Goal Setting – Simplified

Ever thought what is your dream in life without which your life is incomplete and even you won’t be able to die with ease?

Interesting question, isn’t it?

For some, dream is as high as being CEO of a company or being founder of a Unicorn company. And for others, it might be Pilgrimage once in the lifetime. Others may also dream of flying first class and some can rightfully dream to drive a Sedan. Dreams come in all shapes and forms, and all are valid for the person dreaming it.

Following certain remarkable turn of events in my life, I was introduced to the question of what is my dream. Initially, I picked up some materialistic goals from here and there.. Sedans, SUVs, Foreign Passports, Black card a diamond necklace and what not. But there was something seriously wrong with this picture.

There was no evolution of Arshad Aleem portrayed by these materialistic goals. Building a character that deserves that kind of success was missing. Also payback to society was totally missing in my first list of SMART goals.

Then I came to know about a marvellous Malaysian Entrepreneur, Vishen Lakhiani, who is founder of miraculously helpful and transformational platform, Mindvalley. I took the course tailored by Vishen himself, named: Be Extraordinary. Part of the course was about right goals setting. I am writing this article solely directed towards goals setting, which was just one fourth of the course.

A major classification of goals is Means Goals and End Goals

Means goals are the ones like, I want to do this business so that I can do .. (something). I want to qualify for this interview so that i can land into the job and earn money. There is a “so” in them that leads to the original goal that is defined as End Goal

One should focus on End goals and be flexible with the means available to that achievement.

According to Vishen, you have to divide your End Goals in 3 main categories

• Experiences
• Growth
• Contribution

Let’s drive into them one by one.

Experiences based Goals

Experiences category has to be filled with all the marvellous materialistic experiences, gadgets, properties and luxuries all combined.

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Growth Goals

Growth category has to include milestones of personal development. Reading books, investing in your mental capacity, health, wellness, areas where you want to improve as an individual and up-to some extent your profits from pipelines you build.

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Contribution Goals

Contribution part is very vital. You have to imagine that you have accomplished Experience category of goals as well as Growth goals. Then in what ways would you like to contribute back to the society? You wanna write books, give Ted talks, manage brought up of orphans? You name it! This is your WHY to accomplish all that you wanna accomplish at first place.

Vishen rightly names these 3 categories as 3 Most Important Questions (3MIQs)

Your dreams should Scare you a bit and excite you a lot!

Vishen – Be Extraordinary

Next spice in your goals list is to add an additional degree of impossibleness. Confused? Let me explain a bit. For an example, if you’re an entrepreneur and you wrote a Million Dollar in net profit per anum for yourself as a great goal, turn the heat up and write 1 Billion Dollars net-worth instead. This is gonna blow your mind to infinite level of scariness. Seems impossible? I got you covered! Hang tight!

Your 50% of the goals have to be really challenging.

Vishen – Be Extraordinary

It is not necessary to hit 100% of your goals list. You at max have to accomplish 70-80% of the goals in total. So if you have 50% goals challenging, only then you’ll have a thrilling as well as contribution filled life while achieving 70% of your goals.

So how you’re feeling now? Sounds like a perfect goals list. Isn’t it? Hold on, there is one more thing!

Add such goals in all 3 categories (MIQs) that you can accomplish even if you are left without all resources in the gloomy streets of New York city.

Vishen – Be Extraordinary

Wait, let me explain. Don’t start judging. This is a very vital concept, which Vishen names Be “Unfuckwithable”. Although it’s a slang, but it has a deep meaning. It means if none of your goals are accomplished and your life seems like a total devastation, you still find happiness through carefully designed goals that do not require any gain or effort. Seems strange right? Read further!

Unf*ckwithable goals you can achieve without any effort. This will not limit your happiness the present to any materialistic or big growth based goal.

How your MIQ is going to help you here? In the experience column, you add goals like morning walk daily. Reading 10 pages daily in growth column. Passing smile to atleast 3 people daily in your contribution column. No matter how bad your journey goes, you can still achieve these 3 goals if you’re determined. Local parks have no fees, public libraries are inexpensive 800/- PKR for one year subscription at Jinnah Library as an example. Also, it doesn’t cost anything to pass smile to 3 people daily! So you got covered with the sensation of accomplishing what you aimed despite of all odds 😉

Now make a document and paste it in your Vision board if you have one and thank me later 😋