Book Review - Your Best Year Ever: A 5-Step Plan for Achieving Your Most Important Goals by Michael Hyatt
Introduction
Many of us embark on New Year's resolutions with good intentions, only to find ourselves facing familiar setbacks. It's almost as if we anticipate failure based on past experiences. What we may not fully grasp is the expansiveness of a year—a journey marked by highs and lows. While stumbling is inevitable on the path to our goals, the key lies not in remaining down but in summoning the strength to leap forward.
Having your best year ever is based on 5 key assumptions:
Real life is multifaceted. There are 10 interrelated domains - spiritual, intellectual, emotional, physical, marital, parental, social, vocational, avocational, and financial.
Every domain matters i.e. each domain affects the other.
Progress starts only when you get clear on where you are right now.
You can improve any life domain.
Confidence, happiness, and life satisfaction are by-products of personal growth.
5 Steps for Achieving Your Best Year Ever
Step 1 - Believe the Possibility
The foundation of success is built on belief, a force that molds our reality. Often, the stumbling block to achieving our goals is the belief that we can't. This mindset isn't inherent; it's a product of our experiences. When New Year's resolutions consistently elude us, doubt naturally creeps into our future endeavors.
The journey to success commences with recognizing the stark difference between limiting beliefs and liberating truths. These limiting beliefs can entwine themselves around our perceptions of the world, others, and ourselves. Our encounters, the narratives we consume, and our relationships play significant roles in shaping these limiting beliefs. To progress, we must consciously replace these constraints with truths that emancipate.
Among the prominent limiting beliefs lies the notion of insufficient resources. It's crucial to comprehend that if all the required resources are readily available, the goal might be too modest.
Here are some key steps to revise your beliefs:
Recognize the limiting belief
Record the belief
Reject or reframe the belief
Revise the belief
Re-orient yourself on the new belief
Example:
Limiting belief - I am too old to be considered for that job
Liberating truth - I have more experience than the other candidates
Step 2 - Complete the Past
In crafting a brighter future, acknowledging and completing our past is paramount. The past, left unattended, has a tendency to resurface and impact our journey ahead. To move forward effectively, we must first cast a reflective gaze backward.
The review process:
State what you wanted to happen
Acknowledge what actually happened
Learn from experience (learn, write, and distill)
Adjust your behavior
The pivotal factor in determining whether the past is truly completed lies in the attitude with which we revisit it. The past can be viewed through the lens of regret or gratitude. While regret isn't inherently negative, its value lies in how we respond to it. What if we could leverage regret as a compass pointing us toward possibilities rather than dwelling on the impossible? On the flip side, gratitude fosters resilience, nurturing a sense of hope that keeps us positive and optimistic. It becomes the cornerstone that allows us to navigate obstacles with patience and a persistent spirit.
Step 3 - Design Your Future
Remarkable outcomes don't materialize by chance; you can't merely coast your way to success. It demands intentionality—clarity on your aspirations and a profound understanding of their significance. Designing your future involves a deliberate crafting of a vision, followed by a well-thought-out plan of action. Before delving into this design process, let's underscore the significance of putting your goals in writing.
The mere act of writing a goal boosts achievement by 42%. Writing goal is not the end game but it is foundational for five reasons:
It forces you to clarify what you want
It helps overcome resistance
It motivates you to take action
It filters other opportunities
It enables you to see and celebrate your progress
When writing your goals, it should check seven SMARTER boxes:
Specific: vague goals do not inspire.
Measurable: build-in criteria you can measure yourself up against.
Actionable: goals are fundamentally about what you are going to do, e.g. Be more consistent with blogging vs write two blog posts a week.
Risky: We rise to a challenge but we lay back when it's easy. However, be conscious of the zone you are in - comfort, discomfort, or delusional; always strive for the discomfort zone.
Time Keyed: it could be a deadline, frequency, or time trigger. Time keys demand attention and spur action.
Exciting: inspiring goals
Relevant: to your actual circumstance and true intent. New goals should align with your season of life, values, and other goals.
Step 4 - Find Your Why
In the midst of the inevitable challenges—the messy middle—what sustains you is your motivation, your "why." Meaningful pursuits are rarely a joyride; they unfold slowly and come with their fair share of hurdles. To navigate this journey, a constant awareness of what's at stake, both in achieving and not achieving your goal, becomes paramount.
For every goal you set, it's crucial to pinpoint your key motivations and forge a deep intellectual and emotional connection with them. This connection acts as a steadfast guide, preventing you from losing your way amidst the trials. Additionally, it's worth noting that the journey becomes more bearable and enjoyable with companions. Success often necessitates support, and positive energy, like a ripple effect, is contagious. Getting connected with a group of friends with similar goals can:
Accelerate your learning, give you access to resources, and teach you best practices.
Provide encouragement, validation, and support.
Accountability
Competition (abundance thinkers are not threatened by competition but even tend to value it)
Step 5 - Make It Happen
Do the easiest task first: Kickstarting your journey with quick wins provides an instant mood boost. Initiating action and relishing in early progress not only feels good but also sets the wheels of momentum in motion.
Take it one step at a time: Regardless of the enormity of your goal, breaking it down into manageable steps ensures that progress is achievable. It's the accumulation of these individual steps that propels you toward success.
Seek outside help: For virtually every goal, there's someone out there who knows the way. Seeking outside help, whether through a coach, books, podcasts, or other resources, can provide invaluable guidance.
Commit to act: If it's not on your calendar or task list, it's likely to slip through the cracks. Make a conscious commitment by scheduling your actions; this simple act significantly increases the likelihood of success.
You can trigger success: Anticipate potential obstacles and plan your responses accordingly. A straightforward "if/then" or "when/then" strategy can prove instrumental in overcoming challenges.
Regular goal review: Stay intimately connected with your motivations and reasons for pursuing your goals. Take the time to list both victories and setbacks, reflecting on what could be done differently. Regularly reviewing your goals—weekly, monthly, and quarterly—ensures that you remain on course and adaptable to changing circumstances.
The longer you wait to take action, the less likely you will be able to take it. Don't wait, take a LEAP!