Step 3
In this final step you should take the time to review your major goals & systems for the next year and optimize them for success. In short, this means going through a checklist to battle-proof any concerns, and more.
The 5-goal limit is intended on purpose to help you prioritize your goals. Don't optimize what isn't prioritized. If needed, the resources below can help - do this before proceeding.
Revisit your major goals (and associated systems) and answer the questions associated with the first 3 topics.
For smaller goals and projects, or for any action items that popped up during your investigation, feel free to also plan these out, but with fewer details.
💡 Hit the refresh button if your goals are not showing.
What exactly is the project or goal? Be as detailed as possible
What does success look like?
What accountability systems can you put in place to help you reach the goal?
In order to combat the homonunculus on your shoulder who whispers in your ear that you will never succeed, we need to address any concerns or uncertainties upfront. For this particular goal, do the following
Goal: Start a lemonade business outside my house that breaks even by the end of 2021.
System: Learn about entrepeneurship & business, putting lessons into practice to see what works for me
Address uncertainities
Address all your fears & uncertainities related to the goal here
💡 This part is based on and inspired by the 'fear-setting' exercises by Tim Ferriss. If time permits, watch his TED talk and read the associated blog posta on it. There are additional steps that have been left out here.
You don't have to fill out those task lists yet. In the GTD nomenclature, projects are defined as Projects are defined as outcomes that will require more than one action step to complete and that you can mark off as finished in the next 12 months
What exactly is the project or goal? Be as detailed as possible
What does success look like?
What accountability systems can you put in place to help you reach the goal?
In order to combat the homonunculus on your shoulder who whispers in your ear that you will never succeed, we need to address any concerns or uncertainties upfront. For this particular goal, do the following
Goal: Start a lemonade business outside my house that breaks even by the end of 2021.
System: Learn about entrepeneurship & business, putting lessons into practice to see what works for me
Address uncertainities
Address all your fears & uncertainities related to the goal here
💡 This part is based on and inspired by the 'fear-setting' exercises by Tim Ferriss. If time permits, watch his TED talk and read the associated blog posta on it. There are additional steps that have been left out here.
What exactly is the project or goal? Be as detailed as possible
What does success look like?
What accountability systems can you put in place to help you reach the goal?
In order to combat the homonunculus on your shoulder who whispers in your ear that you will never succeed, we need to address any concerns or uncertainties upfront. For this particular goal, do the following
Goal: Start a lemonade business outside my house that breaks even by the end of 2021.
System: Learn about entrepeneurship & business, putting lessons into practice to see what works for me
Address uncertainities
Address all your fears & uncertainities related to the goal here
💡 This part is based on and inspired by the 'fear-setting' exercises by Tim Ferriss. If time permits, watch his TED talk and read the associated blog posta on it. There are additional steps that have been left out here.
What exactly is the project or goal? Be as detailed as possible
What does success look like?
What accountability systems can you put in place to help you reach the goal?
In order to combat the homonunculus on your shoulder who whispers in your ear that you will never succeed, we need to address any concerns or uncertainties upfront. For this particular goal, do the following
Goal: Start a lemonade business outside my house that breaks even by the end of 2021.
System: Learn about entrepeneurship & business, putting lessons into practice to see what works for me
Address uncertainities
Address all your fears & uncertainities related to the goal here
💡 This part is based on and inspired by the 'fear-setting' exercises by Tim Ferriss. If time permits, watch his TED talk and read the associated blog posta on it. There are additional steps that have been left out here.
What exactly is the project or goal? Be as detailed as possible
What does success look like?
What accountability systems can you put in place to help you reach the goal?
In order to combat the homonunculus on your shoulder who whispers in your ear that you will never succeed, we need to address any concerns or uncertainties upfront. For this particular goal, do the following
Goal: Start a lemonade business outside my house that breaks even by the end of 2021.
System: Learn about entrepeneurship & business, putting lessons into practice to see what works for me
Address uncertainities
Address all your fears & uncertainities related to the goal here
💡 This part is based on and inspired by the 'fear-setting' exercises by Tim Ferriss. If time permits, watch his TED talk and read the associated blog posta on it. There are additional steps that have been left out here.
It's not real unless it's in the calendar. Even though this is not a nitty-gritty planning phase, be sure to get key events in the calendar already now.
Alex Vermeer recommends David Seah's compact calendar, or, at the other extreme, a large wall calendar but really any calendar will work fine. A printout works especially well, but you can also use an app. Based on your goals and projects, start filling in:
"This helps me keep the big picture in mind; I keep it on hand at all times. It is the only form of paper organization I use— everything else is digital."
Alex Vermeer in his 8760 Hours guide
There is a 100% guarantee that these notes will end up forgotten if you don't put into place regularly reviews. Decide at this point what type of review works best for you and then add them to your calendar.
Don't overdo this - many people struggle with weekly reviews, but how about monthly reviews? Don't pack the agenda, but keep it to a brief 15 min sesh. Rig the game in your favour 👏
Questions to ask during these reviews:
For more, read RescueTime's guide to weekly and monthly reviews
.As a final addendum, consider putting some 'skin in the game' for your goals. A few ideas of how to do this (use case depending on the specific goal in question, of course)
If you want more 'hacks', consider reading the Motivation Hacker (a very short read). For more, see the Resources section for suggestions