It’s that time of the year again – the time when we all start to think about what we want to accomplish in the next year. I know many of you have already thought about what your New Year’s resolutions will be and what you’d like to see happen, but have you given any thought to what you don’t want to do in 2010? Most of us don’t think about our goals this way, but I invite you to do so because understanding what you don’t want to do can help you achieve exactly what you want to do.
An “un-goal” is related to something that could stop you from achieving what you want to do. So for example, if one of your goals was to lose weight in 2010, an “un-goal” would be goal related to something that could stop you from losing weight:
I will not eat fast food more than once a week.
or
I will not miss a scheduled gym appointment.
This is basically an exercise to take your main goals and break them down into smaller, more manageable goals. If you wanted to, you can go even further and break down your un-goals into smaller un-goals, to get an even clearer picture of exactly what you have to do. Note the “I will not…” at the beginning of each un-goal, which is an important call-to-action type phrase that is more than just a bullet point on a list.
I have several goals and related un-goals for the new year. Here are just a few that you may be able to relate to:
- Goal: Grow the Smart Passive Income Blog to 6000 RSS readers by Dec. 31, 2010.
- Un-goals: I will not post less than 3 blog posts a week. I will not stop sharing content that I find useful. I will not stop learning how to increase the number of subscribers through design and conversion optimization.
- Goal: Continue to spend as much time with my family as possible.
- Un-goals: I will not work more than 4 hours a day. I will not stop working for myself. I will not work inefficiently. I will not forget to cherish every waking moment I spend with my family.
- Goal: Start broadcasting the Smart Passive Income Podcast.
- Un-goals: I will not be afraid to get on the microphone. I will not forget to start attending a local Toastmasters chapter meeting to improve my speaking capabilities. I will not settle for mediocre recording quality.
How About You?
I’d love to hear one of your goals and related un-goals for the upcoming year. It doesn’t have to be related to online business or blogging – anything that you want to accomplish and really focus on next year is game.
I still have a few 4-Hour Work Week (new edition) books to give away, so leave a goal and your related ungoals in the comments, and I’ll randomly select two of you to send a copy to, on me. Be sure to include a working email address in your entry so I can contact you via email if you’re selected.
Cheers, and here’s to a safe, healthy and prosporous 2010 for all of us. Happy New Year!
If you haven’t subscribed to the blog and would like to help me reach 6000 RSS subscribers by the end of next year, you can do so by subscribing here!
Update: Congratulations to Matthew Parrott, and Valerie, who were randomly selected to receive a free copy of The 4-Hour Workweek! Thank you all for your comments, and I hope to hear from you again soon in future blog posts!
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{ 42 comments (Click Here to Leave a Comment Below) }
I will not fail less than 100 times :p
I like that one!
I’m liking that too, Oscar!
LOVE it! Fail fast and fail often. I do!
Nice! Looking forward to the podcast Pat.
Hi Pat, nice to see your goals all fleshed out. I have a bunch of goals but won’t bore you with the ‘typical’ ones, here are a few of the ones I think is most important to new bloggers like myself.
Goal : Focus on content and not on stats.
Ungoal:I will not endlessly check my stats until my fingers bleed. I will not walk to any random computer and start checking my stats because it has the internet. I will put readers before stats, ads and other shenanigans.
I will not post less than 3 posts per week. That’s my ungoal.
I look forward to the podcast. I really enjoy listening to a good podcast.
Happy New Year, Pat!
I love the un-goals idea. I do usually have several goals in my mind and my un-goals is what I have to do to achieve them but I never put any of them down on the paper as you do.
My goal is to grow my blog as much as possible in 2010 so my ungoal would be to never miss a week without writing a new post, and never miss a day without connecting to new people in my target group via social media, via other blogs, via forums and so on.
One goal: Scale back on my number of blogs and scale up the quality.
Ungoal: I will not jump ship and move on to other methods of making money when I have yet to explore the full potential of the ones I’m using!
Goal: Earn $2,000 a month from my website by August 31, 2010.
Un Goal: I will not write less than 6 posts a week. I will not wake up later than 5:30 AM. I will not work on my website past 8:00 AM unless my homework is finished and I have spent time with my family.
…I just realized that I’m publicly announcing my goal so I hope Pat and all the other readers hold me accountable!!
I’ts been fun following your growth over the past year and I look forward to future success in 2010.
Goals: Finally sit down to continue working on my fiction book.
Un-Goal: Won’t let my lack of patience stand in my way from completing my goals. Will work more on developing further patience.
Goal: Continue my love for traveling and adventure by completing the running of the bulls in Pamplona.
Un-goal: If time and money don’t allow me to complete, don’t let that setback prevent me from living life and taking changes in my daily life.
I love this approach, Pat! I have several projects going on, but I am done procrastinating on developing my e-book idea. My ungoal in this area is to NOT deviate from the specific (but very attainable) plan I have in place to get the e-book done. Look for it available for purchase on June 1st!
Really cool idea, Pat. And I pretty much like all the other commenters’ un-goals.
My un-goal(s): I will not let excuses get in my way of doing at least one thing a day to start up and grow my online businesses AND I won’t let excuses get in my way of connecting with at least one person a day on a personal level.
Goal: I will save enough money to put a down payment on a home for my family by May 15, 2010
Un-goal: I will not waste time when I am supposed to be working. I will not waste money by eating out repeatedly when there are plenty of groceries to cook a meal. I will not spend money each month without consulting the family budget.
Goal: I will get out of credit card debt in 2010.
Un-goal: I will not use my credit card at all, period.
Oh, and I won’t let any excuses get into the way of achieving my blogging goals… which are still to be determined.
Have a happy new year!
Goal: Finally start earning directly from my website.
Ungoal: I will not hesitate on implementing new features and I will not be writing my lenghty e-book less then 3 times a week.
My Goal for the new year will be to get a new blog off the ground and running.
My ungoal is to not post less than 4-5 days a week. I will not comment on less than 3-4 blogs other than mine, and I will not give up during the hard times.
I would really love to get the 4 hour work week. I am in a job transition and hope to make the web my new career. I am working on an e-book, blog, other website, and eBay. You have inspired me a lot and always look forward to your new posts. Keep up the good work Pat!
Goal: lose weight and get into better physical shape.
Ungoal: I will not watch certain TV shows which I am addicted to except on my feet and exercising.
The first goal on my list is “To Be More Patient!” – Un-Goal “Not to Expect Others to Conform to my timeliness”.
I tend to project my OCD onto others and that sends my patience out the window, so I have set mental guidelines for some situations where tardiness may be viewed as (ugh) acceptable.
My main goal is to get more organized, create schedules and stick to them. I’m already doing a bit of that, but not enough.
Un-Goal: There are some loose ends that I need to tie up and once that’s done, I have a few things in my life that I no longer fully enjoy, that I will have to leave behind.
Thanks for everything you’ve shared so far, Pat. Looking forward to following your progress in 2010!
Cheers,
Shane
I want to thank you for this post. Not only did I enjoy the post itself but I also enjoy reading everyone elses goals.
For myself Goal: To clearly outline the big picture and then measure my actions & choices to that greater goal
Ungoal – I will not let myself be pulled into a cycle of spinning on a task or wondering if I am successful. As a mom & business owner there is a lot of room to feel unsucessful due to the volume of tasks I am juggling
Goal: I will use my time after work efficiently and I will actually set up my website(s) this year.
Ungoal: I will not go home and automatically turn on the TV for background noise and plop; instead I will turn on music to satisfy the need for background sounds so that I can focus on my internet business for an hour and a half each day.
My Goals, Lot of them. Most imp of them are:
1. Improving my english.
2. Starting to take my http://www.internetgeeks.org blog seriously.
3. Lose some weight.
4. Really want to make my living online.
5. Giving myself some rest at regular interval.
And i never want to stop learning new things. I would be dead before i stop learning.
Hey Pat, looking forward for your new design and ebook. And also i was wondering why you had not replied to even one comment in your previous post.
Best of Luck with your goals.
Azad Shaikh
http://www.internetgeeks.org
Hi Azad. I’m sorry I wasnt able to reply to comments lately. If you didn’t know already, I just had a baby boy, and I had to make a decision between replying to comments, or writing new blog posts, for the time I have allocated each week for this blog. As you saw, I wrote 2 new blog posts since Keoni was born. Taking care of a child and a recovering wife is my primary concern. I hope people understand this. Once we get settled, I’ll get back to a routine for replying to comments that you’re probably more used to. Thanks for your understanding! Happy New Year!
Hey Pat, i know that and don’t be sorry, you are just a good person and father. Post are more important than comments and i know that too. How Keoni is doing. Is there any problem with gizmo and Keoni, haha just kiding.
Happy new year to you and your family.
Good post Pat. Here’s one of my simplest goals:
Goal – Double my income.
Ungoal – I will NOT get distracted away from this goal.
The strategies for doubling my income can be broken down into manageable chunks, but the main focus is to NOT be distracted, so in effect, the Ungoal is just as important as the goal itself!
Hey Pat!
It’s been awesome reading your posts this year and watching your blog grow! I wish you and your family an awesome 2010 and all the best with lots of good things
Cheers!
Diggy
Hey Pat… Really good post to wrap up 2009. I am starting a new blog in January of 2010, which I’m unveiling as I go on forty2fifty.
GOAL: Have blog ready to launch on January 8th.
UN-GOAL: I not let myself get distracted from the design process. I will not let myself produce less than 10 posts before launch date. I will not let myself think it’s not possible to create a blog, or online presence, that I can make money and a living at.
Thanks Pat…
I’ve been subscribed for a couple weeks and I really like what I’ve been reading.
Goal: To work more efficiently so I can enjoy more leisure time.
Un-goals: I will not leave work each day without a plan for the next day’s work. I will not stay up late watching TV. I will not focus on obstacles. I will not procrastinate when I should be finding the next action. I will not keep a messy desk.
Hello, Pat! Great thoughts here: it was a little confusing to me, because all of the prior personal development literature I have read says, never use “NOT” when formulating goals, because your unconscious picks up on the NOT rather than on the positive. Curious on your thoughts with this.
However, since you brought it up, I will NOT hesitate to believe that I can achieve as much success online as you have, and I will NOT hesitate to research cost effective savvy biz coaching to make it happen
hmmm…. Steve, what I learned was that the unconscious ignores the not, therefore, that which you want “not” to happen is what happens, i.e.,
I will not hesitate to believe ………….
becomes
I will hesitate to believe ………..
What your conscious concentrates on the unconscious delivers, so if you don’t want to be sad, sad is what you are concentrating on and that is what is drawn to you. So in that respect you did a marvelous job of your NOT as you have chosen SUCCESS as the as the outcome to concentrate on.
best……………valentina
now that I have confused you and everyone …. I WILL NOT post confusing thoughts
A Prosperous New Year Pat, April and Happy Birthday cute Keoni!
Goal:
1. I will blog Every Single Day no matter what!
Ungoal:
1. I will NOT watch more than an hour of mindless TV per day! In fact, I will NOT TURN ON the TV but Tivo LOST instead!
Goal:
2. I will practice 15-20min yoga Every Morning and do my success rituals.
Ungoal:
2. I will NOT let laziness or procrastination or cold weather get in the way!
Goal:
3. I will create, build and make passive income of over $10,000 per month from internet business and other sources, and set myself FREE from my day job by December 15, 2010! I will work my butt off after my day job each night to grow my business and create passive income streams for FREEDOM and CHALLENGE!
Ungoal:
3. I will NOT let fear, worries and doubt get in my way!
Thank you!
Happy New Year Everyone!
What a great way to make goals more achievable. Some of my un-goals are: I will not spend as much time on the computer being unproductive. I will not post less than 2 posts a week on each of my blogs. I will not lurk on forums and email lists instead of posting and getting involved.
Happy New Year Pat!
Goal: To create my dream mixed discipline performance troupe and perform at least once a month
Ungoal: I will not check my email more than 2x a day
Take care!
Ben
Pat,
This is great!
My goal: Launch a series of digital e-courses in 2010 to achieve a 6-figure income business.
Un-goal:
* I will not let self-doubt and distractions take my eyes away from the end goal.
I will not launch my projects without setting clear out-come goals.
* I will not allow myself to get lost in technology and the need to learn more stuff before launching.
* I will not do the work that I can outsource and free up time for more strategic work.
Oh BTW Pat, I’d LOVE to be considered for one of the free copy of the 4-Hour Work Week (new edition) book!
Pick me, pick me, pick me!!!
Krizia
Hey Pat,
A couple of quick points. One of the things I’ve done is start to set promises instead of goals. Think about it, we take promises much more seriously because our integrity is on the line, whereas 99% of us routinely ignore or dismiss the importance of our goals.
I think where your concept of an un-goal fits into making promises to ourself is when we design our action steps. For instance, if I promise to eat three healthy meals a day because i will feel better and live longer, then one of my action steps would be to NOT eat junk food, fast food etc.
Thank you, Jarred.
Hi Pat,
This is the first time I have heard about having an un-goal. Worth a try and I will incorporate it into my goal setting process to see how well it works out. Great goal for 2010 and I am looking forward to your podcast series.
Cheers,
Vincent
I love the ungoal idea!!! Not waste my gym membership, not eat crap food…
Fantastic!
Ungoals what a great idea Pat.
My goals are simply to edge closer to my big dream each day. like many – good health, financial freedom and security while growing personally. If your not growing , your dying right?
I’m using my new website to combines all of the above while providing information and my experiences to others so I ‘give something back’ to others.
Love your site Pat, so much advice thanks
Interesting idea Pat!
My goal for the coming year is to grow my blog to 4000 RSS subscribers, to create more video content, and to create at least 2 ebooks (thanks for YOUR ebook -which will help me along the way!)
My un-goal: I will not be afraid of how I look and sound on video – and won’t let it stop me from creating more video. I won’t waste time on online activities that don’t build value.
Interesting idea about the “un-goal” … Dan Lok says he makes a list of the things likes and the things he does not like to do, and then makes his goals that go something like this (these are not his likes or dislikes, I’m just using them as an example)
Likes – writing
Goal: I will write for 3 hours daily
Dislikes – admin
Goal: I will have my virtual assistant submit/publish my writings to the appropriate venues.
In this way both the goal and the ungoal are still a positive while having the same effect (I think) of the NOT. It’s just another spin on it.
Wishing you continued success in 2010 and beyond.
best………….valentina