Achieve More With Less (by Setting Goals You Can Achieve)

So you've set goals for yourself and worked hard towards them, but find yourself frustrated and disappointed when you don't achieve them. I can't count how many times I've felt this way.

When it comes to goal setting, I've come to realize that there are too many variables out of our control.

Of course, we can apply this to most things in life.

Our diets and workouts don't give us the results we want. Or at least not as soon as we'd like them to. Saving money never seems to go as planned.

And you'll drive yourself crazy setting "result-based" goals building an online business.

We can't control how much traffic our websites get or how much money they make. We can't control our search engine rankings or what our competitors will do.

But what we can control are the things we must do each day and each week to get us closer to the results we want. Our action-based goals.

In most cases, we'll still fall short of our result-based goals (at least in my experience), but every once in a while, the universe surprises us.

The way I do this is just to start with my result-based goals and work backward to determine which actions I must take to achieve them.

Then, I put those actions into a plan or schedule that I must stick to.

Now that I think about it (literally as I'm writing this), I wonder if this might be a hangover from my electrician days. It's the same process we use in construction. We have a result we must get to, and the planning stage is all about what must happen to get there.

And just like in real life, we usually fall short of our goals. Most projects come in over budget, and they take longer than we had planned them to. Someone gets injured, our suppliers don't have the materials we need, the weather doesn't cooperate...

There are just too many variables to accurately predict an outcome.

So I find it far less frustrating and more productive to just focus on my daily action goals than to worry about the results. That way, if I don't get the result I want (and I usually don't), it's not because I didn't do what I needed to do.

Well, sometimes it is, but in that case, I know where to put the blame, and I can then just work on improving myself or figuring out where I need to make a change.

Anyway, with all of the A.I. talk recently, I thought I'd have a little fun and give Chat GPT a shot at tackling this topic...

I understand that you're looking to set some goals for yourself, but you're not quite sure where to start. That's totally normal, and I'm here to help.
First, let me explain the difference between result-based goals and action-based goals. Result-based goals are focused on achieving a specific outcome, such as making a certain amount of money or achieving a particular grade in school. Action-based goals, on the other hand, are focused on the steps you take to reach that outcome.
For example, if your result-based goal is to get a good grade in math, your action-based goal might be to study for 30 minutes every day or complete a certain number of practice problems each week. The benefit of setting action-based goals is that they allow you to focus on the things you can control – the actions you take – rather than things you can't control, such as the outcome.
It's important to remember that you have the power to create your own path and make your own choices. By setting action-based goals, you can take control of your life and work towards the future you want for yourself.
It's also important to remember that action-based goals don't have to be huge or overwhelming. Start small and focus on the things you can control. For example, if you want to improve your physical fitness, set an action-based goal to walk for 10 minutes every day or to do a few push-ups each morning. These small actions can add up over time and lead to bigger changes in your life.
In summary, action-based goals allow you to focus on the things you can control and create positive change in your life. By setting small, achievable goals and focusing on the actions you need to take to achieve them, you can build a brighter future for yourself. Remember, you have the power to make positive changes in your life, and I'm here to support you every step of the way.