In This Episode…
In today’s episode I share my first attempt at applying the brain friendly goal setting technique I shared with you yesterday. Unfortunately it didn’t go as well as I would have liked but I learnt a tremendous amount from the experience.
However I do share a rather spooky story around the setting my goals that either proves there is something to manifestation or it is a ridiculous example of an amazing coincidence.
Episode Show Notes
00:07 – In yesterday’s episode I talked about a Brain Friendly Goal Setting Technique. Today’s episode is about how I tried the process for the first time.
00:47 – A reminder of the four brain friendly processes at work when you use this technique (these are explained in more detail in yesterday’s episode). In summary they are:
- Setting a clear goal with a vivid mental image of its achievement
- Your blood pressure rises and your motor cortex is stimulated for action
- When you imagine the goal vividly enough, your parietal lobe can’t tell the difference between a real or a vividly imagined event.
- Your brain will trigger the release of dopamine in anticipation of the reward you will get as a result of achieving your goal.
02:49 – A review of the pitfalls of goal setting – where most people make the mistakes that get in the way of them achieving their goals:
- Don’t have a clear enough mental image of what success looks like
- The goal is not written down.
- The goal lacks emotional value.
- The goal is either too big (and therefore overwhelming) or it is too small (and therefore insufficient motivation to act)
03:11 – After recording yesterday’s podcast episode about goal setting, I took myself off to a cafe in town with some paper and coloured pens and started writing.
03:31 – I started with my personal philosophy and then moved on to my business mission.
05:04 – I used this process on just one aspect of my life – my business activities. This boiled down to just three components:
- This podcast and blog
- My productivity seminar
- A keynote on productivity
05:40 – When I looked at my goals, I realised I was guilty of the first pitfall – they lacked detail and clarity.
07:33 – At least I had written the goals down.
07:38 – When looking at the emotional value the goals had for me, I answered the following 6 questions:
- Why must I achieve this?
- What will I gain?
- What are the consequences of not achieving this?
- How will I feel when I achieve this?
- How will I feel if I don’t achieve this?
- Who will benefit?
08:06 – writing the answers to these questions did make me feel more empowered. However, as the goals were not defined completely, I felt there was something “missing” from the emotional attachment to them.
08:44 – Having set the goals, I was surprised to experience thoughts and feelings associated with a fixed mindset!
10:01 – Here’s quite an amazing story of coincidence related to the setting of my goals.
14:58 – My next step is to revisit the framework I have created for my goals and start adding texture to them.
