Good / Better / Best
I tend to get caught up in the loftiest of goals.
I will make a million dollars (when the starting point is $0). I will be written about in history books! I will wake up at 5 am EVERY DAY!
I always want to do the most, be the most, reach the highest.
And, in some ways, these goals are invigorating! I'm all about big wins. I'm all about great stories (and ambitious achievements make great stories!).
But, the flip side of invigorating, lofty goals can be de-motivating.
Sometimes, I can feel them slipping away. The moment it feels like I'm not going to make it, hangs on me as a failure. And rather than revel in the joy of making it part way, often successful on its right, I find myself disappointed and down about the fact that I didn't hit the goal.
That's crazy.
So I've started stratifying my goals into good/better/best.
Good is what I think I can accomplish, grounded in reality. It feels safe and good. Like a cozy blanket.
Great is that near edge, where I'll need some elbow grease and some luck. It feels exciting and a little bit uncertain. Like a good first date.
Best is the goal from above. It's the pinch-me-is-this-really-happening?!?! outcome. It feels enthralling and euphoric. Tantalizing.
And the coolest thing about this is this is that I can use the motivation from each of these levels when it works best:
- I get the energy and euphoria from dreaming about the best.
- I get the safety and comfort from thinking about good.
- I get the strategy and focus from thinking about great.
And that leads to good cheer and good outcomes.