Last week I had my final year project defense (we are few steps away from bagging that degree 💃) and it got me thinking about all the plans made and goals set at the latter part of last year and beginning of 2020.

If you asked me this time last year what I would be doing in one year I would have probably said “on a vacation” or “preparing to resume work” or ”dealing with graduate stress y’know”

Yet, Corona-oh-corona had other plans.

In an uncertain season as this it is important to review the goals you have set for the year or even years to come and actually understand what the goals are and why you want to achieve them.

However, if there’s one thing this year has thought me it’s the difference between setting ‘end goals’ and ‘means goals’.

According to Steve Pavlina, “End goals define outcomes where you’re unwilling to compromise — they describe exactly what you want. Means goals, on the other hand, define one of many paths to reach your end goals.”

For example, an end goal would be ‘helping 1000 people build successful businesses in the next 5 years’ while a means goal would be ‘starting a blog to reach out to the 1000 people’.

The means goal is never the actual goal but a path to reaching the end. However, there are always several paths and plans change. There is always a need to have your end goal in mind as it is the most important one.

Hence, my decision to review my goals and determine which were end goals and which were means goals. It helped me refocus on exactly what I want to achieve and why I want to achieve it before looking into the ‘how’ of achieving it.

How to set and achieve End goals

1. Dream big. Always think of your wildest dream, the one that is seemingly impossible and dream it!

2. Always look at the big picture. When you look through your end goals, you would always see the bigger picture. There’s a need to always start with the end in mind as it keeps you going

3. Highlight different possible paths to reach the end goal. Ensure you have options for all or most possible scenarios (e.g. A PANDEMIC 😉)

4. Start with the best possible path for the goal. Select from the options above the path to achieving your goals that seems feasible to you. This could be the easiest or the hardest path, it’s up to you to decide which works.

5. Stay consistent. This is the most important step. It’s easy to dream dreams, write visions or even have goals but staying consistent to achieve them makes the difference. Your goal cannot be achieved without progress.

6. Progress over perfection. Do not aim for perfection, you will get disappointed and in turn lose focus. Rather focus on measurable progress either daily, weekly or monthly. Ensure you track your progress visibly, hence helping you stay positive in achieving the goal.

7. Be flexible, the first way might not always work, you need to believe in yourself enough to know you can achieve your goals. Do not be rigid with your plan, allow yourself be free and open to trying new things, as that is when you truly learn and enjoy the process

8. Go back to step 1 and begin again on the same goal until achieved.

Oh by the way, did you notice I was gone for a while? Yes, I took a much needed break off work and in this period, I became aligned with exactly what Being the Product was birthed for and I am excited to follow the 8 steps above to actualize them.

Seeing the bigger picture and working towards it nonstop while internalizing exactly who or what you want to be and enjoying the journey, always focusing on your growth and the end (which may never really be).

This is the essence of Being the Product.
It is more than just setting goals, it’s about seeing yourself in a particular position, enjoying the process and focusing on the progress rather than attaining perfection without understanding.

Something special is coming and I am excited to actualize it and share with you.

Before then, what does Being The Product mean to you?

I’m itching to hear it. Feel free to reply, message me or tweet with the #BeingTheProduct and tell me what you think. I’m watching 😎.

Keep setting those goals, keep dreaming those seemingly unattainable dreams, keep working towards that person you see tomorrow.

It would happen and I am here for it.

Keep Being the Product.
Ajoke