Steps to Goal Setting

So you’ve decided to set goals for yourself. Thats the first step! Congratulations, you are on your way to making the best version of you that YOU can be.

4:3 Goal Planner

I call this the 4:3 technique for goal setting. I break down my goal into four steps and then each of the four steps are broken down into three smaller, more manageable steps. By breaking your big steps into smaller steps, you are able to manage the task more effectively and you can celebrate milestones. Note…it’s extremely important to celebrate the small things (milestones).

Lets start with an example.

Lets say I want to take a trip that will be very expensive ($5000) in December next year. I need to plan out how to save this money in time to buy my plane ticket, reserve my lodging, and any activities I plan to do while there. The first step will be to divide it into Four Milestones (The Big Four). My milestones will be major steps that will get me to my end goal or destination in this example. While creating my Big Four, I must also place deadlines (realistic ones) to ensure my success in achieving them.

Twelve months divided by four milestones equals three month intervals. Therefore, the four large goals (steps) I set need to be completed in March, June, September, December. This means that most of my financial burden needs to be completed by September. Any additional funds needed (food, fun, trinkets) will be gathered during the last three months of my goal setting season.

So let’s assume we’ve decided on our four large steps to have been nailed out. Awesome! Now what? We break each large step into three manageable steps. What do I mean? We decided that we need $5000 for this trip in which $4000 needs to be collected by September. For the sake of this example, we need to save around $1335 for our first milestone. We need to map out three steps to get this done. One suggestion could be to divide that total by three and we think of ways to put that money aside each month. Looking at our monthly expenses to see how we can put aside $445 by the end of each month. That could be doing extra overtime at work, cutting back on a luxury we extend ourselves (going out, drinking, hair/nails, shopping, etc.) or picking up a hobby that brings in a little extra money.

Here are the beginning stages of setting your goal. I’ve provided a document for you to help with the beginning stages of your planning process. Check back for more tips and help with celebrations of milestones.

4:3 Goal Planner Template

Goal Setting Templates

New Year Countdown

Christmas is here and now it’s time to plan out your next seven days. What will you do? How will you start? Who will help you achieve your goals?

Let’s get started with the end in mind. Where would you like to be this time next year? This is the beginning of your goal setting. Do you want to be more financially responsible? Do you want to be more healthy? Do you want to be in a healthy relationship or have traveled to more destinations than ever before? The answer to any of these questions should be YES! This is the beginning step to setting your 2022 goal for yourself.

1. Know your strengths and weaknesses. Every goals begins with knowing what you want, what you are capable of, and your limits.

2. Know your commitment level. If you are easily swayed to do other things, take on a commitment partner. Someone who will motivate you to stay on your goal path.

3. Plan out detailed steps. There is absolutely no plan that was ever achieved without planning. Plan with intention. Know exactly what you need to achieve your end goal. If it takes four steps or twenty…whatever it takes, use the next seven days to plan every detail to the T to ensure success for next December if not earlier.

4. Give yourself hard deadlines throughout the year. Make milestone deadlines that are achievable. Set mile markers that can encourage you to keep going but can also be seen as mini celebrations on your road to year’d end success.
   

We are ready to take the first step to a very successful and fulfilling 2022. Check back for a guide on how to create meaning milestones and how to celebrate them in a healthy way.

Downtown Detroit in December

The Element by Westin

Detroit is a beautiful city. Despite outside opinion, I found the downtown area to be magnificent. The streets were cleans. The buildings and services were immaculate and the weather was absolutely perfect.

I stayed at The Element by Westin which ended up being a great find. The room was amazing with a full kitchen and a nice view. Large windows faced the busy street that ran in front of the boutique hotel. The beautifully decorated lobby was adorned with quaint Christmas trees and bright decoration. The staff were warm and inviting with lots of suggestions on where to visit, eat, and how to easily get over to Canada.

Breakfast was provided at their restaurant on the mezzanine floor. Why was this called a “continental breakfast” I will never know! This was far from that. There was a personal chef who made fresh omelets, breakfast sandwiches, etc at your request. I can do nothing but speak highly of the service that I received while visiting this establishment.

This Marriot property truly exceeded my expectations. I was less than a mile from The Little Ceasar Arena and Ford Field. There were lots of restaurants ($-$$$$) to choose from. I ate at Buddy’s which had a great lunch menu and amazing service. Rayne was my waitress and suggested great spots for drinks after 9pm. I went ventured into The Brakeman which was a drinking hole (not even close) across the street from the hotel. They had signature drinks with an array of dressings (chiles, grapefruit, blueberries, etc). You buy tokens as you walk in and use them to purchase your beer or cocktails.

I went to a Pistons’ game, ice skating at Campus Martius Parc, punched Joe Lewis fist, and saw Spiderman: No Way Home on the 8 Mile. What an experience! Can’t wait to return.