Set Your GPS
Jim Collins coined the phrase “BHAG,” standing for “Big Hairy Audacious Goal.” Having something hugely aspirational to aim for can give focus to daily actions. Having clear goals has the benefit of aligning us with an ideal outcome of where we want to be in the future. To get to this ideal, we need to grow our skills, abilities, and personal belief in what we consider possible. Having a vision to aim for allows you to act and grow into that. More than just being a destination point, it becomes a reference point, a way to check: ‘Am I being the person I want to be?’
An activity I learnt from Brendon Burchard, that I have found useful, is to pick three words that epitomise you when you are at your best. You then set a daily alarm on your phone, and when it goes off, it presents an opportunity to check in with myself and see if, at that moment, you are aligned with the best version of yourself.
All these strategies are aimed to be a guiding light and reference point to keep you on the path towards the destination you desire. A lot like a GPS, they can quickly show when you are off track and provide the opportunity to recalculate and redirect your focus and actions. Rather than a legalistic set of rules to adhere to, it is a guiding set of values and priorities. This speeds up your decision-making process by providing a quick checkpoint: ‘Will this get me closer or further away from my ideal outcome?’
Making decisions all day can get tiring. Have you ever got home and decided you would have takeaway instead of cooking dinner? Then you and your partner go back and forth with ‘I don’t mind what we get, you choose,’ and ‘No, it’s alright, happy with whatever you want!’ Any shortcuts that make that easier are welcome.
Decision-making fatigue is one of the major causes of people deviating from behaving like who they want to be. It takes effort to maintain your course, and so the more obstacles you can remove, the better. The easier you make it to do anything, the more likely you are to do it. When you are clear on who you are and how you behave, it helps remove unhelpful options.
Removing unhelpful options reduces the friction of staying on track. An example I often share to highlight this comes from a friend. Sam was focused on getting and staying healthy. He allowed himself the occasional fast food meal on the premise that the odd double-patty cheeseburger was a treat when needed. His mantra was, “Everything in moderation, including moderation.” He noticed that he was eating takeaways a lot more than he wanted. Upon reflection, he noticed that when he was tired and run down, he would more easily weaken for drive-through takeaways. Then he would feel bad, which would steal energy and motivation, creating a negative cycle. He decided it would be best not to eat fast food at all. Removing this option and being clear on what he would eat led to him buying healthier food, making a meal plan, and pre-preparing meals. All this reduced the number of decisions, making it easier to do more of what he wanted.
That might seem a bit radical. Again, it is yes and no. ‘Yes,’ it is a radical decision, and ‘no,’ because it aligned with a desired outcome. Another friend used to struggle with social drinking after work, staying late and then driving home under the influence, often also driving tired. Two things changed that. First, he noticed that after a big ‘social’ night, he did not perform at his best the next day. Performing well in his work on every job was an ideal he set himself. He knew something had to change. Then, around the same time, a close friend died in a car accident involving a drunk driver. He never wanted to risk that being him. He stopped drinking. That was years ago, and even now, he never drinks during the week and only occasionally has a few drinks on special occasions with family. It is easy to say ‘no’ to social drinks because his goals and ideal image do not include drinking.
Your ideal image of yourself—who you want to be now and in the future—makes the decisions that require a radical life change easier. When your behaviour does not align, you can ‘course-correct.’
How do you keep your ideal image of yourself in front of mind?
At the front of my notebook, I have written a few brief sentences about who I am. It covers the seven areas I consider important:
Who I am spiritually,
How I live life,
How I carry on relationships,
How I work,
The difference I make,
What my values are,
The characteristics I want to be known for.
I wrote it in the present tense and aim to read it every day. Often, this practice is called a daily affirmation, and people do it to keep what is important, front of mind. I encourage you to do it. Write in the present tense, even if it is aspirational.
To give an example, my current one is: ‘I am a faith-filled man of action who loves the life I have and the people I am blessed to be surrounded by. I enjoy healthy, loving, and warm relationships. I get to do a job I enjoy, and I make a positive difference every day. I am filled with passion and energy and infuse this into my every day and action. I am on a path I believe in, using my strengths and talents to make the world a better place. I am kind, generous, and helpful, inspiring and equipping people to realise and reach their potential.’
The secret is to write it out in the present tense. Remember, you are being the person you want to become. Sometimes, people struggle to write out future aspirations in the present tense. Give it a go, and read it every day for a month. Initially, it is a little strange, even weird, but the effects are undeniable.
