It’s that time of year when everyone is working on their annual business plans, intentions, resolutions, habits—or even big, hairy, audacious goals, those BHAGS. Or “stretch” goals. A lot of writers are thinking through their goals for the year ahead. You may be measuring and drawing out calendar grids in your bullet journal or shopping for a bright, new, fresh … [Read more...]
#66: Olympic-Inspired Goal-Setting Strategies for Writers
Today I’m leaning on Olympic marathoner Meb Keflezighi's goal-setting strategies to help us set good writing goals. They’re pretty close to SMART goals, but I like these examples from Meb’s running experience. It starts with this: A good goal has personal meaning. Meb points out that no one gave him a goal or forced a goal onto him. No one said, “You have to win the … [Read more...]
The Writing Life – Episode 4: Goals vs Systems
(If you’re a subscriber reading this in email, please click to website to use the audio player.) In this week’s three-minute podcast, I share a few thoughts in response to an article by Jeff Haden in Inc. about the difference between goals and systems. After you listen, I'd love to hear some of your own responses both to the podcast and to the questions below. Do … [Read more...]
What’s the Driving Force of My Life?
In college, James Dobson's goal was to become the school's tennis champion, which he achieved. In chapter 3 of The Purpose Driven Life, Rick Warren shares that Dobson was awarded a trophy that the school displayed prominently in the sports' trophy cabinet. Years later, someone mailed him that trophy. They had found it in a trash can when the school was … [Read more...]