Why Micro Goal Setting is Important for Reasons Beyond Just Achieving Your Goals
Katie Thomas, CPA
40 Under 40 CPA Practice Advisor | Top 50 Women in Accounting | Helping B2A (Business to Accountant) companies and accounting firms increase their impact, influence, and income through leadership marketing. 👇
As I reflect on my prior week and get ready for the upcoming week, I feel called to share with you something I used to struggle with in hopes that it may help you.
Quickly, to preface this article, I strongly believe in the power between writing down your goals and achieving them, but this article isn't about that correlation.
To all my go-getters, motivated individuals, have you ever felt like you're working from sunup until sundown with nothing to show? Or maybe you have something to show, but you feel like you should have accomplished so much more.
Everyone around you tells you that can see all you are accomplishing but why don't feel like you have? People likely even tell you to "take some time off," to which you think no way, I have so much to do.
This is, to me, where micro goal setting becomes extremely important.
As a highly ambitious individual, I have always had a list of big dreams to chase and accomplish. Slowing down for us who fit into this bucket is difficult and reflecting on what we have accomplished is even harder. Give us a task that takes most people 30 minutes, we can accomplish it in 20 minutes but feel as if we "failed" because we could have done it in 15 minutes.
Ask most Type A, ambitious, entrepreneurs, about their list of ideas and things they want to do in life, and... well, get comfy, because you're likely in for a long talk. Their minds race full of ideas, which can spin into "time anxiety." Thoughts like why have I not accomplished XYZ yet, or how am I going to accomplish A, B, and C at the same time start flooding in.
I use to struggle with this A LOT. Until I consciously set micro goals (that support my big goals) of what I wanted to achieve and then reflected upon those micro goals, I was unaware of all I had and was accomplishing.
So, if you feel or have felt this way before, try setting micro goals and let me know how it works out for you. In the meantime, don't forget to give yourself a pat on the back; you're doing great in this thing called life.
Team Leader | FCCA | ACA | BSc(Hons)| IFRS | IAS | SOX | D365 | Record to Report| Value Added Tax| Corporate Income Tax
6yKatie Thomas, CPA I have the same feelings and trying to achieve small objectives that my end up achieving the big one. One never achieves the bigger objective without planning and achieving the lower objectives that leads to the bigger one.
Owner @ Zen Money, LLC | Accounting and Operations Management
6yKatie Thomas, CPA I agree completely; however, what I am stuck on is what your speaking of and balancing self discipline. I feel like if I let go its harder to jump back into rhythm again. Any ideas of how to deal with that challenge?
40 Under 40 CPA | Tax Slayer | Business Strategist
6yMicro-goals are so important! I love keeping lists of goals for the week AND for the day. They keep me focused on my tasks and produce a sense of fulfillment crossing things off that list!
Accountant | Author & Children's Book Illustrator
6yGreat advice, Katie! For me it's figuring out what the micro goal is. Often I can't see the trees for the forest and get stuck figuring out my next move. :)