A warning about goals

One of the biggest “aha” moments I’ve had over the years was putting together the following Busted Productivity System graphic: It puts something we’ve all felt into words — that vicious cycle of doing lots of stuff but feeling like you’re getting nowhere. - Phase #1: Busywork — You are spinning your wheels with tasks that make you feel productive but which don’t actually add up to anything substantial. - Phase #2: Reactive Work — Caving in to the false urgency of whatever the day happens to throw your way. - Phase #3: Procrastination — Avoiding the things that are actually important. - Phase #4: Burnout — You’ve hit a state of overwhelm and frustration. We’ve all experienced this cycle in at least one area of our lives. I know for a fact that I’ve been through this myself many time. In all honesty, you might feel like you’re in one of the 4 phases right now. The question is… how do you break out? As we move toward January, millions of people will convince themselves the answer is simple: “I’ll set goals for the New Year!” It’s natural to see January 1 as some kind of magical reset button for the whole cycle. The right goal or New Year’s resolution is like a beacon of hope on the horizon — a 2024 light at the end of the 2023 tunnel… Are goals good? Of course! Setting goals (especially the right goals) is a critical ingredient for unlocking more focus in your life. But here’s the thing to remember about setting goals: Goals alone are not enough. They won’t magically keep you motivated throughout the year.. They won’t automatically prioritize your time on a daily basis. They won’t unlock breathing room in your schedule — in fact, they’ll typically require you to find it yourself. Setting goals is one thing. Getting results is another. If you’re after consistency and results in 2024, this is how you do it: Results = Clarity x Focus x Time I call this the Results Equation. Without clarity, focus, and time… your productivity, goals, and habits will fail you every time. - If you lack clarity on where you want to go or what you want to do, you will drown in the sea of options vying for your time and attention. - If you cannot focus on what’s important, you won’t ever get started. - If you’re unable to show up consistently, your efforts won’t add up to any kind of lasting, meaningful result. If any one of those components is zero, the whole equation goes to zero. That’s why so many “productivity tricks” and “life hacks” that sound promising fail to move the needle when put to the test. What good is an extra hour on your calendar if you spend that time on distractions and shallow work, rather than the important things? The ultimate form of productivity isn’t about speed or efficiency. The ultimate form of productivity is knowing what the right thing is and summoning the focus to get it done. Then doing it again and again — even when life gets a little crazy. That’s EXACTLY what I’m going to help you do in our upcoming January cohort of Focus Course Live. Focus Course Live is a 4-week, online program where my team and I personally help you restore focus and margin to your full-time life. (In other words, you walk away with all the components of the Results Equation!) You’ll get CLARITY on what matters most in this season of your life You’ll set goals and strategies to achieve maximum FOCUS in those key areas (even when other things compete for your attention). You’ll create an ideal schedule with habits that will give you the TIME and margin you need to follow through all year long (and beyond). If you can give me 2.5 hours per week… …I will give you the foundation you need to set and follow through on your goals. All you have to do is show up and follow along. With that in mind, mark the following two dates on your calendar: - Thursday, December 28: This is when enrollment officially opens. - Wednesday, January 10: This is when we’ll officially kick off Focus Course Live with an online “Coffee & Cocktails” session to get to know everyone in the cohort. I’m already pumped to get started with this next group. I hope you’ll be part of it! — Shawn P.S. Focus Course Live is our new name for Focus Academy, the online, cohort-based experience we’ve offered 2x per year since 2020. It’s the same awesome experience (with a few new upgrades added in), but will now be a fraction of the previous price! Enrollment opens December 28, so watch your inbox. [In-Depth App Training for Power Users]( To unsubscribe, click [here](. Blanc Media, 714 Main St., Grandview, MO 64030, United States