Setting Goals? Fantastic! But Skip the Start Date
Posted on April 29, 2024 by ARICIA SHAFFER, MSE, One of Thousands of Career Coaches on Noomii.
Nebulous goals with an "at some point" start date don't work. We wait - for something specific to happen, for a sign, for a season. Why not jump in?
We like to gear up for change, don’t we? “I’m going to get serious about my career next semester” or “I’ll start my job search after my next review” or “It’ll be better once I retire.”
I’m not anti start date and in fact, it can be a powerful tool in coaching. Having a deadline can get you moving, but why not jump in right now?
There are a few problems with a start date:
First, it provides this space for things to change. You may care less about your current job. You might slack off, feel more miserable, or things may get incrementally better. Your attitude might shift or get worse which will impact your job search when it DOES start.
Second, when you think about making a change, you have the motivation and the WHY. Your boss just screamed at you again or your budget is stretched so thin you can’t make your car payment. THAT’s when you have the energy to make a change.
Anger has been demonized as a “bad” emotion, but it’s energy and can give us motivation. And we lose that push when we wait. Anger can give way to apathy. Burn out happens and we just don’t care anymore. Plus, we have no energy.
Whatever the goal, the time to start is when you think about it. If you feel like you want to start an exercise program, drop what you’re doing and go for a walk. In a job search, start to reach out to your network – now. Take action.
Getting started can be the hardest part – and that’s why we like to gear up and prepare. But once you’ve taken the first walk or reached out to the first person in your network, you’re on a roll. You’ve already done the hard part.
Imagine how you’ll feel once you’ve accomplished that goal. Then do it.
It’s okay to set a timer and work on your goals for just 20 minutes. You can keep going if you like or stop after 20 minutes.
Once you’ve started, put those actionable items on your calendar so you have times and days set up. Keep it like an appointment. Another idea to keep your motivation going, use post-it notes. Write down how you feel after each step and post it on your bulletin board or fridge. These little pops of positivity can help you see your progress and motivate your next steps.
