The Ultimate Goal-Setting Guide (for non goal setters!) | The Visionary Method

*June isn't a typical month for setting goals, but that doesn't mean it can't be the perfect time to do just that!

Use the extra daylight and warmer weather as motivation to achieve something great. Whether it's a professional goal, like getting a promotion, or a personal one, like finally learning to cook, make this your month of accomplishment.

Goal setting is a powerful tool for achievement.

It can help you to focus your efforts, overcome challenges, and stay motivated. This month, make a commitment to accomplish something that you have been striving for.

What is one thing you’ve been striving for, but need to commit to in order to make it happen?

By taking the time to set your goal and develop a plan, you will increase your chances of success. And remember, even if you don't achieve your goal immediately, every step forward is a step in the right direction. So get started today and make this your month of accomplishment.

*p.s. As you can tell, I wrote this blog in June, but you can apply these techniques at any point in the year!

There isn't a right or wrong way to set goals. You simply need to find your way.

In today’s blog, I am going to share 5 non-traditional methods / goal-setting strategies that might resonate with you more-so than sitting down 1x annually on New Years Day to cast a vision for your entire next 365 days.

These strategies work especially well for the visionary, adventurous and rebellious entrepreneurial archetype (like me).

I will also share my tips for setting meaningful, reachable goals on an ongoing basis.

Here are 5 strategies that I use to set goals in a non-traditional (but super-successful) manner.

Whether you’re a budding Online Business Owner (pssssssst, have you heard of The Visionary Method™) or just want to set some simple health goals, I am certain you will find success in picking one of these methods.

5 Ways to Set Goals (& actually stick to them!)

METHOD # 1 - Keep a stack of sticky notes beside your desk or somewhere you often hang out.

I don’t know about you, but I get 100’s or 1000’s of whacky ideas every single day.

Without a simple system that allows me to capture the good ones, the ideas usually float away and probably end up in someone else's brain (if you’ve read Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert, you get it!)

To overcome my own forgetfulness, I like to keep post-it notes and cue cards and random scrap papers near me at all times.

When an idea hits that I like, I grab my pen and jot it down and then proceed to post it on my wall or on my office bulletin board.

If I’m not near a stack of paper, I use an app called Captio which sends me a quick email. I then have a system for going through my “Captio’s” and filing the good ideas away for future projects.

I teach this system in this series of IG Stories.

METHOD # 2 - Tell someone! What gets spoken out loud is more likely to come true.

I trust myself with achieving my goals, but I trust myself more when I’ve told a few other people what I am trying to achieve.

Obviously sharing your goals isn’t easy, especially because it means that your goal is no longer your “secret project”. Instead, it becomes something that you’ve put out into the Universe, which I tend to think helps you to actually follow through.

There is a magic power being speaking what you want into existence, and I would suggest telling at least 1 person about your goal so that they can check in on you and help you stay accountable.

I will normally confide in my own business coach, my husband, or my fellow entrepreneur friends with my big goals.

If you’re a student of The Visionary Method™, you have access to the #1 community of early stage online business owners where you can share your daily, weekly or monthly goals!

METHOD # 3 - Pick a date and put it in your calendar.

Without a deadline, goals can feel pretty abstract and out of reach. But when you add a date to your goals, suddenly they become realistic and achievable.

Suddenly, your goals don't seem so far away anymore. When you have a timeline to work with, anything is possible. So don't be afraid to set some deadlines for yourself and see just how much you can accomplish.

For example, the difference between “I want to run a marathon” and “I just signed up for a marathon on June 30th and will start training today” is quite big!

What date can you attach to your goal?

Once you set the big date, set micro dates that will be your check in points (ex: I will run 15km by June 10th, 30km by June 20th, etc.)

METHOD # 4 - Keep an open task called ‘Monthly Goals’ in your *project management software.

(*I use a project management software called Asana, something I teach all of the students of The Visionary Method™ how to use. It’s also how I manage my team and my private coaching clients).

Similar to what I was saying above about digitally categorizing my goals using the Captio App, I also organize each goal into a folder in Asana.

I will normally create one bulk task called “Goals” inside a specific project and then within that task I will jot down all of my goals and break them into specific plans.

METHOD #5 - Take the first action within 1 hour.

You might think I am crazy for this one, but I believe that being decisive and taking fast action is a goal setting secret.

For example, when I get an idea in my head (perhaps it’s that I want to start Mountain Biking) I will immediately text a friend and say “Hey, can we book a date to go mountain biking together in the next week?” before my mind has a chance to tell me all of the excuses why that’s not a good idea.

In business, this tends to be the “launch fast, change later” model, but the same can be used for goal setting.

Set goals fast, and modify them later!

Now go chase those goals, visionary!

Just to recap my 5 non-traditional goal setting techniques, here they are in short.

1. Keep a stack of sticky notes beside your desk or somewhere you often hang out.

2. Tell someone! What gets spoken out loud is more likely to come true.

3. Pick a date and put it in your calendar.

4. Keep a Goals Tab in your project management software.

5. Take the first action within 1 hour.

Which of these Goal-Setting Strategies most resonates with you?

Comment on my latest Instagram Post and let me know!

Kelsey xo