3 Goals for 2021 (published in 2021)
I’m a bit (very) late in doing this, but better late than never.
. . .
Historically, I’ve tended to withhold my personal goals. I feared that I would become the charlatan that’s all talk but no work. Or maybe I’d realize that once my ambitions were out there in the world then they’d become real, and no longer just a desire. Perhaps what I was scared of was action.
But all that changes now.
Although this write-up is more of a personal catharsis, hopefully it can inspire you to craft your own goals and share them with the world (if you dare to go that far.) For me, clicking “Publish” on this will serve to hold me accountable for these goals and motivate me to follow through with my words. So here goes nothing.
There’s an approach to goal-setting that I believe is an effective one, and it’s the S.M.A.R.T. Method. The way that it’s structured is designed to eliminate all vagueness and leave only hard checkpoints. It goes as follows:
Specific- is the goal clear and well-defined? Be sincere with what you really want and keep it straightforward.
Measurable- is there a way to determine the progress of the goal? Think numbers here.
Achievable- is the goal attainable given the current/foreseeable circumstances? Assess your internal and external environments.
Reasonable- can the goal actually be accomplished based on the timeline that you have for it?
Timely- speaking of time, it’s equally as important to consider. If you give yourself too little time, you put unrealistic expectations on yourself and you’ll quickly experience burnout (and thoughts abandonment may creep in). Conversely, too long of a timeline will make you overly lenient and your project will barely advance, if at all.
If things aren’t going as you hoped (through no fault of your own), remember that there’s no shame in revising your goals to fit your circumstances. If it’s a matter of discipline, I can’t help you there. Something about leading a horse to water.
*You can turn your SMART goals into SMARTER goals by adding “Ethical” and “Recorded”. For the former, ask yourself if your means to achieve your goal align with your moral compass. For the latter, make it a point to log your progress to see just how far you’ve really come.
Let’s apply this to three goals that I’ve for myself this year.
Experience personal independence by living solo in a foreign destination for a minimum of three months this year.
As I enter my 20s (saying that feels really surreal, wow), a longing for a sense of independence is approaching rapidly. I notice that when I get too comfortable, I start to become uncomfortable, as paradoxical as that might seem. Apart from the boredom that accompanies staying too long in a single place, I’m feeling the need to go out into the world and mature. I need to experience living alone, buying my own food, cooking my own meals everyday, and generally developing more responsibility. Of course, I’m very much grateful for all that was provided for me in my upbringing but the time has come to immerse myself in an adventure, even if just for a few months. Once travel restrictions lift, I've got huge plans for my next (temporary) settlement.
Specific: I’ve pinpointed the outcome I hope to again (personal independence) by specifying how I will get there (by living abroad).
Measurable: the timeframe of three months is a point of reference to guide me.
Achievable: definitely. All It requires is transportation and accommodation.
Reasonable: as long as travel restrictions are lifted, then living abroad is within the realm of possibility.
Timely: again, assuming all goes as planned I should accomplish this goal this year.
Grow this newsletter’s reach to 1,000 readers by the end of this year by writing more and being more proactive with my outreach efforts on social media and referrals.
Since I started Human+ last August, growth has been stagnant for a few reasons:
-This is my first ever business venture, so figuring out all the logistics of creating an offering and marketing it is still a work in progress (like this project.)
-Between school, work, relationships, and now this project, managing all these aspects of my life sometimes get messy. I’ll be the first to admit that my time management skills could certainly improve. I’m still learning how to devote time to each of these areas without compromising too much on the others.
-Truthfully, there are times when I look at my analytics and wonder whether I’m doing anything right with this project. I lose motivation and that bleeds into my discipline. However, I know within me that I’m not doing nearly as much as I can do to nurture this this project to its true potential.
Specific: I stated how I plan to increase my readership (through social media and referrals).
Measurable: I am able to view analytics that tell me how may subscribers I have and how many of those are regular readers.
Achievable: not saying it’s going to be easy, but it seems attainable. There are similar newsletters with tens of thousands of subscribers- this isn’t meant to be a comparison, but rather evidence that significant growth is possible.
Reasonable: around 940 new subscribers are needed to reach my goal. That’s an average of 21 new subscribers per week. I can do this.
Timely: as of writing this, there are 45 weeks left in the year. I have enough time, I just need to use it wisely.
Be partially financially independent by earning X amount this year.
This X amount correlates to the number that I feel is enough to comfortably sustain me. I’m in the position where I am fortunate to have a comparatively small amount of debt and where my expenses are manageable. For me, $24,000 is the figure I’ve settled on.
Specific: I’ve picked a figure ($24,000 USD) that I am aiming to earn this year.
Measurable: easy enough to track. I just need to document my paychecks.
Achievable: not with the current income streams that I have. I’m looking for another gig that can help me earn more without taking too much time away from this project. When I get it, then this figure becomes a real possibility.
Reasonable: I think so, especially if I do get another consistent flow of cash. Keep in mind that the money that I’ve already made this year brings the principle lower.
Timely: again, 45 weeks left as of writing this. This goal is possible if I use my time pursuing worthy money-making endeavors and not opting for the quickest one.*
*When mixing time and money, a good question that I like to ask myself is, “How much money is my time worth?” or, “How can I most efficiently allocate my hours to bring me the most money?” It’s not smart to spend an hour at a job making $7.25 when I could spend an hour producing something that can generate $50.
I think that goal-setting is so powerful because it helps us recognize that we envision greater things for ourselves. Just avoid developing tunnel vision and remember to enjoy the journey.
Thanks for reading,
Alan
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Additional Resources
I’ll never not recommend the brilliance that is Nathaniel Drew. This video of his outlines his own plans for this year, but I think anyone can benefit from giving it a view.
A short article on making and executing goals by James Clear, author of Atomic Habits. Although I haven’t read the book yet, I still trust his testimony.
More quick tips for crafting and executing goals: write them down, consider getting an accountability partner, revisit them from time to time, and most importantly, ACT. A goal without action is simply a desire.
Social Media
I have exciting news to share: You can now read Human+ in the new Substack app for iPhone.
With the app, you’ll have a dedicated Inbox for my Substack and any others you subscribe to. New posts will never get lost in your email filters, or stuck in spam. Longer posts will never cut-off by your email app. Comments and rich media will all work seamlessly. Overall, it’s a big upgrade to the reading experience.
The Substack app is currently available for iOS. If you don’t have an Apple device, you can join the Android waitlist here.