Three Types Of Goals You Should Set

'Be' goals drive 'do' goals which manifests in 'have' goals

Three types of goals: Be, Do, and Have illustrated in a hierarchy

Understanding the Three Types of Goals

We all set goals.

Have Goals - The End Results

  • Save 1 crore in next 5 years
  • Lose 5 kgs in this quarter
  • Create a network of 1000 people

They are "have" goals - what we want to have. These goals have all the attributes of SMART goals - specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. Since we are taught to have big audacious goals, some of these could be far beyond what we can achieve. But that is not why we don't achieve these "have" goals.

Do Goals - The Action Plan

To achieve our big audacious "have" goals, we need to match them with "do" goals, which most of us miss.

Why Do Goals Matter?

You can review "do" goals at regular intervals and adjust your action. What are "do" goals?

  • Invest ₹15000 per month for the next 15 years in an index fund
  • Call 2 persons per week
  • Jog 5 km daily for 3 days a week

You can sit down on a Sunday and ask yourself, did I call 2 people? If not why? What should I do next week?

Be Goals - Your Core Identity

Matching "have" goals with "do" goals are better. But that is not the complete picture.

Doing something on a shiny day is easy. It becomes challenging when the going gets tough, which it will, without fail.

When the "do" goals are aligned with who you are then it becomes easy. When the "do" goals are not in harmony with your beliefs you'll find excuses not to do it or you'll do it half-heartedly.

Say you believe one can't make a million-dollar honestly and you also believe you are an honest person. Then, do you think you'll ever take steps to be wealthy? Will you invest in good quality companies that grow as well as pay dividends? If you do, you're only setting yourself up for cognitive dissonance.

If you are not frugal and think long-term, you'll not invest ₹15000 every month. You'll think you are not enjoying life as much as you can because you're investing a big part of your salary.

Who you are, are the "be" goals. We don't focus on "be" goals. "Be" goals drive "do" goals, which help us to achieve our "have" goals.

Examples of Goals Alignment

  • To build wealth: Be frugal and think long-term
  • To build networks: Be generous and self-disciplined
  • To achieve fitness: Be health-conscious and disciplined

The Key to Success

Next time you set goals, drill down into who you should be to achieve the "have" goals.

Be ambitious in being and doing, then your having goals are inevitable.

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