# How Well Do You Know Your Goals?

Source: https://geoffblades.com/well-know-goals/
Published: 2016-07-18
Updated: 2019-10-11
Author: Geoff

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Many of us have a loose idea of what we want, but without a clear definition of what we want, and why we want it, we can fail to take the right actions.

Give this exercise a shot. I will warn you might be surprised by what you learn.

**Step 1: List your goals.** Here’s some to consider, add and subtract as you choose:

- Challenge
- Contribution / Community
- Family
- Friends
- Growth
- Health
- Happiness
- Love / Connection
- Significance / Power
- Wealth

**Step 2: Force rank your goals.**I know it’s hard to rank say, health and family, but that’s the point: How do you prioritize what matters to you?

**Step 3: Get specific.** It’s great to know that say, wealth is important to you, but how do you specifically define wealth?

**Step 4: Get to “Why?”** The trick is to ask a very specific question, “What do I get through that?” For instance, take your wealth goal and ask yourself, “What do I get through that?” You might say, “Financial security?” Now, ask again, “What do I get through that?” You might say, “I can give my family the best.” Now, ask again, “What do I get through that?” And, keep asking that question until you get no further. This is your “value,” the goal behind your goal, what is ultimately driving you.

**Step 5: Are you living it? **Think back over the last 6 months, and ask yourself: How aligned are your goals with your choices? If, say, health is a higher priority to you than time with friends, how do your choices reflect it?

**Step 6: Changes: **Based on what you have learned, what changes might you make to your goals or the choices you are making?

Interesting exercise, right?

I suggest refreshing this exercise frequently, and, ideally, briefly revisiting your goals daily, to ensure you are taking the right actions.