Plan For Success Part 2: How To Find Your Why
Introduction to chunking
Much has been written about the importance of setting SMART goals or outcomes.
Less has been written about the importance of figuring out WHY you want a particular goal or outcome.
In a nutshell, being clear about why you want to achieve a specific goal, is the main key to remaining motivated towards completing that goal. If you can't explain, even if only to yourself, why you want to achieve a specific goal, then by default, there can be no reason for working towards that goal. Understanding why you want to achieve something triggers motivational emotions in relation to the goal.
Yet, very little has been written about HOW to find your WHY...
This post covers how to find your why by chunking up,
By the by,,, 'How to chunk up’ turned out to be a very poor keyword.
Then Jaaxy showed that 'How To Find Your Why', is asked 648 times each month with an SEO score of 83... very reasonable indeed... I apologise to anyone reading this who is wondering what on earth I'm banging on about. It simply means that you haven't found time to work through the free Wealthy Affiliate training, yet. If you take advantage of the free course, all will become clear ;-).
Fortunately, you don't need to have completed the free training to get the most out of this post.
I am about to outline a thinking process that we all use every day, perfectly naturally, for all kinds of purposes. It is the process of CHUNKING. In reality, we all chunk up, down and sideways. Here I focus on 'chunking up'. Although chunking is essentially natural for humans, the natural way tends to be led by the subconscious mind. By chunking with conscious awareness, the process becomes far more powerful and focused.
Chunking Up: Finding Your 'Why'
To find your why for a specific goal, the question to ask is: "What will this (goal or outcome) get for me?". Discovering what something gets for you is the same as discovering your reason 'why'.
So chunking up can be used to clarify your reasons for wanting a particular goal or outcone. Here’s how to chunk up:
- Write a statement of the goal at the foot of a page;
- Ask: "What will achieving this goal or outcome get for me?". Write down the answer on the line above the goal;
- Consider the answer you just wrote down and again ask: "What will this get for me?". Again write your answer on the next line up.
- Keep repeating this process until you run out of ideas.
As you write your answers, up the page, thus refining why you want to achieve the goal, you will notice that the answers become more motivational. The following image demonstrates chunking up. Start at the foot of the image and work up the page. The numbers on the left have no relevance other than showing the order in which the question was asked, and answered.
At each level ask the full question, For example at '1*' the full question would be: "What will having $2500 left after taxes and insurance get for me?". The answer is written at '2*'.
Summary
There is some repetition in this post. This is because the process of chunking up is, in essence, straightforward. Simple and effective. Don't underestimate the power of chunking.
Finding your why for any goal is key to remaining motivated when things get tough. Your why for anything triggers motivational emotions.
The main question to ask when chunking up is: "If I achieve this goal, what will it get for me".
Just try it, you might like it.
If you have any questions or comments please add them below ... also, if you want to learn more about goal setting and chunking, go to part 3.
If you like this post, please click the green button.
Richard
Recent Comments
12
Hello Richard,
Thank you for another excellent post on goals, Richard, it's appreciated.
I must admit I haven't heard of the term "Chunking up"! But this is why we are here, to learn!
I have bookmarked your post, Richard, for future reference.
Just for your interest Richard, my goal is similar to yours in a way.
My wife comes from Greece, we would like to spend more time there. An online business would mean that I could work from anywhere providing an Internet connection was available. This is not just a dream, it is something that I know is very doable.
I am getting there.
Have a great day.
Roy
Hi Roy.
I suspect that I’m about to say will be ‘like teaching Grandpa how to suck eggs’, as my Granny used to say.
The ‘goal’ of being able to run my business from anywhere I find the internet, in my mind is more a state of being ... I would call that a vision.
To me, goals are the stepping stones toward the vision.
Richard
Good morning Richard,
Thank you for your reply.
Yes, I hear you big time, goals are like stepping stones towards the vision. I believe we have to see a vision to also help it come to pass.
Have a great day.
Roy
You have explained this perfectly Richard, thank you. I was aware of the process but I did not know that it was called 'chunking'.
I have used the word 'chunking' in conjunction with breaking down large jobs into more manageable pieces.
I went through a process, some years ago, similar to 'chunking' where I had to find out some of the things that made me tick, I always think of it as finding my 'primary question' though I also believe that is something different to how I remember it.
I might have to listen to the cd's again to clarify.
Hi Twack
Thanks for responding.
Breaking things down is (of course) chunking down.
Chunking sideways helps identify more or alternative options for something.
The important thing is knowing what questions to ask, and when.
I use chunking down and sideways for planning actions mainly.
Many times I’ve used chunking up to find a win-win negotiation point (both with personal and business challenges) when coaching and facilitating.
Often the questions help to stimulate creative brainstorming sessions going up, down and sideways when one direction or the other becomes ’stuck’.
The chunking questions possibly provide the simplest, most powerful and flexible of thinking toolsets.
Richard
All such valuable information, thank you, Richard. I think the art is remembering to use these kind tools when the time comes.
Hi Twack
Sorry I meant to reply a while ago, was interrupted, and forgot.
I am not suggesting you’re wrong ... I would add that I think the art is in using it consciously everyday until it becomes a habit. :-)
Richard
Absolutely, it should be second nature.
No apology necessary, appreciate you taking the time to reply at any time.
Good post Richard.
I have written about the importance of finding your Why too, both here and on my website.
I believe that if people got to the root of their why they would be less likely to give up.
I had forgotten about Chunking Up, that's something I learnt about a few years ago.
I’m glad to hear I’m not alone in talking about ’why’!
Although you think you had forgotten about chunking I would bet you use it subconsciously everyday... If not always up, then down and sideways.
Richard
There have been a few posts about it here and there, not many though.
Yes, I probably do use it more than I think.
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Richard! I love this!
You mention in a previous comment, that it is important to make this a habit, one that we do uncounsciously.
I believe that we can always change our thought patterns to our advantage.
Chunking makes it more manageable for us to set up the goal posts and run past them. I believe that each time we do that, run past the temporary goal we set up, we realize a sense of achievement. A triumph that feeds our spirit and pushes us on to the next challenge.
It makes the process doable, removes the barriers and most importantly, we face out fears.
Let's get those out of the way!
Thanks for this post. It lit a spark in me!
Regards, Corinne
Thank you, Corinne for your kind words and additional insights!
:-)
Richard