High Leverage Choices in Goal Setting

Most people know about how helpful breaking large goals into smaller goals or steps can be. Each smaller goal or step is easier to accomplish and so gives you a sense of accomplishment, creating momentum. Propelling you on to your Really Big Goal.

A little twist I’ve started to experience has to do with making the most of each step or mini goal. You can do this by looking at your Really Big Goals in life and at the various steps needed to accomplish each of them. See what they have in common. Now, are there steps you can take in towards one goal that will propel you closer to another goal? If there is, you found a way to leverage your time and energy dramatically!

In my own life, recently, there have been quite a few changes as a result of getting divorced. Being a stay at home dad in a home schooling family has some challenges. Adding a divorce, no income, no home, and a commitment to continuing to home school definitely doesn’t make things any simpler.

After floating around a bit getting my bearings, I realized all my old goals existed in the context of being married and a stay at home dad. Going forward, I need new goals for my new life!

While all this is going on I have multiple people encouraging me to publish, speak or do workshops related to the mystical experiences I’ve had over the last 35 years. Something I am, in fact interested in doing. Only, given everything else in my life I was finding my energy, attention and confidence to be on the low side.

To show you what I came up with I am going to list the goals in my life as an example.

Goals:

• Continue Living In Local Area
• Create a Home For Myself and My Children
• Continue Home Schooling
• Workshop, Writing and Speaking Business
• Life Coaching Business

Challenges:

• Low Energy
• Need Confidence Speaking and Leading Workshops
• Getting Exposure to Life Coaching Clients
• Home School Time Commitment / Need Flexible Work Schedule
• No Current Income in Local Economy
• High Cost of Living with Poor Wages in Local Economy

My Multi-Goal, High Leverage Solution?

A friend teaches a Personal Fitness Trainer (PFT) program at a local technical college. I signed up. I’ll explain why below. I will tell you right now I was wondering what in the world I was thinking on the first day. Most the class is in their early 20s! My pullup and handstand pushup days are a few decades back.

When I hear what it takes to be a very good PFT, though, I’m nothing but encouraged. Should fit my personality like a glove. Plus, as it turns out, many middle age and older clients are more comfortable with someone who has a few gray hairs!

Also, where I live, people are very health conscious. Odds are I’ll find some kind of income either as an independent or working for a local gym due to local demand. The program aslo has a good placement record. Given when people have time to work out I should be able to have some schedule flexibility. Check off few challenge items.

I can take this a step further, too. By helping people get their physical lives on track I am positioned to help them with other areas as a Life Coach. Check off another challenge item.

Part of learning to be a PFT involves planning and leading exercise groups. So, I am getting experience being up in front of a group of people inspiring them to sweat, and strain, working harder than they feel like working. Having had the opportunity to do so in class already I can say my confidence is definitely going up. Bye, bye challenge item.

Part of doing the PFT program means getting in shape. And that means feeling better and having more energy! Already seeing results, too! Check.

With one choice I hit multiple target goals. This is leverage of my time and money. The risks? The very worst case is I don’t see any income from being a PFT. Which means I’ve invested time and money with no financial return. On the other hand, my health is improving, my energy is increasing, my outlook is better, and I’m getting lots of experience in front of groups of people. And while I’m in school I have time to pursue other goals, anyways.

Multiple benefits from a high leverage choice with little downside.