GoalBuddy Laws

Here are the laws of goals setting. If you apply these principles you will be unstoppable to your way up to success.

Remember, laws are laws – if you break them you will go to jail … fail your goals and undermine your confidence.

This page is work in progress. It’s not final yet.

Law 1. You think only once per week

You analyze and plan your goals only once per week during the Weekly review. During the week you do only one thing – execute!
Don’t waste any energy in re-thinking, analyzing and wondering if you made the right choice.
What if you suddenly realize that you have chosen a wrong task?
Good question. Do it anyway! You are not allowed to change tasks during the week. You can only confirm that the task is the wrong one after you’ve done it. You will learn from your experience and be able to plan better next week.
Don’t think, just do it.
Wow! We just got rid of analysis paralysis.

Law 2. Limitations are your friend, not your enemy

We have intentionally put limitations in this system.
This is liberating and much more effective than fully flexible.

Law 3. Action goals are limited to 90 days

If it’s beyond 90 days, it can’t be an Action goal. You can call it a vision goal, direction, long-term goal, but it can’t be Action goal.
What if achieving the goal takes longer than 90 days?
Good question. Most of the things we want to achieve take longer than 90 days.
Take one part of it that can be completed within 90 days. Then name it. This is your new 90-day Action goal.
Don’t plan the rest of the project – it will be too much guessing. You will be able to plan it much better after you have completed the first 90-day chunk.

Law 4. Only one next step per action goal per week.

Sorry, but this is what works. The moment you put two next steps for the same action goal you drastically increase your chances to fail.
What if I complete all next steps for all action goals?
Good question. Relax and have fun.
If you are a high achiever and fun for you means completing more, it’s ok. You are allowed to add another next steps once you’ve completed all next steps for the week.

Law 5. Maximum 3 90-day Action goals

It’s hard we know. But the fewer goals you set, the more goals you will achieve.
If three goals are too few for you, it’s ok – complete all of them within 90 days and then you are allowed to add another one.

Law 6. You can control only your actions, you cannot control the results

Don’t set goals with results in them, set goals that contain actions you are sure you can make.
e.g. Lose 7 pounds in 4 weeks is referred as an Action goal, but this is an example of poor goal setting.
If your idea of losing 7 pounds is to start going to the gym, a much better goal would be “Go to the gym 3 times a week during the next 4 weeks”
Going to the gym is an action you can control. Losing 7 pounds because you are going to the gym is just a guess you can make.

Law 7. Review your goals daily

Law 8. Clarity is the driver for goals

Lack of clarity is the major problem for not achieving your goals.