Sukant Ratnakar's Blog - Posts Tagged "daily"
In the Game of Life, what's your goal?
Can you play a game of football without the goalposts? Certainly not! In the same way, we can't play golf without defining the hole, and even cricket can't be played without the wickets. Exactly like these games is the game of life. We need goals from time to time at different stages of our life.
"If you want to live a happy life, tie it to a goal, not to people or things." - Albert Einstein
Just like every game is different, and so are their goals. Our life also demands specific goals for each one of us. Your goal can't be my goal, and my goal can't be yours. Each one of us is supposed to have different goals because we all are different from each other. In the extreme case, two people might have goals that look similar, but they can't be identical.
"A goal is a goal when it is set outside your comfort zone."
Those of us who are trying to play the game of life without defining their goals are more likely to see their life moving in circles. Nothing can ever be achieved in life without establishing what we need?
Yes, setting goals is essential for sure, but how do you set the goals and, more importantly, the right goals. Here is a smart checklist for Goal setting:
Q1 - Is your goal positive?
Thumb Rule: Goal needs to be always Positive. Create a "Snowball Effect of Positivity". Start with easily attainable goals and gradually scale up. Connect your goals with positive outcomes. Visualize your achievements many times during the day. The law of attraction will work in your favour, for sure!
Q2 - Does your goal qualify Zero Sum Theory
Zero-sum is a situation in game theory in which one person's gain is equivalent to another's loss, so the net change is zero. This simple theory can be extended while setting our goals. The more positive elements we choose in our goal setting, the lesser scope will be available for negative aspects to take the space.
Chose to include, instead of excluding. Subconsciously, when we exclude anything, we make ourselves feel as if we are sacrificing something big. If you are on a weight loss diet plan, don't try to eliminate something from your diet; instead, include more healthy stuff. When you fill your diet plan with healthy things, it will leave no room for the unhealthy and fatty stuff on your list. That way, you will not suppress your temptations. Remember, any feeling of scarcities and suppression is expected to bounce back.
Q3 - Is your goal realistic and achievable?
For a goal to be achievable, it must be realistic. This means that your goal must be aligned with your skills, talents and your resources and most importantly, with your "why"
Q3 - How are you investing your resources?
Time, money and energy are limited resources. How can you maximize the use of your resources in fulfilling your goal? Allocate them wisely and to ensure that there is no leakage and erosion of your resources in the form of negative thoughts and over criticism.
Q4 - What are the drivers of your goal? Is it based on your passion or need?
Both passion and need are competent drivers of goal; the bigger question is the why behind our goal. "Why" is the central pillar on which the whole structure of your goal gets constructed? Why you are creating a specific goal? What is the positive outcome you expect at the end of it? and how it will change your life?
Q5 - What are the nutrients for your goal?
Goal aligned with your skills and talents has much higher chances of getting achieved. There is a thin line difference between skills and talents. Skills are acquired, wherein the talents are natural. There will always be a person who will be better than you in the skills because whatever are your skills could be someone's talent. Identify your talents and create your goals around your talents.
Q6 - What are your natural strengths?
Every person is born with his natural strengths and limitations. While designing the goal execution strategy, keep in mind to focus on your natural strengths, your weaknesses will be automatically get filtered out. Strengths are the channels that will give wings to your talents.
Q7 - Is your goal build on someone's else sacrifices? Are they harming anyone?
Keeping a balance is an essential factor while setting a goal and formalizing its execution strategy. Yes, we do need contributions from our friends and family members to achieve our goals, but make sure that we don't cross the limits of contributions and go in the arena of sacrifices. The winning formula is to keep the balance, whether it is work-Life balance or nature.
Q8 - What are the building blocks of your goal?
The most common drivers of our goals are fear, greed, dreams, respect and love (relationships). While fear is the most effective driver, it's the most dangerous one as well. The goal created out of negative drivers are not sustainable and have a long term side effect on personal self-esteem and confidence.
Set your goal around your dreams, respect and love, they emit positivity. Quit smoking, not because smoking kills, but for a reason, you love your family and respect life.
Q9 - Are your goals based on Values?
Values are the things that we believe are important in the way we live, work and determine our decisions. They not only determine our priorities but also guide us on every aspect of our life. The more that we choose our goal based on our values, the more we enter into a positive cycle of energy.
Q10 - Is your goal modular. Can it be broken down in smaller components and at the same time, are they scalable?
Breakdown your goal in daily executable small goals. Thus making your goal part of your daily routine. Create a mechanism to measure performance against daily targets and milestones.
"A goal without a timeline is not a goal."
Three layers of goals: The above checklist is only the preparation to ensure that your goal passes the alignment test.
1 - Mental (Mind)
2 - Physical (Body)
3 - Spiritual (Soul)
The mental layer is the creation zone. In this zone, we create our goal and identify our "Why". It's in the mental zone that we analyze our needs and understand our strengths. Visualization and productive thinking happen in this zone along with strategy formation for the execution of our goal.
The physical layer is the application zone, where we implement our daily goals, do the analysis and incorporate necessary changes in our main goal.
The spiritual layer is the nurturing zone. We develop personal characteristics in this zone. The more positive the goal we set, the higher the personal character we will develop along the process. Some of the outcomes of positive goals are respect, courtesy, gratitude, love, loyalty. It's in the spiritual zone where we develop new routines, connect with nature and enhance our discipline in life.
"If you want to live a happy life, tie it to a goal, not to people or things." - Albert Einstein
Just like every game is different, and so are their goals. Our life also demands specific goals for each one of us. Your goal can't be my goal, and my goal can't be yours. Each one of us is supposed to have different goals because we all are different from each other. In the extreme case, two people might have goals that look similar, but they can't be identical.
"A goal is a goal when it is set outside your comfort zone."
Those of us who are trying to play the game of life without defining their goals are more likely to see their life moving in circles. Nothing can ever be achieved in life without establishing what we need?
Yes, setting goals is essential for sure, but how do you set the goals and, more importantly, the right goals. Here is a smart checklist for Goal setting:
Q1 - Is your goal positive?
Thumb Rule: Goal needs to be always Positive. Create a "Snowball Effect of Positivity". Start with easily attainable goals and gradually scale up. Connect your goals with positive outcomes. Visualize your achievements many times during the day. The law of attraction will work in your favour, for sure!
Q2 - Does your goal qualify Zero Sum Theory
Zero-sum is a situation in game theory in which one person's gain is equivalent to another's loss, so the net change is zero. This simple theory can be extended while setting our goals. The more positive elements we choose in our goal setting, the lesser scope will be available for negative aspects to take the space.
Chose to include, instead of excluding. Subconsciously, when we exclude anything, we make ourselves feel as if we are sacrificing something big. If you are on a weight loss diet plan, don't try to eliminate something from your diet; instead, include more healthy stuff. When you fill your diet plan with healthy things, it will leave no room for the unhealthy and fatty stuff on your list. That way, you will not suppress your temptations. Remember, any feeling of scarcities and suppression is expected to bounce back.
Q3 - Is your goal realistic and achievable?
For a goal to be achievable, it must be realistic. This means that your goal must be aligned with your skills, talents and your resources and most importantly, with your "why"
Q3 - How are you investing your resources?
Time, money and energy are limited resources. How can you maximize the use of your resources in fulfilling your goal? Allocate them wisely and to ensure that there is no leakage and erosion of your resources in the form of negative thoughts and over criticism.
Q4 - What are the drivers of your goal? Is it based on your passion or need?
Both passion and need are competent drivers of goal; the bigger question is the why behind our goal. "Why" is the central pillar on which the whole structure of your goal gets constructed? Why you are creating a specific goal? What is the positive outcome you expect at the end of it? and how it will change your life?
Q5 - What are the nutrients for your goal?
Goal aligned with your skills and talents has much higher chances of getting achieved. There is a thin line difference between skills and talents. Skills are acquired, wherein the talents are natural. There will always be a person who will be better than you in the skills because whatever are your skills could be someone's talent. Identify your talents and create your goals around your talents.
Q6 - What are your natural strengths?
Every person is born with his natural strengths and limitations. While designing the goal execution strategy, keep in mind to focus on your natural strengths, your weaknesses will be automatically get filtered out. Strengths are the channels that will give wings to your talents.
Q7 - Is your goal build on someone's else sacrifices? Are they harming anyone?
Keeping a balance is an essential factor while setting a goal and formalizing its execution strategy. Yes, we do need contributions from our friends and family members to achieve our goals, but make sure that we don't cross the limits of contributions and go in the arena of sacrifices. The winning formula is to keep the balance, whether it is work-Life balance or nature.
Q8 - What are the building blocks of your goal?
The most common drivers of our goals are fear, greed, dreams, respect and love (relationships). While fear is the most effective driver, it's the most dangerous one as well. The goal created out of negative drivers are not sustainable and have a long term side effect on personal self-esteem and confidence.
Set your goal around your dreams, respect and love, they emit positivity. Quit smoking, not because smoking kills, but for a reason, you love your family and respect life.
Q9 - Are your goals based on Values?
Values are the things that we believe are important in the way we live, work and determine our decisions. They not only determine our priorities but also guide us on every aspect of our life. The more that we choose our goal based on our values, the more we enter into a positive cycle of energy.
Q10 - Is your goal modular. Can it be broken down in smaller components and at the same time, are they scalable?
Breakdown your goal in daily executable small goals. Thus making your goal part of your daily routine. Create a mechanism to measure performance against daily targets and milestones.
"A goal without a timeline is not a goal."
Three layers of goals: The above checklist is only the preparation to ensure that your goal passes the alignment test.
1 - Mental (Mind)
2 - Physical (Body)
3 - Spiritual (Soul)
The mental layer is the creation zone. In this zone, we create our goal and identify our "Why". It's in the mental zone that we analyze our needs and understand our strengths. Visualization and productive thinking happen in this zone along with strategy formation for the execution of our goal.
The physical layer is the application zone, where we implement our daily goals, do the analysis and incorporate necessary changes in our main goal.
The spiritual layer is the nurturing zone. We develop personal characteristics in this zone. The more positive the goal we set, the higher the personal character we will develop along the process. Some of the outcomes of positive goals are respect, courtesy, gratitude, love, loyalty. It's in the spiritual zone where we develop new routines, connect with nature and enhance our discipline in life.
