Having goals and plans is a very effective way to achieve progress
and experience happiness in perusing worthy ideals and goals.
There is an art and science in "right-sizing" the goals, and that can be learned.
"Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men's blood
Make big plans; aim high in hope and work, remembering that a noble, diagram once recorded will never die..."
- quote from
Daniel Burnham (
an architect and urban planner)
That is to say it is best to have ambitious, challenging, goals.
On the other side, if a goal is too challenging, it is self-rejected and not helpful.
A good goal is one that you can believe can be achieved if you work very hard.
The magic number is "4% above your current maximum ability"
There is a real science behind this, it is not just a belief.
Below is the key diagram explaining optimal process of setting and achieving the goals.
It is based on human brain physiology and reflected in psychology,
This is described in significant research results of
book: Flow - The Psychology of Optimal Experience by
Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
To function in optimal "flow" state, here are the pre-conditions:
Clear Goals Immediate Feedback Challenges matched with skills
That is also a description of
"SMART" goals acronym :
Specific, clear goals
Measured? to provide immediate feedback
Ambitious! (+4%!) to inspire, this is my innovation :)
Realistic, for challenge to match skills
Time-bound
image/svg+xml
SKILLS CHALLENGES Anxiety FLOW Boredom too hard too easy clear goals immediate feedback challenge match skills S pecific, clearM easured?A mbitious! +4%R ealisticT ime-boundGoals ! ! ! ! ? ? ? ?
The key difference with "next best" diagram below is that smart goals should step into anxiety zone.
It is a subtle but key distinction. To improve, one needs to cross the current limits!
elearn Magazine: Gamification: Using Game Mechanics to Enhance eLearning
The Top 10 Mistakes Derailing Your Goals [Podcast] - Michael Hyatt
Goals!: How to Get Everything You Want -- Faster Than You Ever Thought Possible: Brian Tracy: 9781605094113: Amazon.com: Books
Unlock Your Potential. (What would you do if you knew you could not fail?) Take Charge of Your Life. (No excuses. Be Proactive) Create Your Own Future. (If you had no limits, what would you do) Clarify Your Values. (live in integrity with your deepest values) Determine Your True Goals. (Clarity "what do you *really* want?") Decide Upon Your Major Defnite Purpose. (your #1 one goal that, if achieved, would have the most positive impact) Analyze Your Beliefs. Start at the Beginning. (embracing reality) Measure Your Progress. Remove the Roadblocks. Become an Expert in Your Field. (top 10%) Associate with the Right People. We’re the average of the fve people with whom we spend the most time. Make a Plan of Action. (An ordinary person with a well-thought-out-plan will run circles around a genius without one.) Manage Your Time Well. (Eliminate distractions) Review Your Goals Daily. (writing down and reviewing goals every day) Visualize Your Goals Continually. Activate Your Superconscious Mind. Remain Flexible at All Times. Unlock Your Inborn Creativity. Do Something Every Day. Persist Until You Succeed.
Success Through Goal Setting, Part 1 of 3 by
Brian Tracy
Success Through Goal Setting, Part 2 of 3
Success Through Goal Setting, Part 3 of 3
Goal Setting | OPTIMIZE with Brian Johnson
Video: How to Set Goals That Will Actually Make You Happy! | OPTIMIZE
How to Set Goals That Will Actually Make You Happy! - YouTube
So is it really true that:
