Read time: 5 minutes
#87 – 22 Dec 2023
Welcome!
I don’t know about you, but I get bored with all the predictable “goals” content at this time of the year.
“Meh.”
It’s all recycled from the previous year. Creators cash in on people’s desire that “next year will be different”. We all dream big and plan to “start over” with new habits in the new year. But most people give up those new habits by the end of January.
Now, I wasn’t going to play this game. But as a coach, I must throw in my 2 cents worth.
I see the benefits of dreaming big goals that excite you. But the other side of the equation is ACTION.
Without action, nothing is going to happen on those goals.
So, whatever goals you commit to this new year, make sure you take ACTION.
Have plans and accountability for that action. Break it down into the weekly and daily habits. Put them on your calendar.
What actions do you need to take?
For example, I want to improve my writing. So you know what I’ll be doing every day? Writing. My goal of becoming a better writer won’t happen without writing.
It sounds ridiculous, but you would be surprised how many people seem to think they can skip the step of doing the real thing and reach success.
Ignore action at your peril.
Don’t let another year slip by on your dreams.
With that, here’s a few ideas for you to reflect on over the holiday period:
1. The goal that changes everything
What is one goal that, if you achieved it in 2024, would change EVERYTHING?
This could be personal or professional.
You have a bunch of goals. I’m sure they are good.
But there is one, the force multiplier, that changes everything. The one that makes everything else irrelevant.
What if you laser-focused on that one?
(h/t Rich Litvin)
2. Attach a rider to your goal
Don’t just have a big goal.
Attach a rider to it.
What is a rider?
A rider is a condition attached to something already agreed upon. The classic example that comes to mind for me was years ago when I was a musician in a band. In addition to getting paid for a gig, we got a “rider,” which usually meant free food and drinks from the venue (good times!).
How can you attach a rider to a goal in an exciting way?
For example, you might want to make an extra $250k in your business next year (goal), BUT it must be FUN and EASY (rider).
See how the rider changes everything?
Suddenly, a big goal goes from sounding like an exhausting amount of work (burnout? No thanks!) to showing up effortlessly and having fun (yes, please!).
Mindblowing, right?
Play with it.
(h/t Rich Litvin)
3. Manage your energy, not time
This one seems to come up for me annually. You reflect on what zaps your energy, what fills your cup, and what you could do differently.
I’m the opposite of a productivity geek. But the insight of “manage your energy, not time” was a game changer for me. If I focus on getting my energy levels right, the productivity takes care of itself.
The core problem with working longer hours is that time is a finite resource.
Energy is a different story.
Defined in physics as the capacity to work, energy comes from four main wellsprings in human beings: the body, emotions, mind, and spirit.
In each, energy can be systematically expanded and regularly renewed by establishing specific rituals—behaviors that are intentionally practiced and precisely scheduled, with the goal of making them unconscious and automatic as quickly as possible.
To recharge themselves, individuals need to recognize the costs of energy-depleting behaviors and then take responsibility for changing them, regardless of the circumstances they’re facing.
Tony Schwartz and Catherine McCarthy, HBR
More work isn’t the answer to your problems.
Start with auditing your energy.
What needs to change in 2024 for you?
What “rituals” could you implement to renew energy? (body, emotions, mind and spirit)
4. Massive Transformative Purpose (“MTP”)
Some high-performers don’t get turned on by “goal setting”. But they have a massive transformative purpose that drives them. The idea of an MTP from Peter Diamandis caught my attention several years ago:
A Massive Transformative Purpose is your highest aspiration—and that’s true for both you as individual and your company.
Here are the attributes of an effective MTP:
- It’s uniquely yours (or your company’s)…
- It feels true for you (you are proud of it)…
- It’s driven by emotional energy (wonder, awe, excitement, pain…), that fuels your drive to pursue big dreams…
- You are willing to commit your life to it (or at least the next decade).
As an individual, your MTP is what wakes you up in the morning and gets you excited.
For example, my personal MTP is:
“To inspire and guide entrepreneurs to create a hopeful, compelling and abundant future for humanity.”
For a company, an MTP is the core, defining purpose of its existence.
It describes the change in the world that you want to achieve, the fundamental problem you are trying to solve. Your MTP is designed to inspire focused action, express your passions, and create an emotional connection that drives you and others toward meaningful, positive, and common change.
Peter Diamandis
What is your Massive Transformative Purpose?
Ponder that over your holiday break.
5. Community is where it’s at
I keep hearing many big creators talking about the power of community:
Build a community, not just a following:
Engage with your audience.
Answer their questions, acknowledge their struggles, and celebrate their wins.
Community building is how you establish genuine authority. Not by advice dropping.
In a world where everyone can claim to be an expert, the real differentiator is:
– Sharing your learning journey
– Offering unique insights
– Solving real problems
– Building community
Justin Welsh
How can you better nurture your community in 2024?
6. Don’t overlook self-inquiry
Self-inquiry is essential if you want to go to the next level as a leader.
I love this from Jerry Colonna:
The call is to stand still and do the work of self-inquiry.
Remember who you are, what you believe about the world, and then, risks be damned, lead from that place of broken-open-hearted warriorship.
Man, that’s good —“broken-open-hearted warriorship”. Deep!
I invite you to pull out a journal and explore “you”.
Here are some journaling prompts from Jerry:
Who is the person I’ve been all my life?
What can that person teach me about becoming the leader I want to be?
What was the story my family told about being real, being vulnerable, being true?
What do I believe about vulnerability, and how might that serve me?
Jerry Colonna
7. A quote to ponder
The act of re-finding the path, is the path.
David Whyte
Time for a break
I hope you found great value here.
I’ve decided to take an overdue holiday to spend quality time with my wife and two boys here in the Australian summer.
I’ll resume newsletters in 2 weeks.
Wishing you well! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Cheers,
Matt
P.S.
Today’s themes are examples of what I explore with clients in my executive coaching practice.
If you want to explore how coaching could help you (or your team) achieve your goals in 2024, get in touch or book a call.
