How to create goals, and achieve them too.

The 30-day program.

From one millennial to another.

You’ve seen this before. This is probably more for me than you.

I hate planning. It commits me to something. And commitment scares me.

Step 1 — Ask yourself, “What are my fears?”

Write those exact words on a blank sheet of paper. Then write your answers. Then throw it away.

It’s not a gimmick. It’s the practice of letting things go in its literal sense. You won’t become Superman, but you may learn something.

I value learning.

Step 2 — Ask yourself, “What do I value?”

First, look at your bank statement. Look at the last 50 transactions. Then look at the transactions, by size, over the last year. That’s where you’re placing value in your life.

Second, look at your weekly schedule over a couple months. Where is the majority of your time being spent? (Probably work, okay. Still tells you something.) And where is the majority of your time outside of work being spent? Around who? That’s where you’re placing value in your life.

In either case I didn’t say, “That’s what you love.” You may or may not love the things you attribute value.

Step 3 — Ask yourself, “What do I want to include + remove in my life?”

I like thinking in 3’s.

So, let’s say you decide to include “exercise” and “new job”, and remove “time at bars”.

Great. Thanks for the easy example.

To bring these goals to life you’ll need to make them CLEAR.

Collaborative (you want accountability)

Limited (focus on just a few, and only for a short period of time)

Emotional (aim for the heart strings)

Appreciable (small enough to be attainable)

Refinable (is that a word? …adaptable)

You: “Okay, TJ. I’m ‘Going Clear’.”

Me: No, I meant this CLEAR.

Got it. Now, what?
Introducing the 30-day challenge.

Over the next 30 days you’ll run 1 mile/day, set up 5 interviews, and find something you love (#netflixandchill?) that will replace time spent at the bars.

Crushing those miles by day 10? Start doing 2 miles.

Already nailed the job? Maybe reward yourself with a night out.

I implement 30-day challenges whenever I need to kick myself in the rear.

They’ve done studies, you know. Sixty percent of the time, it works every time…

…but seriously :-)