Make 2022 YOUR Year: How To Reverse Engineer Your Goals

Photo Credit: aktuelno.me

​“Passion alone can’t cut it. For passion to survive it needs structure. A 'why' without 'how' has little probability of success.” 
—Simon Sinek, 'Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action'

Back in December 2020, we wrote a blog outlining the goal setting ritual that we've done every year since 2009. Listed below are an outline of the different areas that we focus on. But once you set a goal, how do you put those goals into actionable items? We'd like to give an introduction to the concept of reverse engineering your goals and how to simplify steps into your daily habits.

These are the 10 areas that we set specific goals within. In each area, we set 1-3 subgoals. We look at:

    1.    Business: Optimizing our business ventures 
    2.    Financial: Growing our legacy 
    3.    Relational: Improving our relationships 
    4.    Intellectual: Increasing our strategic, personal growth 
    5.    Emotional: Increasing our emotional growth and growing our capacity 
    6.    Physical: Improving our health and wellness 
    7.     Social: Growing our impact 
    8.    Spiritual: Fostering growth in our spiritual foundation 
    9.    Family: Creating a home-front that supports every members' growth and radiates positivity. 
    10.  Home Improvement: Identify home improvement projects that contribute to our household values

'Reverse engineering' your goals is taking an end goal, identifying the steps to take to get there, and then starting with the first step. We once read an article that referred to reverse engineering a goal like this: 

*The top floor is your goal 
*The ground floor is your starting point 
*The stairs are your process/your habits
*The landings are the milestones

It is important that you get specific with the goal you are setting. Also, spend some time in self-analysis and self-reflection, identifying where you are currently at, so that you can identify your starting point. Next, break down that goal into monthly, then yearly and then daily steps. Now it is time to develop a strategy and a plan of action, as well as checkpoints along the way. Lastly, ACT! Nothing will happen without deliberate and intentional action. Two of the most important things that you can do to ensure you stay on track are: 1) have an accountability partner, community and/or system and 2) track your progress. We teach 3 increments of tracking progress:
​
    1.    Monthly Analyzation
    2.    Weekly Reflection 
    3.    Daily Systems 

As part of our community, we've built in systems for both personal and group accountability. Accountability is integral in developing the 'stickiness' of habits and systems. It is critical to find ways to include others that can 'hold you' to your commitments. 

We hope this provides some context and strategy to not just setting goals, but developing a plan of action. Here's is the sticking point... no one can do it for you! You have to choose to implement. This is very much the foundation for our motto, 'Greatness is a Choice.' Take personal responsibility for your follow through this year. 

"Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become."
-James Clear, 'Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones'

Make 2022 your best year yet!

Love,
Brandon & Amanda