Hello Reader!

It’s been 9 days into Q3.

Yes, we have been living for more than half of 2023!

Isn’t that a bit crazy? It just felt like New Year's Eve yesterday. How time flies.

All big companies now are setting and planning for what they want to achieve by the end of September 2023.

They are all now reviewing their previous quarterly goals and adjusting what needs to be done.

Have you planned for your next quarterly goals, Reader?

If not, here are step-by-step process you can use to plan for your quarterly goals (Copy-paste this!)

Step 1: List all the things you are currently working on.

It is crucial to capture everything that takes your attention, focus, time and energy.

Consider all areas of your life, such as your work, family, friends, health, hobby, finance, spirituality, etc.

These can be further categorized, such as the finance area, which may have budgeting, savings, vacation, retirement, mortgage, etc.

Take account of where you are going.

If you continue to do what you do daily & weekly, where will you reach in 1 year, 5 years, and 10 years? It would be best to do this reflection monthly.

Projects I am working on

Health | Family | Hobby | 9-5 Career | Finance | Travel | House Projects

1. [Insert here project 1]
2. [Insert here project 2]

Areas of Work

Health | Family | Hobby | 9-5 Career | Finance | Travel | Friends | House

1. [Insert here area 1]
2. [Insert here area 2]

Wish List

Health | Family | Hobby | 9-5 Career | Finance | Travel | Friends | House

1. [Insert here area 1]

Step 2: Pick the top one or two focus areas

To begin planning, pick one or two areas of focus. Try to limit the urge to pick more than two.

Because if you pick many areas, then you will not accomplish much.

I picked [insert here] as my primary focus area for Q3, 2023.

Step 3: Pick one or two clear goals (projects) and put all your energy into those goals

Prepare a list of your projects (goals and wish list) in each selected area.

Make a list of everything you want to do in selected areas. Ideally, you want to define a few clear goals in each area. It will be best to make your projects more specific.

For example, you should expand “lose weight” to “lose 15 pounds in the next three months.”

My goals & wish list in the [insert here] area

1. [Insert your project/goal/wish 1]
2. [Insert your project/goal/wish 2]
3. [Insert your project/goal/wish 3]
4. [Insert your project/goal/wish 4]

Now, review the entire list and give them a ranking based on the following criteria.

• Which one do you feel most passionate about?
• Do you have a strong “why” for making that resolution?
• Is it realistic to achieve the goal in 12 weeks?
• What is the positive impact on your life after accomplishing?
• Is it actionable? Can you start working on it now, or do you have to wait for something else?

I picked the following [insert number here] goals/projects for Q3.

Pick the top one or two goals in each selected area and go to the next step.

You must pick the right goal as you will put all your energy into that one or two goals.

1. [Insert your project/goal 1]
2. [Insert your project/goal 2]

Step 4: Make your goals/project very specific:

S.M.A.R.T - Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-Bound.

It will be best to make your projects more specific.

Break your resolution into the specific outcome you can achieve in the next three months.

Most people don’t set clear goals because they don’t spend enough time defining what they want out of those goals.

For example, you should expand “lose weight” to “lose 15 pounds in the next three months.”

Additional examples of specific goals are listed below.

• Lose 15 pounds by September 30, 2023 (an outcome goal)
• Write 12 Medium articles by September 30, 2023 (action goal)
• Get 2000 Medium followers by September 30, 2023 (an outcome goal)
• Clean my garage by throwing away old boxes and unused items by September 30, 2023 (action goal)
• Save $5,000 for home improvement by September 30, 2023 (an outcome goal)
• Pay off $5000 credit card debt by September 30, 2023 (an outcome goal)
• Pay off $11500 extra on the mortgage principle by September 30, 2023 (an outcome goal)

Following are my specific aspiration & outcome by September 30, 2023

• [Insert your specific project/goal/outcome 1]
• [Insert your specific project/goal/outcome 2]

Write a one-line summary of why that goal is essential to you.

What will be the positive impact on your life after achieving it in your life?

What will be the negative impact if you do not work on it?

For example, I will look and feel better by losing extra weight.

Losing weight will reduce the risk of diabetes & heart disease.

If I don’t lose weight, I will feel social shame and embarrassment about my appearance.

[Insert why you selected this project/goal]

Conflicting areas and projects

1. [Insert your conflict/distraction 1]
2. [Insert your conflict/distraction 2]

Step 5: Build your action plan

“Don’t make resolutions without an action plan. The secret to success is right in your hands.” — J. Allen Shaw.

You are doing excellent. Just a few more steps, and you will be on your way to achieving your most significant goals.

In this next step, you will break selected goals into smaller monthly & weekly goals.

Then translate them into weekly & daily action steps and start making progress.

For example, to lose 15 pounds, you can divide 15 pounds into three months. You will have to lose 5 pounds every month, which is about one pound weekly.

Next, list the daily activities you will need to lose 5 pounds. Some of the everyday activities include -

• Drink one gallon of water daily.
• Instead of eating a big meal, eat a small portion 4 to 6 times daily. Add protein and avoid carbs in your food.
• Exercise 5 days a week for 45 minutes each day. Combine cardio, strength and weight exercise.

You see, by breaking your goals into action items, you will get tremendous clarity on what you have to do to get to the finish line.

Now you have the precise steps to work on your goals.

Following is my weekly & daily action plan.

• [Insert your weekly action/outcome 1]
• [Insert your weekly action/outcome 2]
• [Insert your weekly action/outcome 3]

Step 6: Identify your daily actions

Goals are achieved through consistent daily actions.

In the above steps, you built a solid plan, but a good strategy only works if you take consistent action.

There are several strategies to apply when it comes to taking consistent action.

The best one is to build a habit by taking daily actions. When you turn your actions into habits, you get consistency.

If we go back to our example of losing 15 pounds, you may want to fix a time for drinking water.

Some people drink a few glasses of water right after they wake up. A few others fill a big gallon bottle every morning and finish it by the time they go to bed.

Similarly, fix a time for the exercise. Go deeper and figure out how you will do these daily actions. Following is an example.

• I will buy a 1-gallon water bottle. I will fill it every morning and drink it by the end of the day.
• I will hire a meal planner who will provide a daily meal plan.
• I will only eat out once a week.
• I will make a weekly workout plan on Sunday. Will combine cardio, strength and weight exercise. Exercise days will be Monday - Friday.
• I will log my weight daily in the morning.

Following are my daily actions.

• [Insert your daily action/outcome 1]
• [Insert your daily action/outcome 2]
• [Insert your daily action/outcome 3]

Example,

• I will make a weekly plan on Sunday.
• I will wake up daily at [time] and follow this [daily routine]. On weekends I wake up at [time] and follow this [daily routine].
• I will make a daily plan and a to-do list the night before. During the day, I will log my daily activities.

It’s simple, but you MUST work on it.

Now, I have given you the tools, Reader.

It’s time for you to use it for your own benefit.

I hope this is helpful.

Let’s conquer Q3 together!

That’s a wrap!

Your friend,

Vinod.

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