Before we can send our little engines up that mountain, we’ll need to define our “mountains.” In my experience, the best goals are goals that you actually WANT to achieve, and are willing to WORK for. It’s also important that your goal is actually DO-able. It really helps is you already have a clear idea of HOW to go about achieving it. Being really clear with yourself about the goal, setting strong parameters, having a good vision of the desired results, are equally important.

For example, let’s say you have a goal of: “I want to write a book.”

First off, is this DO-able? Thirty days isn’t a very long time. Do you really want to write a whole book? Or would you feel more comfortable writing a story? Or an article? Or a poem? How many pages do you think you could write every day? Etc.. Etc.. It’s a nebulous goal, I think. Not specific enough, and maybe not even possible. You might be setting yourself up for failure.

Much better to say: “I want to begin writing my book, and I plan to have at least 4 chapters of a rough draft finished by the end of 30 days.” 

Here’s another example. Suppose you have a goal of: “I want to get in shape.”

Nice goal. But what does it mean? How will you measure your progress? How will you know you have succeeded? What if you absolutely hate to exercise? How will you do it? Does the thought of “get in shape” make you feel tired? cranky? hungry? Are you sure this is what you really want?

So, are you ready? Let’s set some goals. Remember, it needs to be something that you really DO want, and really WILL work for.

Our next project is due to begin on April 1st, just a few days away, and it’s time to start thinking about what comes next. What I’d like to do is build on what we have accomplished so far. In our last project, Laying The Groundwork, we made lists … lots of them, we journaled, we explored our deeper inner selves, and we talked, but we didn’t actually DO anything.

I think it’s time to stop talking for a while and start doing. The idea is to pick one doable goal, something that you could actually accomplish in a span of 30 days, and then actually DO it. I think it’s important that the goal be something that you actually WANT to succeed with. It could be a series of small simple practical things that you’ve been procrastinating, something you’ve always wanted to do but never made time for, it could even be something you were going to do anyway.

I am modeling this project around “The Little Engine That Could,” a story from my childhood that still influences me, even this many years later. I’ll also be looking for motivational videos, and whatever else I can find that will help us accomplish whatever it is that we’ve set out to do.

If this project interests you, I’d love it if you’d join in. A public statement as to what you are planning to accomplish in the next 30 days might be a great way to get started. You can leave a comment right here, right now, defining your goal. If public statements don’t float your boat, make a note and put it on your refrigerator, put a reminder on your phone, tell a friend, or do something to make it “official.”