Letters to Santa

By Julia Anderson, marketing and communications consultant - oh, and letter writer

Check out any website about career development, family life or work-life balance and you’ll find many references to goal-setting. For me, goal-setting was always like scripting an annual letter to Santa: Write your list, post it up the chimney and wait to see what turns up.

Boy, did I get my comeuppance the other day, though!

While sorting out the files on my computer, I came across a document entitled ‘Visioning’. I double-clicked to open it, and...  BOOM! There was my list of four very specific, detailed and measurable goals. And not your wimpy ones either. They were Big, Hairy, Audacious Goals: My five-year plan, in fact, due to expire within four months.

Have I achieved them? Mostly, yes. Three out of four are progressing rather well.  And I’ve done it not by closing my eyes, crossing my fingers and singing ‘Jingle Bells’; but by taking small, practical and manageable steps on a consistent basis.

·        I now own my own home (not the swish, architect-designed townhouse that I envisioned, but a modern low maintenance place with a glimpse of the harbour and lovely neighbours)

·        I’ve achieved the work-life balance that I craved. My goal was to work nine months a year and take three months off. I haven’t quite got the three months running consecutively yet, but that’s the next step.

·        I’ve found love again. I’m not saying it’s all a walk in the park: But I had my heart rate checked recently at the gym and when the fitness consultant asked me how my partner was doing, my pulse rate increased. That’s not too shabby, is it?

And here’s the clincher: Achieving these three goals wasn’t all that difficult. I just started going to open homes; booking time off between contracts; and saying hello to the good-looking solo Dad at the school gates.

But my fourth goal has eluded me so far. By now I wanted to be working more as a roving business consultant and less as a Wellington-based contractor. I had a very large financial target attached to this goal. Why haven’t I nailed it yet?

Here are my thoughts on how you, and I, can approach big goals in a way that’s more likely to succeed.

·        Set realistic targets. ‘Stretch goals can be terribly demotivating, ’ says this blog. I attached a massive, random and totally unrealistic financial target to my ‘business  consultant’  goal. I had no clear path to achieving it. Now, I’ve set a realistic monetary target, based on giving me financial freedom within four to six years. I know what I need to do (on a weekly, monthly and annual basis), to achieve it – and I’m comfortable with that.  Have a look at Sorted to access heaps of pragmatic financial planning and budgeting tools.

·        Focus on ‘small wins’. We’re all good at doing a beat-up on ourselves for what we don’t achieve. What about celebrating the little victories?  I’ve negotiated a contract that helps me nail the first four months of my big financial plan. (Just another 16 like those and I’m mortgage-free!) – and what’s more, it’s doing work that I enjoy, with people I like. It didn’t happen by itself: I went out there and found it.

·        Reward yourself. When I achieve my quarterly financial target in April next year, I’ll take a trip to Sydney to visit a friend. It’s already in my budget. Yes, it means my long-term financial freedom takes me slightly longer to achieve – but regular rewards along the way are vital to my success. And it doesn’t have to be a holiday: I also plan smaller rewards such as a massage, a pedicure or a day away – websites like Grab One are a good source of ideas at a discounted rate.

·        Start anywhere. Shifting into a business consulting role still feels like a big stretch for me. How do I get from where I am to where I want to be?  The answer could be to treat this project like ‘Swiss cheese’ and just start nibbling anywhere. I have a long way to go with this goal, but the girls at WorksWonders are with me all the way. Thanks, Ange and Jane!

If you enjoyed this post by Julia you'll love the one she did for us in July - check it out here.