Writing Goals
In a comment on my last post Mary Richmond wrote:
According to the Law of Attraction, if we read our goal as already a given, we will achieve it. This works for me so well it’s sort of scary and I have to be very clear about what I want. As they say, if you just say you want more money, a few quarters may show up– it may be more money but may not be the amount you had in mind! So be as specific about the computer and the workshop as you are about your other goals and you will attain them!
So I googled Law of Attraction and there were a lot of hits. So straight to wikipedia I went (the collective wisdom on the net is always good for an overview) and it says:
The Law of Attraction is an idea that is widespread in New Age and New Thought philosophy. It posits to never dwell on the negative, as the metaphysical principle of life is embodied in a "law of attraction": "you get what you think about, your thoughts determine your destiny".
I think there is a lot of merit to this idea and why or how this might be valid or work is covered else where on the net so I won’t go into it.
As I’ve mentioned before I have a fairly complicated method of writing and tracking my goals using a spreadsheet (see this post about goals and spreadsheets). My big goals, the career ones, the ones about where I want to be in 10 or 20 years, they are all written very specific and in the positive as if I have achieved them. And actually I learned this first from Alyson Stanfield. Check out her recent blog postings about writing goals and making them realistic – great stuff.
I think one of the keys to writing good goals is that they be measurable. If I write a goal that says “make more quilts in the Structures series” I can’t really be sure what that means – does it mean make 2 quilts or 20? That goal isn’t measurable. But if I say “make 10 more quilts in the Structures series in 2007″ I can be sure if I succeeded. By being specific with details and numbers and timing, goals can be measured.
I write requirements for large software systems as my day job so writing quantifiable and testable goals is something I have a lot of experience with. We have a Quality Engineering organization that writes test plans for the software based on my requirements so they must be measurable (and if they aren’t I hear about it and have to rewrite them). When I think about my art goals I’m not quite as strict but it is definitely always in my mind.
I was a bit rushed when wrote my goals on Monday, wanting to get back to my studio (I’ve completed 2 new quilt tops this year already – yahoo). So yesterday I started copying my goals from my blog into my spreadsheet on a tab for 2007. I’m rewriting them so they are more specific and as if I have achieved them.
I break my goals into categories – art, marketing tools, promotion and (new for this year) finances. I’ve finished the art ones and am working on the others.
Here are the reworded goals pertaining to art. They aren’t a whole lot different from before (I was already pretty specific about the art) but they are a bit different. The business ones will be a lot more specific when I’m done and I’ll post them soon.
- I design, piece, quilt and complete 20 new quilts in 2007 in my major series (Structures, Markings and Keys)
- I complete the 17 major pieces started prior to 2007 that are still unfinished: Structures #47, Structures #48, Structures #49, Structures #50, Structures #65, Markings #4, Markings #5, Markings #6, Markings #7, Markings #8, Markings #9, Markings #10, Markings #14, Keys #1, Keys #2, Circles #1, Circles #2.
- I design and piece 5-10 new pieces during a 2 week workshop with Nancy Crow in early May. I quilt these pieces in 2008.
- I complete 10 smaller pieces with hand quilting/beading including quilts in progress: Squares #5, Chicken Quartet #2 and Spirals #1-#4.
- I complete 6 new drawings in the Plains series.
- I complete the exercises in the book Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain.
- I draw and sketch several times a month in my beautiful sketchbook from my kids.
- I play with oil painting through the year both and without my kids. I learn about better quality supplies and tools for painting and purchase them.
- I play with water color painting through the year.
- I use my sketchbook for art ideas, plans, goals, etc on a regular basis.
- I work in my studio on my quilts 20 hours a week. In addition I spend time each month drawing, painting and experimenting with other art forms.
Posted by Lisa in: Goals and Intention
You inspire me to set some very specific and concrete goals for myself rather than my vague ramblings. Thanks.
Your goals are such a good example of how to set specific and measurable goals. I always make an effort to make sure my goals are measurable, but I tend to focus on the big picture rather than thinking about the small steps that will get me there. This post is a good reminder that I might find more success if I focus on those specific steps, rather than the huge outcomes…
Ed – your welcome. But hurray for you for being inspired to set some goals.
Stacey – Thanks. I think you have to first have those big picture goals though – without them all the small steps don’t make sense. One problem I have is sometimes I’ll waste a bunch of time on things that don’t fit into the big picture. Remembers that not all small steps are going to get me to my ultimate goal is one of the things I’m going to try to keep in mind better this year.
Thank you Lisa for a great description of your goal setting process. You’ve given me a lot to think about as I redo my own for this year — as soon as I get out from under two big deadlines, that is!
You are quite right about achieving goals more readily if they are clearly defined. I always used to do that during my previous career. But when I switched to more personally creative work I found that I did not yet know specifics of what I wanted to achieve. I did not want to tie myself down.
Now that things seem to be clearer on the creative front, and more admin. needs to be done, as well as having caring duties added to my housekeeping role, etc. I am this year returning to my previous habit. And what a relief it is too. I have got myself a week to view double spread diary with each day divided by the hour, and I am able to slot in the boring stuff and get it out of the way in order to free myself for the work that brings satisfaction.
I must say that I work much better when I’m organised, and my mind feels freer to roam when I know that I’ve not forgotten to do something else.
Lisa,
I just happened on your blog through pure Google luck, and I love it. It’s very inspiring. I am also a software QA person (test automation and requirements gathering) by day, and crochet is my art form…I love seeing how you make your art happen by being so specific and focused, and how you use the QA skills in your life. Thank you.
Jill
Great list! I need to write mine as if I already achieved, good tip!
Have you watched The Secret? great documentary on the Law of Attraction http://www.thesecret.tv
I truly admire your ability to identify and let go of things that aren’t moving you toward your main goal. Once I’ve invested effort or time in something, I have a hard time not seeing it through to the end, even when I realize I don’t want to or that I’ve gone in another direction. I’m making progress on that front, but still catch myself slipping back into the old behavior and thinking at times. Then again, sometimes we don’t know something isn’t a fit until we’ve pursued it. Need to stay open, but realistic. The assessing never stops, does it?
Martha, looking forward to seeing your goals when you find the time!
Olga, I’m with you. I function much better with a clear idea of what I need to be doing to move forward. I spent many years with no goals and just enjoying making art and I think that was an important part of my development. But now it’s time to move forward.
Jill – welcome to my blog. Glad to have someone understand what I mean by QA !
Claudine – I’ve not seen The Secret and had actually never heard of it until yesterday when Mary posted about it on my blog. I’m not sure I’ll ever watch it but it sounds interesting.
Shelia – this is definitely something I struggle with. When to bail out of a clearly bad idea. I’d love to learn how to identify bad ideas better up front to waste less time in the first place!