Step 1: Brainstorming Ideas

In the initial phase, I brainstorm what I hope to accomplish during the upcoming quarter. With my categories in mind, I engage in freeform journaling to clear the mental clutter. This messy, yet essential step, is about discovering what I aspire to achieve and understanding my motivations.

I began by assessing the status of my ongoing goals from Q1. I noted whether I intended to continue pursuing them and what it would take to complete each one. From there, I expanded into new goals, emphasizing the importance of understanding the "why" behind each aspiration. If your sole reason for pursuing a goal is vague or unclear, sustaining motivation can become challenging.

Throughout this brainstorming process, I keep everything flexible. I avoid making firm commitments or schedules, focusing instead on gathering ideas.

This video provides a detailed tutorial on setting effective quarterly goals, offering insights into planning and execution.

Step 2: Prioritizing and Finalizing

Once I’ve gathered my ideas, it's time to determine which goals I will actively pursue. I create a comprehensive list of each goal and highlight those I am most committed to achieving.

In Notion, I organize these goals into four distinct columns, one for each category, and list them in bullet points.

This step may suffice for some, but I like to take it further. To avoid overwhelming myself, I draft a rough outline of the next three months in my journal, allocating days for each goal. By starting with my highest priorities, I can visualize the workload and ensure my schedule isn’t overbooked.

Step 3: Establishing a System

With a finalized list in hand, I input my goals into my Notion system, which I recently redesigned. While it still has some minor issues, I plan to share a tutorial about it once it's fully operational.

Creating a goal system that works for you is essential. Here are a few key components I recommend:

• Clear Definitions: Each goal should be clearly defined, specifying what completion looks like. Aim for quantifiable targets rather than ambiguous feelings. For instance, "I want to finish three YouTube videos" is clearer than "I want to post more on YouTube."
• Break It Down: Since most quarterly goals can't be accomplished in one go, be ready to segment them into manageable tasks. Planning "sessions" for each goal can help mitigate procrastination by clarifying next steps.
• Progress Tracking: Your system should facilitate regular progress checks. I appreciate the scoring system from "The 12 Week Year," but a simple "minimum to-do" list can suffice as well. If you notice frequent gaps in your achievements, it may be time to reassess your approach.

By building an efficient system, you can reduce the day-to-day decision-making burden and focus on executing your plans.

Step 4: Iteration and Execution

Once your goals are in the system, don’t assume your work is done. This final step is critical. With a structured list of goals and an action plan, regular reviews and adjustments are necessary.

Planning may be enjoyable, but execution is where the real value lies. Even the best strategies yield no results without action.

If you commit to your plan consistently, you will see changes, whether they align with your expectations or not. If the outcome isn't desirable, you have the flexibility to pivot. However, without taking action, you won’t gather enough data to evaluate your progress, so it’s essential to get started.

This video offers a step-by-step guide to successful goal setting, helping you navigate the process with clarity and purpose.