, you’ll continue to question your abilities and lose self-confidence8.

3. Decreased Work Quality: In attempts to meet impossible deadlines or targets, you might rush your work, cut corners, or make mistakes, resulting in reduced overall quality.

4. Burnout and Exhaustion: The sustained pressure of trying to achieve unrealistic goals can lead to emotional exhaustion, cynicism, and reduced efficacy.

5. Negative Self-Talk: Failure to meet expectations can encourage an inner critic, leading to negative self-talk and further demotivation. You know, the person that drowned out the confident person you once knew before the end of your 20s.

6. Loss of Creative Spark: The constant struggle to meet unrealistic demands can stifle creativity and innovation, as you focus solely on survival rather than growth. Coloring sheets might not count, even though they’re fun as hell.

7. Increased Absenteeism: It’s too bad stress wasn’t made out of carbon because the accumulation of stress and pressure results in more frequent absences due to stress-related illnesses5, not diamonds.

8. Disengagement and Demotivation: The constant failure to meet goals can lead to a sense of hopelessness and disengagement from work. Santa has been blaming this for killing the Christmas Spirit for years.

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Hansei

What is keeping you from being able to drive forward and accomplish something incredible?

If you’re wondering whether you have unclear or unrealistic goals, just ask yourself if there are things you want to achieve. Have you achieved them yet? How long ago did you set it?

It’s normally a good clue.

Also, if your goals require characters you were introduced to in your childhood, like Donald Duck or Mickey Mouse, this is probably for you.

Here are some prime areas to focus on to uncover areas for improvement:

Self-Reflection Process

1. Problem Recognition: Acknowledge that your goals are unrealistic or unclear. This is the crucial first step in hansei, as it requires you to realize there's an issue with your goal-setting process.
   

2. Personal Responsibility: Take ownership of setting these goals without blaming external factors. This step involves emotional attachment to the failure, recognizing that you are responsible for the goals you've set.
   

3. Deep Analysis: Reflect on the reasons behind setting these goals. Ask yourself:

   • Are these goals aligned with your personal values, or are they influenced by external pressures?

   • Do these goals consistently leave you feeling stressed or overwhelmed?

   • What beliefs or assumptions led you to set these particular goals?
     

4. Identify Root Causes: Use techniques like the "5 Whys" to dig deeper into the underlying reasons. For example:

   • Why did I set this unrealistic goal?

   • Why did I feel the need to aim so high?

   • Why am I seeking this level of achievement?1
     

5. Emotional Attachment: Allow yourself to feel regret or disappointment about setting unrealistic goals. This emotional connection is an essential part of hansei and motivates genuine change.

By applying hansei, we can transform the answer from a bullet list of pain, to a list of actionable things that can help you improve and achieve larger goals.

So now we’ve gone through our review and hopefully you’ve learned more about what you need to do in order to help with your goals.

Let’s dive into small, actionable ideas that can help you create bigger and better goals that will help you overcome a lot of the different issues that arise from not getting through them.

Kaizen

1. Challenge: Constant Stress and Frustration

• Adjustment: Break large goals into smaller, actionable steps.

• Implementation: Use a task management system (e.g., a to-do list or project management app) to create achievable daily or weekly objectives. Regularly review these smaller tasks to ensure they are manageable and realistic.

2. Challenge: Diminished Self-Confidence

• Adjustment: Set SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) to ensure clarity and attainability.

• Implementation: Write down your goals in SMART format and review them weekly. Celebrate small wins to rebuild confidence and reinforce positive progress.

3. Challenge: Decreased Work Quality

• Adjustment: Prioritize quality by allocating more realistic timelines for tasks.

• Implementation: Use time-blocking techniques to schedule focused work sessions without distractions. Build in buffer time for review and revisions before finalizing tasks.

4. Challenge: Burnout and Exhaustion

• Adjustment: Incorporate rest and recovery periods into your routine.

• Implementation: Schedule regular breaks throughout your day using techniques like the Pomodoro Method. Set boundaries by defining clear work hours and sticking to them.

5. Challenge: Negative Self-Talk

• Adjustment: Replace negative self-talk with constructive affirmations.

• Implementation: Keep a journal where you write down one positive thing you accomplished each day. Use this journal as a tool to remind yourself of your capabilities when self-doubt arises.

6. Challenge: Loss of Creative Spark

• Adjustment: Dedicate time for creative exploration without specific outcomes in mind.

• Implementation: Schedule "creative time" into your week where you can brainstorm, experiment, or learn something new without judgment or pressure. Use this time as an opportunity to reconnect with your passions.

7. Challenge: Disengagement and Demotivation

• Adjustment: Align your goals with your core values and intrinsic motivations.

• Implementation: Revisit your long-term aspirations and break them into smaller milestones that excite you. Regularly check in with yourself to ensure your goals still resonate with what you truly want.

8. Challenge: Lack of Clarity in Goals

• Adjustment: Improve goal-setting clarity by using structured frameworks like OKRs (Objectives and Key Results).

• Implementation: For each goal, write down a clear objective followed by specific key results that will indicate success. Review these objectives weekly to ensure they remain relevant and actionable.