Comments on: Use the “Rule of 3” to Achieve Your Biggest Goals http://thewealthyfreelancer.com/2010/02/use-the-%e2%80%9crule-of-3%e2%80%9d-to-achieve-your-biggest-goals/ It's Your Freelance Career - Make it Rich! Thu, 09 Sep 2010 09:46:01 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Ed Gandia, Editor http://thewealthyfreelancer.com/2010/02/use-the-%e2%80%9crule-of-3%e2%80%9d-to-achieve-your-biggest-goals/comment-page-1/#comment-1311 Ed Gandia, Editor Mon, 01 Mar 2010 20:01:01 +0000 http://thewealthyfreelancer.com/?p=1540#comment-1311 Thanks, Mike!! Great question! I would definitely set a new goal as soon as you're close to achieving the first. Then, use the excitement from accomplishing the first goal to get going on the second goal. That excitement will provide much of the fuel you'll need to get through the early stages of the next goal, since those early tasks are often not the most enjoyable. The other point to consider is that your yearly goals should be fairly lofty. Make these goals that can't normally be attained in 1 or 2 months. Then, break them down into monthly goals. That way, you can see what it will take to get there, and you'll have the steps mapped out in a way that keeps you focused every month, week and day. Congrats to you on achieving that key goal! Make sure to reward yourself accordingly. Thanks, Mike!! Great question! I would definitely set a new goal as soon as you’re close to achieving the first. Then, use the excitement from accomplishing the first goal to get going on the second goal. That excitement will provide much of the fuel you’ll need to get through the early stages of the next goal, since those early tasks are often not the most enjoyable.

The other point to consider is that your yearly goals should be fairly lofty. Make these goals that can’t normally be attained in 1 or 2 months. Then, break them down into monthly goals. That way, you can see what it will take to get there, and you’ll have the steps mapped out in a way that keeps you focused every month, week and day.

Congrats to you on achieving that key goal! Make sure to reward yourself accordingly.

]]> By: Mike Sweeney http://thewealthyfreelancer.com/2010/02/use-the-%e2%80%9crule-of-3%e2%80%9d-to-achieve-your-biggest-goals/comment-page-1/#comment-1309 Mike Sweeney Sat, 27 Feb 2010 06:42:43 +0000 http://thewealthyfreelancer.com/?p=1540#comment-1309 Congratulations Ed! You're well on your way to accomplishing that particular goal. Question: if you accomplish your goal in one area (such as health) do you make a new goal for that category or just wait until next year? I'm just starting my commercial writing business, and finished my goal of setting up my website early this year (feedback please anyone?), so that's done. But now I need to find something to replace that goal. It would seem that keeping a fire underneath you to keep pushing helps you stay focused & motivated, knowing you've already accomplished a goal or two. Keep up the great posts! Best regards, Mike S. Congratulations Ed! You’re well on your way to accomplishing that particular goal. Question: if you accomplish your goal in one area (such as health) do you make a new goal for that category or just wait until next year?

I’m just starting my commercial writing business, and finished my goal of setting up my website early this year (feedback please anyone?), so that’s done. But now I need to find something to replace that goal. It would seem that keeping a fire underneath you to keep pushing helps you stay focused & motivated, knowing you’ve already accomplished a goal or two.

Keep up the great posts! Best regards, Mike S.

]]> By: Lesley Brewer http://thewealthyfreelancer.com/2010/02/use-the-%e2%80%9crule-of-3%e2%80%9d-to-achieve-your-biggest-goals/comment-page-1/#comment-1308 Lesley Brewer Fri, 26 Feb 2010 22:37:41 +0000 http://thewealthyfreelancer.com/?p=1540#comment-1308 CONGRATULATIONS, ED! I don't blame you for sharing. It's a great feeling to know that progress is being made and it certainly does bring on the motivation even more. Well done! Lesley CONGRATULATIONS, ED!

I don’t blame you for sharing. It’s a great feeling to know that progress is being made and it certainly does bring on the motivation even more. Well done!

Lesley

]]> By: Ed Gandia, Editor http://thewealthyfreelancer.com/2010/02/use-the-%e2%80%9crule-of-3%e2%80%9d-to-achieve-your-biggest-goals/comment-page-1/#comment-1307 Ed Gandia, Editor Fri, 26 Feb 2010 13:10:23 +0000 http://thewealthyfreelancer.com/?p=1540#comment-1307 Mike - You're absolutely right. Even if you don't get ALL of them done, you'll accomplish more in a week with this method than most people accomplish in a month (or longer!). I like the simplicity and practicality of your system. Thanks for sharing. BTW, just an update for everyone on my progress toward my health goal above: I just had my body fat measured on Wed after 28 days on this new, focused program. Turns out I've lost 3.1% in body fat already. Nearly a third of the way to my 2010 goal. Granted, the first month or two are usually the most dramatic when it comes to this sort of thing. But I have to say... seeing this result motivated the heck out of me! And it further validated my "Rule of 3" approach. Sorry, just had to share! ;-) Mike – You’re absolutely right. Even if you don’t get ALL of them done, you’ll accomplish more in a week with this method than most people accomplish in a month (or longer!). I like the simplicity and practicality of your system. Thanks for sharing.

BTW, just an update for everyone on my progress toward my health goal above: I just had my body fat measured on Wed after 28 days on this new, focused program. Turns out I’ve lost 3.1% in body fat already. Nearly a third of the way to my 2010 goal. Granted, the first month or two are usually the most dramatic when it comes to this sort of thing. But I have to say… seeing this result motivated the heck out of me! And it further validated my “Rule of 3″ approach.

Sorry, just had to share! ;-)

]]> By: Mike Russell http://thewealthyfreelancer.com/2010/02/use-the-%e2%80%9crule-of-3%e2%80%9d-to-achieve-your-biggest-goals/comment-page-1/#comment-1304 Mike Russell Thu, 25 Feb 2010 23:20:53 +0000 http://thewealthyfreelancer.com/?p=1540#comment-1304 A great reminder, Ed. Lately, I've been experimenting with a similar idea for my day-to-day goals. For example, on Monday night I'll list everything that I want to accomplish on Tuesday. No prioritization, just a simple exercise to prep my mind for the morrow. Tuesday morning, after breakfast, etc., I go to that list before email, projects or phone calls. I prioritize my 'to-dos' for the day. On average, the top five get crossed off. The remaining items migrate to the the next day's list. Sometimes, when a cluster of low-priority items has been hanging around too long, I'll spend the last hour or two of the work day checking them off the list. Five items per day doesn't sound impressive, but 15 accomplished tasks makes for a satisfactory start to a well-earned weekend. Thanks for raising this topic. I always look forward to your thoughts, Ed. -Mike A great reminder, Ed.
Lately, I’ve been experimenting with a similar idea for my day-to-day goals.
For example, on Monday night I’ll list everything that I want to accomplish on Tuesday. No prioritization, just a simple exercise to prep my mind for the morrow.

Tuesday morning, after breakfast, etc., I go to that list before email, projects or phone calls. I prioritize my ‘to-dos’ for the day. On average, the top five get crossed off. The remaining items migrate to the the next day’s list.

Sometimes, when a cluster of low-priority items has been hanging around too long, I’ll spend the last hour or two of the work day checking them off the list. Five items per day doesn’t sound impressive, but 15 accomplished tasks makes for a satisfactory start to a well-earned weekend.

Thanks for raising this topic.
I always look forward to your thoughts, Ed.
-Mike

]]> By: Lesley Brewer http://thewealthyfreelancer.com/2010/02/use-the-%e2%80%9crule-of-3%e2%80%9d-to-achieve-your-biggest-goals/comment-page-1/#comment-1303 Lesley Brewer Thu, 25 Feb 2010 22:50:19 +0000 http://thewealthyfreelancer.com/?p=1540#comment-1303 Hi Ed: Thanks for validating that truth! I certainly do accept it as part of my reality. Lesley Hi Ed:

Thanks for validating that truth! I certainly do accept it as part of my reality.

Lesley

]]> By: Ed Gandia, Editor http://thewealthyfreelancer.com/2010/02/use-the-%e2%80%9crule-of-3%e2%80%9d-to-achieve-your-biggest-goals/comment-page-1/#comment-1302 Ed Gandia, Editor Thu, 25 Feb 2010 03:10:03 +0000 http://thewealthyfreelancer.com/?p=1540#comment-1302 Leslie - You bring up a good point. We actually address this very challenge in our book. It's the issue of what to do when you're trying to launch a business or take something to the next level. In many cases, such a goal requires somewhat of an "unbalanced" life for a few months or even a year or more. Unlike so many gurus out there, we say that's OK. Accept that. But then realize that once you reach the goal (or a certain component of that goal) you need to take your foot off the gas for some time. You need to let it rest. Then, after you've laid low for a while, you can get back on that racetrack. Thanks for your comments. I think this topic you brought up is not addressed in an honest fashion out there. It deserves a much more open discussion than it normally gets. Leslie – You bring up a good point. We actually address this very challenge in our book. It’s the issue of what to do when you’re trying to launch a business or take something to the next level. In many cases, such a goal requires somewhat of an “unbalanced” life for a few months or even a year or more. Unlike so many gurus out there, we say that’s OK. Accept that. But then realize that once you reach the goal (or a certain component of that goal) you need to take your foot off the gas for some time. You need to let it rest. Then, after you’ve laid low for a while, you can get back on that racetrack.

Thanks for your comments. I think this topic you brought up is not addressed in an honest fashion out there. It deserves a much more open discussion than it normally gets.

]]> By: Ed Gandia, Editor http://thewealthyfreelancer.com/2010/02/use-the-%e2%80%9crule-of-3%e2%80%9d-to-achieve-your-biggest-goals/comment-page-1/#comment-1301 Ed Gandia, Editor Thu, 25 Feb 2010 03:04:51 +0000 http://thewealthyfreelancer.com/?p=1540#comment-1301 Hi Beth. Thanks so much for your kind words! Glad to see that you're taking a more holistic approach to goal-setting. I think that's key. And it sounds like you have some very specific goals to help promote your solo business. That's fantastic! So many people don't know where to start on that path. They get overwhelmed and give up. Nothing happens because they can't decide what to do. I'll take a peek at your site over the next few days and send you some feedback directly. Glad to do that! Hi Beth. Thanks so much for your kind words! Glad to see that you’re taking a more holistic approach to goal-setting. I think that’s key. And it sounds like you have some very specific goals to help promote your solo business. That’s fantastic! So many people don’t know where to start on that path. They get overwhelmed and give up. Nothing happens because they can’t decide what to do.

I’ll take a peek at your site over the next few days and send you some feedback directly. Glad to do that!

]]> By: Lesley Brewer http://thewealthyfreelancer.com/2010/02/use-the-%e2%80%9crule-of-3%e2%80%9d-to-achieve-your-biggest-goals/comment-page-1/#comment-1300 Lesley Brewer Wed, 24 Feb 2010 23:51:47 +0000 http://thewealthyfreelancer.com/?p=1540#comment-1300 Hi Ed: I must agree with Beth. Do I practise any of it?...no not really. Personally, I am just breaking into the freelance writing field and because of that I'd say 90% of any free time I have (which isn't much with 4 cats and other responsibilities...including my sanity!) is spent trying to learn as much as I can about writing. Eventually, I hope to get to a place where having a more balanced life becomes my reality. Thanks, for the much needed reminder. Lesley Hi Ed:

I must agree with Beth. Do I practise any of it?…no not really. Personally, I am just breaking into the freelance writing field and because of that I’d say 90% of any free time I have (which isn’t much with 4 cats and other responsibilities…including my sanity!) is spent trying to learn as much as I can about writing. Eventually, I hope to get to a place where having a more balanced life becomes my reality. Thanks, for the much needed reminder.

Lesley

]]> By: Beth Manus http://thewealthyfreelancer.com/2010/02/use-the-%e2%80%9crule-of-3%e2%80%9d-to-achieve-your-biggest-goals/comment-page-1/#comment-1299 Beth Manus Wed, 24 Feb 2010 15:35:26 +0000 http://thewealthyfreelancer.com/?p=1540#comment-1299 Hi Ed, Thank you so much for posting this article. I think you give a lot of good and practical advice about freelancing. I agree with you that focusing our time and energy on just a few goals in various areas of life, does increase our chances of success. I think having specific goals that are attainable keeps us motivated and hopeful in achieving them and moving forward. I'm a freelance musician, a piano accompanist. One of my goals is to update my web site to draw in more clientele. I recently took a telecalss with a marketing coach who has some great ideas in marketing a product or service for web-based businesses. I invite you to take a look at my web site and amke any suggestions if you'd like. For me, it's also improtant to maintain a balance of different areas of my life. I get together once a month with a couple of friends for dinner, and we catch up on our lives. I also make an effort to stay in touch with other friends and my family. Some of my other goals are to cultivate a more regular pattern of exercise, adopt another cat, and maintain my spiritual health. Recently, I attended a spirituality retreat at the church I belong to. Thanks again for your thoughts about setting realistic goals in our lives. I believe your approach is a good one, and can help keep any of us on track in the present and future. Sincerely, Beth Hi Ed,
Thank you so much for posting this article. I think you give a lot of good and practical advice about freelancing. I agree with you that focusing our time and energy on just a few goals in various areas of life, does increase our chances of success. I think having specific goals that are attainable keeps us motivated and hopeful in achieving them and moving forward.
I’m a freelance musician, a piano accompanist. One of my goals is to update my web site to draw in more clientele. I recently took a telecalss with a marketing coach who has some great ideas in marketing a product or service for web-based businesses. I invite you to take a look at my web site and amke any suggestions if you’d like.
For me, it’s also improtant to maintain a balance of different areas of my life. I get together once a month with a couple of friends for dinner, and we catch up on our lives. I also make an effort to stay in touch with other friends and my family. Some of my other goals are to cultivate a more regular pattern of exercise, adopt another cat, and maintain my spiritual health. Recently, I attended a spirituality retreat at the church I belong to.
Thanks again for your thoughts about setting realistic goals in our lives.
I believe your approach is a good one, and can help keep any of us on track in the present and future. Sincerely, Beth

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