Put this ‘ONE Thing’ goal-setting strategy to work in 2024

This January marks Inman’s fifth annual Agent Appreciation Month, which culminates at Inman Join New York in a celebration of brokers on the finish of January. Plus, we’re rolling out the coveted Inman Energy Participant Awards, in addition to the New York Energy Brokers and MLS Innovators awards.

“Start with the top in thoughts,” Dr. Stephen R. Covey stated.

When our children had been in preschool, I keep in mind getting a bulletin from the director to the mother and father. Written on an old-school typewriter and photocopied, the headline learn: “Poopyhead.” Yeah, it received my consideration. 

The director had obtained some involved notes from mother and father about the truth that he allowed the youngsters to name him “Poopyhead.” He famous that adults learn to be acceptable in context. We all know to be extra formal at work, at church, at a flowery restaurant or assembly new potential in-laws.

In different contexts, we get to be extra informal and minimize free. He felt a part of the job was to assist the youngsters be taught contextual habits. Whereas he allowed the Rated-G potty language, the opposite instructors didn’t. The children had figured it out rapidly. They had been studying to be acceptable within the second.

Being “acceptable within the second” is a superb social talent. And it’s much more acceptable for purpose setting and achievement. The problem with extraordinary objectives is two-fold. They typically take a few years to attain and, consequently, individuals battle to know methods to behave right this moment to be in alignment with that distant purpose. 

Say you’d wish to be the highest producer in your market. You simply crossed the $500,000 gross fee earnings (GCI) mark and the primary agent is doing $3 million in GCI. That’s an enormous hole. It is going to take years to get your small business to $3 million in GCI and, by then, the highest producer may have grown as properly.

You may plot out the maths in a spreadsheet, however how are you purported to behave this week? That’s the place purpose setting to the now is available in. 

As we wrote in The ONE Factor, purpose setting to the now (GSTTN) is the sensible reply to Dr. Covey’s name to “start with the top in thoughts.” It’s reverse planning in seven steps. 

You begin with a sometime purpose, grounded in your function and values. The bottom line is to suppose “extraordinary.” I wish to be No. 1 in my market, a best-selling writer or play Carnegie Corridor.

Subsequent, ask the query, “What’s the one factor I must obtain in 5 years to be on observe for my sometime purpose?” That reply turns into your five-year purpose. 

Right here’s the important thing. Your one-year purpose isn’t based mostly in your sometime one, it’s based mostly in your five-year purpose. You’re working backward to the current. “What’s the one factor I must obtain in a single 12 months to be on observe for my five-year objectives?” That reply turns into your goal for the following 12 months.

Based mostly in your one-year purpose, you ask what it’s essential obtain this month. That purpose turns into the idea on your intention this week. Your purpose for the week informs what you will need to obtain right this moment. And every day, you’ll be able to ask what’s your one factor proper now.

Though your five-year purpose could be the stuff of crystal balls, every step you are taking ought to get progressively clearer concerning the precedence. Having lived this for a few years, I can share that every 12 months you’ll get more and more clear in your distant five-year goal. GSTTN permits you to be acceptable within the second and paints the straightest attainable path to your extraordinary sometime purpose. 

Setting annual objectives is nice. The issue is, you will not be working backward from one thing significant. You’re susceptible to chasing the low-hanging fruit. And people fast wins could also be main you in the other way out of your final vacation spot.

With GSTTN, your annual objectives change into milestones in your final journey. Chances are you’ll not obtain one hundred pc of the purpose, however you progress ahead with absolute certainty that you simply’re getting into the precise path. This January, take a second to look at your 2024 objectives. The place are they main you? Are you able to direct your efforts towards one thing larger and finally extra rewarding? 

One query to ponder in your pondering time: Do my annual objectives replicate the chance of the second or a milestone on a much bigger journey?