The One and Only Key to Achieving Your Goals in 2019, and It Has Nothing To Do With SMART Goals?

When we think of goal setting, we usually think of goals that envision a specific outcome. Some examples include:

• Lose 20 pounds.
• Increase income by 10%.
• Buy a larger house/newer vehicle.
• Run a marathon.
• Save money for college.
• Get a promotion.

What if we based our goals on changing behaviors instead of obtaining a specific outcome? Could we modify or completely change behaviors that would lead us to the desired outcome quicker, healthier, and with less stress? Some experts certainly think so.

Many times, when we set goals, we focus on the negative, i.e. what we don’t want rather than what we do want. Behavior-based goals focus more on the behaviors we want to strengthen (what we want) rather than what we don’t want.

For example:

Negative: I don’t want to be overweight
Positive: I want be at “x” pounds

Negative: I don’t want to be in debt
Positive: I want more cash flow

Which statements propel you to focus and strengthen your behaviours?

In strengthening the positive behaviors, we change the way we act and react in many situations.

Here’s another example:

Matt has a business and wants to secure three or four new clients each month in order to increase his business revenue.

Up until recently, Matt only relied on word-of-mouth referrals, and he’s done okay. In order to step it up a notch, he realizes he’ll have to do things he’s not very comfortable doing – like attending networking events and cold-calling on businesses.

Matt is also aware that he is going to need to do these things consistently in order to secure the new business that will grow his business. For Matt, the fear of keeping his business at the same level, year after year, is more painful than stretching his skills to do the things he needs to do to secure that business growth.

In this situation, business growth is the quantifiable outcome-based goal. Increasing self-discipline and consistency are two of Matt’s behavior-based goals.

The outcome-based goal is the end-all-be-all goal. It’s the prize possession, the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

But the habit-changing behavior-based goals are what will ensure Matt gets to the end of this particular rainbow (and beyond).

With behavior-based goal setting, the intention is to create positive change in your habits which will increase your chances of achieving your outcome-based goals.

Do you want to learn how to create and sustain positive habits so you can achieve your goals in 2019?

Subscribe to this 3-part video series:

‍

‍