Momentum and Goals

[Taken from Gary W. Hand]

When you're inspired you get a tremendous boost to your energy and motivation. This is a great way to get started towards your goal, yet you also need momentum to keep going to reach it.

You can find momentum literally in DETAIL - one factor for each letter of the word. You can use this as a checklist anytime to build and maintain momentum:

* Direction

Is your goal still appealing and relevant? Does it have the magnetic attraction to pull you towards it?

Maybe the size is wrong - if it is too overwhelming, break it into smaller chunks. If it is too small to attract you, make it bigger and bolder.

Remember Michelangelo: "The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short; but in setting our aim too low, and achieving our mark"

* Energy

Check your energy levels. Where else is your energy going? Beware the energy vampires.

Low energy can be a sign of working outside of your strengths - what can you share or delegate?

Working with your strengths brings new energy - how can you do more of this?

* Time

Where is this goal on your priority scale? Is it getting enough time to 'stay alive'? Procrastination is a huge energy drain.

The challenge is to find how you can spend more time on this goal. This is a subject in itself (!) so remember that the minimum time is that needed to maintain momentum. Therefore regular inputs of time are as important as the quantity.

If you don't increase the overall time you spend, how could you use the time you are already spending to build greater momentum?

* Accountability

You may know that making yourself accountable for progress can be a big help in maintaining momentum.

This accountability can be to yourself (checklists, graphs, targets etc) and/or to others. It can be formal (for example, it's usually a key feature in coaching) or informal. Generally the more people you are accountable to, the stronger the effect.


* Incentives

How well do you use incentives and rewards for milestones on the journey? What celebrations do you make when you reach interim stages?

Incentives are inherently personal so you will have an idea of what could work for you.

Experiment with frequency - once a day, once a week, once a month - rewards need to be often enough to assist momentum without taking over so that more time is spent on the rewards than the progress you want!!

* Learning

How well are you learning from progress so far? How effectively are you using the feedback available?

There are opportunities to tune your operation. There is scope for working smarter.

Ask : what is working well? What could be working better? What adjustments could you make?

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Momentum is essential for reaching our goals. Sometimes it builds naturally; more frequently we have to help it along. Now you can use DETAIL as often as you need and enjoy your success.


Make it a great day,

Gary