In this topic we explore how we can harness our energy and focus to support our creative output through goal setting and planning. The ability to be in touch with what we can produce under different situations and reliably produce is a powerful tool to nurture and refine.
In this course you will explore how to build upon you r vision and mission within three key SMART goals - each of which is translated into a SMART goal linked to a 12 week planning schedule.
In this course you will explore how to build upon you r vision and mission within three key SMART goals - each of which is translated into a SMART goal linked to a 12 week planning schedule.
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This gives you a robust structure to base achieving your goals upon.
The main topics covered include:
The course is heavily dependent upon online involvement in forums - where you share reflections upon the content explored within a collaborative learning environment. For thgis topic please review the resources shown here and complete workbook 3. |
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Benefits of Planning
Good planning is often described as providing you freedom - as it takes away the brain power from the main tasks of life and provides you more creative focus for those tasks linked to developing your mastery within your particular niche. This avoids the encroachment of life upon your creative time and ensures you can reliably progress the development of your key skill base.
It also allows you to take a step back and make strategic decisions of how much time you invest in different tasks, which activities require a greater investment of time and energy and how you can approach activities differently if you are not getting the desired approach.
In this topic we link the big concept vision and mission statement - to progress within 3 key STRETCH goals. These represent big horizon goals - that can stretch you to develop yourself and progress your capacities to achieve them. They require growth beyond what you can currently achieve.
For each STRECTH goal - we then explore how to develop a SMART goals that is specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and timely. This breaks down a STRETCH goals into immediately executable steps which take you form where you are now to achieving that goal.
Lastly we explore how to map those SMART goals against a 12 week planning schedule - to keep you focused on a day to day basis on exactly what you need to achieve and provide fast goal turn around to allow you to review and refine your goal achieving strategy.
It also allows you to take a step back and make strategic decisions of how much time you invest in different tasks, which activities require a greater investment of time and energy and how you can approach activities differently if you are not getting the desired approach.
In this topic we link the big concept vision and mission statement - to progress within 3 key STRETCH goals. These represent big horizon goals - that can stretch you to develop yourself and progress your capacities to achieve them. They require growth beyond what you can currently achieve.
For each STRECTH goal - we then explore how to develop a SMART goals that is specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and timely. This breaks down a STRETCH goals into immediately executable steps which take you form where you are now to achieving that goal.
Lastly we explore how to map those SMART goals against a 12 week planning schedule - to keep you focused on a day to day basis on exactly what you need to achieve and provide fast goal turn around to allow you to review and refine your goal achieving strategy.
STRETCH and SMART Goals
The reason we need stretch goals in combination with smart goals, is that stretch goals help us determine if a smart goal (a task on the to do list) is worth doing. By setting objectives and creating a clear roadmap for how you’ll reach your intended target, you can decide how to apply your time and resources to make progress. Without goals, it can be difficult to determine how to get a certain job, promotion or other milestones you want to achieve.
- STRETCH GOALS: A stretch goal is usually not measurable or immediately achievable. They act to break down a mission statement into a few key big areas that you can then form SMART goals around to achieve. Stretch goals involve radical expectations that go beyond current capabilities and performance. rand-new paths and approaches must be found to bring a stretch goal within reach. In other words, working differently, not simply working harder, is required.
- SMART GOALS: SMART is an acronym that stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-based. Each element of the SMART framework works together to create a goal that is carefully planned, clear and trackable. With the criteria of smart goals, big projects can be broken up into manageable, doable, tasks. Smart goals help you move forward with those big projects when you feel overwhelmed and have no idea where to start. Therefore, they make excellent to-do-list-items. Using the SMART goal framework sets boundaries and defines the steps you’ll need to take, resources necessary to get there and milestones that indicate progress along the way. With SMART goals, you’re more likely to achieve your goal efficiently and effectively.
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12 Week Planning Cycle
The beauty of the 12 Week Plan is that it allows you to plan in “seasons”. Instead of having to guess at what will be most important to your life in a year, you can focus on the short term and create a more deliberate plan that will be better aligned to your goals.
A 12 week cycle is enough time to make significant progress and accomplish a good amount of work, yet it’s short enough to be manageable and also to create a sense of urgency.
A 12 week cycle is enough time to make significant progress and accomplish a good amount of work, yet it’s short enough to be manageable and also to create a sense of urgency.
- Step 1 - Set your goals: First, you’ll want to identify 2-6 goals for the 12-week time span. These should be strong goals written in a way that is achievable. The number of goals you set depends on the time they will take as well as how much time you have available.
- Step 2 - Break them down: Now that you have your goals identified, break them down into tasks. Depending on the goal, you may have 1 task or quite a few. And some may be sequential. For example, if your goal is to write an eBook, your tasks may include choosing a topic, drafting an outline, writing a first draft, and so on.
- Step 3 – Slot your tasks into weeks: Now that you’ve identified your goals and tasks, it’s time to assign a time frame to each of them, or essentially to slot them into a week. Go through your tasks and assign a week to them by indicating an “X”, writing “To Do” or providing more details. For example, if you want to write 10 articles, maybe you plan to write 5 articles in the first week (and input “5” into the cell).
- Step 4 – Put into action: With your 12 week plan in hand, you’re ready to get to work! I’d suggest that at the start of every week, you look at your weekly tasks and slot them into your calendar. This betters the chances of you actually getting them done. And it also gives you visibility to what’s on the docket for the week.
- Accounting for time off: If you have any long weekends or vacations planned, make sure you note that in your 12 Week Plan. You can always gray out the column for any weeks you’re away. Taking a day or two off? Note “4 Day Week” or something like that under those weeks to remind yourself.
- Making it a habit: Your first 12 Week Plan may take a bit of time since it’s a new process. But once you’re familiar with how it works, subsequent cycles should be much quicker.