For me, these rely on the structured environment you get at work, where ultimately disciplinary is an option when things aren’t delivered. And thankfully, that doesn’t fly for personal goals 😂. The best goal setting method I’ve come across is Gary Keller's ‘Planning to the now’, which connects your daily action to a sole focus.  It is fantastic, BUT 

Having one sole focus doesn’t work in reality. Life isn’t that one-dimensional. Also mapping overly detailed lifelong goals across everything in your life doesn’t work either. You can't performance manage a you that you that doesn’t even exist yet.  

I’ve adopted a more flexible approach, that whilst similar, has some key differences;

1) Set Direction: Set north star statements to guide you across all the key areas of life

2) Get Momentum: set simple daily/weekly or monthly habits that move you towards these

3) Flexible planning: Be clear on what you will achieve in a year. Sketch out 2-3 years loosely and let 5-year goals emerge over time once you get clarity from doing. 

4) Flexible focus: I pack away all the detail, focus on completing the habits more often than not, check in regularly against each life area (see last post) and take specific action that’ll move the needle where it's required most. 

Multiple goals, because who has the luxury of focusing on one thing forever? And North Stars with flexible milestones because I don’t know all my whys yet, life’s complicated, and it changes. But that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t act today. 

I found this gave me a decent blueprint/foundation, with priorities explored, momentum mapped and room for change as I developed. The result has been demonstrable progress in all areas and a quieter mind knowing that I’m taking action in the right direction. 

Anyone else got an approach for their personal goals?

Personal goals need a personal approach. SMART goals & OKRs don’t quite cut it.