How Values Guide You In Achieving Your Goals

It’s a new year, and you’re starting with a clean slate. You’ve set your sights on achieving certain goals. You know what you need to do and are determined you can do it.

If this were a road trip, your vehicle would be packed with the essentials, your destination would be programmed into the GPS, and you would be driving happily down the road.

All would be well. Until….

You hit some construction or a traffic jam, and you find yourself moving at a snail’s pace. Or some idiot suddenly weaves into your lane causing an accident, forcing you to suddenly pull over and stop. Or worse, after a few hours of driving on a boring stretch of highway, you become drowsy and fall asleep at the wheel, causing you to wander off the road (hopefully stopping before you crash).

Like or not, problems and challenges are going to arise this year that will cause you to consider abandoning your journey. At the same time, routine and boredom will cause you to become sluggish and complacent, meaning you’re no longer moving forward towards your goals. And your destination no longer seems achievable.

But it doesn’t have to be this way. Values can help.

The Guiding Power of Values

Values are like the markers on a road, making it clear where you need to keep your vehicle. They are the rumble strips at the edge of the road that alert you when you are straying too far. They are the visual cues (markers) and sensation (rumble strips) designed to alert you when you are being inattentive or careless.

When you hit a roadblock, values help you make the necessary decisions to find the best detour around it. Values help you stay on course, even if that means taking alternate routes.

To help you achieve your goals, here’s how to use the power of values:

• First, identify and define a few clearly defined values (max. 3 or 4) that are aligned with your purpose and support your goals.
• Second, leverage your values by using them as a filter for all decision-making. This will help you stay on the road and within the markers.
• Third, use your values to stay focused on your destination, and correct your behavior when you wander onto the rumble strips.

Of course you should enjoy the ride. But remember the reason you are on this journey. You want to reach your destination by the end of the year.