Keeping Goals: How to Set and Achieve What Matters Most

Are you tired of setting goals that look great on paper only to have them disappear in real life? If so, keep reading.  The problem isn’t you. It’s the way you’ve been taught to set goals. I’ve got a method that will put you on the path to achieving your goals.

I’ve been using planners for over 40 years and setting goals for nearly as many years.  But about 20 years ago, I stumbled on a better way to set goals. In this series of posts, I’ll share my steps for setting goals that will help you move forward and achieve your dreams.  Welcome to Keeping Goals – Part 1, Future Self Mind Mapping.

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Why Keeping Goals Is Hard – And How to Make It Easier

Many people set the same goals year after year.  I performed several searches online to see what the most frequently set goals have been.  These goals appeared in nearly every list:

• exercise more,
• save money,
• learn new skills,
• get organized,
• grow our career/business,
• build stronger relationships,
• read more,
• prioritize self-care, and
• find more joy or purpose.

How many of these are usually on your list of goals each year?  These goals are popular for a reason – we all desire to be in good physical, emotional and financial shape. So why is keeping these goals so hard? 

Often we set goals that are too vague or lack measurable outcomes.   Sometimes the goal is unrealistic goals or we go in with all-or-nothing approach rather than identifying incremental steps where we can celebrate our progress.   Not having a support system is another issue that can derail progress toward achieving our goals.  And it just human nature to be resistant to change.  Breaking old habits and forming new ones can be hard.  I will be addressing these possible reasons for failing to keep goals in the follow-on posts.

The focus of today’s post is, what I feel, the biggest reason we have trouble keeping our goals.  All too often, our goals are chosen due to external influences.  Society tells us we need to exercise more, save money, or get organized.  Sometimes we take on goals because they are popular trends or social media challenges.  These goals don’t come with any personal desire or motivation to achieve them.  We need to own our goals be able state why the goal is not just important, but essential.  Achieving our goals should transform us from who we are to who we are working to become. This connection to our future will provide the motivation needed to keep our goals.    So how do we connect our present self with our future self?  We need to identify the person we are working to become before we can identify the goals we’ll need to achieve to become that person.

Visualize Your Future Self for Lasting Motivation

In 2007, I transferred to the Continuous Process Improvement (CPI) team at work.  I completed Lean Six Sigma (LSS) Black Belt training and was eventually certified as a Master Black Belt.  We worked with teams across our organization to improve the various processes to produce different products.  The goal of improvement events is reduced cost, reduced schedule, improved quality or a combination of these.  One of the tools used is process mapping (or Value Stream Mapping).

Current State

To have a basis for improvements, you begin by documenting the current process, step-by-step.  This is referred to as the Current State.  For CPI events, a long sheet of banner paper is usually placed on a wall.  Each step of the process would be written down on a sticky note and placed on the banner paper.  Lines indicating the flow between steps were drawn directly on the banner paper. 

The steps that were value-adding steps were identified next and marked with green dot stickers.  Value-adding steps are the steps where Only steps that transform the product are value-adding steps.   The rest of the steps are potentially waste.  The value-adding steps are marked – usually with green dots. 

Another walk through the Current State was for identified and documenting the “pain points.”  These “pain points” are problem areas where there delays and/or back-ups frequently occurred, defects were discovered, or any other things affecting cost, schedule or quality.  Sometimes the “pain point” doesn’t affect cost, schedule or quality – it affects morale.  Those need to be addressed, too.

Ideal State

With the Current State documented and analyzed, the next step is to visualize the process with all of the “pain points” resolved.  For CPI events, this begins with the value-adding steps from the Current State.  To this step, any other non-value-adding steps necessary due to legal requirements or regulations (safety, security, etc.) were added.  This process map is called the Ideal State.   Assuming the necessary changes complete eliminate all of the “pain points” or other improvements could actually be made, it would usually take years to do so.  The goal for CPI events is to have an improved process in place quickly.  So the team isn’t done.

Future State

The next step the team takes is to go through each of the identified “pain points”.  For every improvement/change/solution identified, the action to be taken is recorded.  Each action is assigned to a responsible person with a completion date. 

Any actions that can be completed within a defined time frame – near-term – are used to create a new process that reflects these improvements.  So a new piece of banner paper is hung on the wall and this new improved process is documented.  This is called the Future State.  

Any actions that will fail outside the defined time frame for implementing the Future State are still to be addressed.  They become follow-on updates that will be implemented at at later date.  The Future State is an incremental step toward the Ideal State.

From Process Mapping to Setting Goals

They told me when I graduated from LSS Black Belt training that I would never see things the same way again.  They weren’t wrong – I’ve still see all the inefficiencies (or efficiencies) in every fast food restaurant I visit.  But I started to see ways to use the tools as a means for transforming other situations, as well.  I started to see my Current Life as my Current State.   But the “product” I was producing was not very well defined.  A life has many “products” that are separate yet interwoven.

And I didn’t think I wanted less for an Ideal Life, I wanted more.  I didn’t really have a clue what my Ideal Life might look like.  It had been a long time since I’d let myself dream.   But I knew I needed that vision in order to make steps into a Future Life.

Yeah, that just got a little confusing.  I have a Current State/Life – that’s my Current Self.  An Ideal State/Life sounds a little too perfect.  (Definition of “ideal” from dictionary.com: existing only in the imagination; desirable or perfect but not likely to become a reality.) I’d rather say I have vision of my Future Self – the person I am working to become.  I can manifest my Future Self by aligning my goals with this vision. So that’s leaves Future State/Life and those are my goals for the next year/quarter/month.  So from here on, I’ll be talking about Current Self, Future Self and eventually goals in the way CPI use Current State, Ideal State and Future State.

Mind Mapping: Turning Aspirations Into Actionable Steps

When I started creating my vision for my Future Self, I started by capturing random thoughts in a journal.  I’d been doing this several weeks before I even started to try to organize my thoughts. Then I got a little more serious about it and started to frame my thoughts about a time frame.  I didn’t choose a date/year.  Instead my vision was for “when I retire”.  For me that wasn’t a huge reach; my son would be graduating college within 10 years and I’d expected I’d be retiring about now.  (I’ve actually been retired from that job for 7 ½ years.)

I continued creating my vision by describing the life I saw for myself after retirement.  I could imagine what my home would be like and general areas I would like to live in or near.  I imagined walking through my life and observing it.  And I got very detailed with it, too.  Right down to seeing treasured items like the little drop-leaf dining table that my parents bought when they were first married being used with both leafs down as an entry table. It’s topped with the old worn red and white woven picnic cloth we always used when we’d go out for a picnic on the Blue Ridge Parkway on a Sunday afternoon when I was a kid.

I also thought things I still wanted to experience or accomplish.  What did I want to be remembered for?  What did I want my son to tell any children or grandchildren he might someday have?  Have you ever read a really good obituary that describes a person, all their accomplishments, adventures, impact on others, and general zest for life?  I’ve read quite a few over the years while doing genealogy research and thought, “Wow, they really lived an amazing life.”  Now that’s something to aspire to.

Eventually I knew I needed to arrange the information in a more structured way.  Organizing the information logically would help me identify the themes or threads woven through the vision. It would also help identify any areas I needed to expand on. I decided a mind map would be a good option.

Creating a Vision of My Future Self

To create my mind map, a put Future Self in the center and the major areas or domains of life around it in the first layer.  I added additional layers of branches to further define each area.  Then it became more descriptive.  Initially I used words or phrases but ended up going with longer phrases or sentences to reduce the number of boxes.  This was really just grouping things that went together.

I took a step back and looked at the mind map as a whole. I could recurring themes and values that identify my priorities in life.  Some of my notes made me feel joy. Others identified accomplishments that would certainly have Future Self feeling a little proud.  I clearly had work to do.

Defining Near-Term Goals That Will Be Easier to Keep

My next step was to compare my Current Self to my Future Self.  I did not map my Current Self, as I felt I knew it well enough to proceed.   And I don’t generate a map that is my Current Self plus my goals.  I do review my Future Self each year and refine it as needed. 

So I performed a gap analysis. I asked these questions?

• What outcomes has my Future Self achieved that Current Self has not? 
• What habits or systems (routines/practices) does my Future Self rely on that Current Self has not implemented? 
• What habits or systems does my Future Self rely on that Current Self should maintain? 
• What habits or systems does Current Self rely on that Future Self no longer tolerates?

This generated a list from which I could begin to develop goals that I would have a real connection to.  I would know exactly why I was keeping the goal and its importance to my Future Self.  The Future Self Mind Map also became a compass for decision making.  Do I really want to spend that much money on that?  Should I make a career change?  I could use my Future Self Map and see how my responses to these “opportunities” might impact my long term plan.

We’ll discuss exactly how to turn your observations into goals in the follow-on posts.  But I did want to complete the process mapping methodology analogy to my goal setting process.  We will eventually be setting near-term goals that move us toward our Future Self. 

If you are ready, keep reading and create your own Future Self Mind Map.

How to Create Your Future Self Mind Map

I created a worksheet you can use as you create your own Future Self Mind Map.  You can download it here.

Step 1 – Guided Visualization

Imagine yourself in the future.  Reach as far into the future as you can.   Aim for a minimum of 10 years into the future.  You are living a life that feels aligned with your values.  You have accomplished many things, as you had dreamed of doing. Your life brings you joy and has purpose.

Picture this Future Self in vivid detail — where they live, how they spend their days, the energy they carry, and what they’re proud of.  Imagine you have traveled through time, and they can neither see nor hear you.  Follow them around and observe them.  Also observe their surroundings as they go through their day(s).  I suggest you imagine several different days.  What does a typical weekday involve?  A Saturday? A Sunday? A holiday?

Questions about where Future Self does something doesn’t need to be a place name.  Describe the area by the type(s) of terrain, climate, population density, types of buildings, what amenities are nearby, etc.

Here are some questions that are also on the worksheet to get you thinking:

• Where are you living?
• What does a typical day look like?
• What do “special” days look like?
• What have you experienced and accomplished in life?
• How do you feel in this future life?

When you are following your Future Self moving through your vision, don’t focus on just the highlights. This isn’t like a movie or book where we never see all the mundane activities necessary in our day-to-day existence. These are the activities – habits, routines, systems – that make all the other accomplishments and experiences possible.

Step 2: Create Your Mind Map

You will need a piece of blank paper for your Future Self Mind Map.  You can start with a regular piece of paper and add additional pages around it by taping them together for the back side.  If you have larger paper, or art paper like comes on a roll for banners, you can use that instead.  You will be sketching out simple shapes and connecting them with lines.  If you are using markers, check that they won’t bleed through your paper.   If you have the larger paper, you can use sticky notes for the shapes and draw the lines with a marker.  You can do this on a wall, with or without paper.  Of course, I’d not draw lines on the wall.

Alternatively, you can find apps that allow you to create mind maps quite easily.  Just search “free Mind Mapping apps” from your favorite search engine.  You can also create them in Canva, MS PowerPoint, Google Slides, Apple Keynote, and many of the illustration apps.  Any application with shapes, lines and text will work.

I do find that using an app can be disruptive to thoughts unless it is an app I already use frequently.  Otherwise, your brain has to shift back and forth to thinking what to do in the app.  So I do recommend starting with a pen and paper version.  Neat and pretty isn’t important; as long as you can read it, it’s perfect.

With all that said … You will need a piece of blank paper.  There’s a template to get you started in the worksheet.

Draw a circle in the middle of the sheet of paper and write “Future Self” in the center along with the future time for your vision.  (The images you see throughout this “how-to” were generated with Canva.)

Surrounding the center, you will fill in the major life areas or domains.  The following life areas are suggested, but can be modified to fit your preferences:

For layer 2 and beyond, continue branching out, adding more detailed areas and notes to describe the accomplishments or outcomes achieved.  Describe what your Future self has achieved or built in each area – not as goals, but as lived realities.

You may add any information that will capture your thoughts so you can remember what you observed when you are using the mind map later.  Use different shapes, symbols, colors, or other coding as you continue working through the entire process.

Remember: this is a snapshot of your current vision of your future self.  It is not cast in concrete.  As you move forward and look back on it to plan your next goals, you’ll be able to make any changes as your current life and future vision continue to evolve.

Step 3: Deepen the Map

Keep adding more details to your mind map by identifying what habits, systems/routines/practices and mindsets your Future Self relies on – the invisible framework that makes their life work.  Also observe how Future Self feels emotionally in each domain.  Look for where things feel different than today.  These questions will guide you:

Look for areas where habits or systems/routines would be necessary to achieve and maintain the outcome. One habit might be related to exercising to support your health and well being. You might identify systems in how your future home is arranged and/or how where you’ve chosen to live works to support all the other life domains.

Step 4: Insights & Patterns

Identify the elements or patterns that appear throughout the mind map. Are there recurring values, themes, or desires that show up in multiple areas?  Also consider what element(s) feel most energizing or meaningful.  Here are some questions to guide you:

• What themes appear across multiple branches?
• What feels most energizing or exciting? Why?
• What surprised you? Why?
• What feels essential to bring into your life sooner rather than later? Why?

Your priorities in life most likely align with the recurring themes or values. You’ll likely keep going back and filling in more and more details as they come to you over time. But you have a good vision of your future self at this point. Hopefully you are starting to feel some excitement for your future.

Having this insight into your Future Self will be like having a compass to guide your decision making. Whenever an opportunity arises or life throws you a curve, take a look at your mind map as you consider your next step. Does the opportunity move you toward your Future Self or not? You can map out a way to pivot and get back on course when things don’t go as you expected.

Step 5: Turning Vision into Direction

Your Future Self Mind Map is essentially complete.  You’ll likely continue to think of things over the coming weeks that you’ll want to add. It’s not necessary to start over from scratch every year or every time you are ready to set new near term goals. However, you’ll want to capture any significant changes you want to make so that your vision and compass are accurate. And if it’s been 4 or more years, I recommend you recreate your vision for a new increment of 10, 20 or 30 years. This will enable you to see not only the nearer term goals, but your longer range goals, as well.

Now step back and look at the map as a whole, treating it as a visual snapshot of the life you’re moving toward.  I’m sure your mind is already working to identify the near term goals. Look at the map and consider these questions:

• Based on this map, what does Future Self want you to focus on next?
• What near term goals naturally emerge from this vision?
• What decisions become easier when you look at this map?

Step 6: One Final Thought Before Moving On

I have described this without indicating if this is a exercise you do on your own or with others. I think that we all have some very personal goals that really are for only us. While we are doing something one way, our partner may do something completely different. I’m thinking of activities like hobbies, socializing with close friends (girl’s outing vs. guy’s outing) and career goals may be vastly different.

However, there’s quite a lot of things in your Future Self vision that ought to be in sync with your partner’s Future Self vision. You could each create your own mind maps and then sit down together to build a joint vision. Or you could do the joint stuff together and each take a copy to add the individual parts. Or add the personal parts to the joint vision and color code them for ease of use.

Next Steps

To prepare for the next step – identifying long-term, interim and near-term goals, perform a gap analysis between your Current Self and your Future Self vision.

Create a list of all of the differences between your current reality and the vision you have created. You can start by asking these questions:

• What experiences and accomplishments has your Future Self realized, that your Current Self has not?
• What habits or systems that are present in your Future Life, that do not yet exist in your Current Life?
• What habits or systems are present in your Future Life and your Current Life that you need to maintain and/or refine?
• What habits or systems are in your Current Life, but not in your Future Life?

We’ll use this list in the next step in this series to identify our long term goals. Then we’ll break those down into incremental goals. Finally, we’ll uncover the near term goals or the next steps we need to take.

Summary: Start Keeping Your Goals Today

Great job !  You’ve now got a basis for setting some goals that you’ll want to keep. You’ll want to keep them because you have a vision of where your success can take you.

Setting goals that you will truly keep begins with connecting your present self to your future aspirations – that person you are working to become.  Now that you’ve visualized your Future Self and have mapped out the life you want to lead, you have a personal compass for both setting goals and making decisions.  In the Part 2 of this series we with begin to analyze the differences between Current Self and Future Self and identify long-term goals and break them down into achievable steps.  You’ll be able to set near-term goals that you will keep.  You’ll be celebrating your progress toward the future rather than giving up and letting another year go by without much change.

Until then – keep planning your best life,

Linda

P.S. The next post is this series is available here!