#designed life

Come up with goals, write them down, and smash them out of the park. This was the simple 3 step plan.  But having started researching about goals, there’s quiet a bit more to it.

There’s few things goals must have to make them really good and for you to engage with them - which if you don’t, they’ll too easily they’ll get forgotten.  The stats are ridiculous - something like 25% of people who set new years resolutions give up after less than a week - less than a week!!  And the average person sets the same new years resolution 10 years in a row - 10 years!! What a depressing thought - anyway who wants to be average.......

So this year my goals all meet these criteria: 1) Specific - loosing weight, or running more is vague, loosing 10kgs or running 10 miles a week, is specific and also importantly 2) Measurable - how are you going to know if you’ve achieved your goal if you don’t know what it is? and how can you assess progress if you don’t know what you are aiming for? 3) Actionable - goals need to start with an action verb, because after all you want to stop doing something, or start doing something, or Run 3 times a week.  4) Time bound - goals need a deadline, otherwise it’s all to easy to subconsciously push them back and loose track, so if you want to run a 10k in Feb you’ve got a clear deadline to keep focused on.  5) Don’t over do it in number 5-7 goals seems a good number, you need few enough you can really focus on them, and take steps toward each one everyday (even if small steps), too many and you’ll overwhelm yourself and likely give up. 6) Written down - common knowledge that written down goals are better, but how many people do it? not many, so get them written down. And get them written down where you can see them, in a diary or planner, on an app if that’s your thing, but make sure they visible, and re read them regularly (weekly at least). Written down stuffed in the back of draw is not much help! 7) Outside of your comfort zone - as many people seem to have said you need to be outside your comfort zone to grow, if it all stays safe and predictable your not going to gain much. 

So I’m here, and this is my first ever blog post of more than a few (usually sarcastic) words with a photo. Lets wind back a bit...

2015 was a good year, lots of good stuff happened, but looking back on it now I realise a lot of it happened by chance. I drifted along, working hard, but not necessarily in any particular direction. Just kind of being pulled along by the current. In fact this is what I’ve done for a long time. What made me finally notice? Well it was my boss, and something he said in a not particular positive meeting, he said “You seem like the kind of person that life just happens to”. I was outraged! Obviously being British I contained my outrage completely in the meeting, polietly shook his hand and then drove home like a lunatic, boiling with rage. I was boiling with rage, because I realised he was right!

It seemed everything in my life had happened to me - my wife had been the one to ask me out when we first met, my wife had picked the house we lived in, I’d worked for the same company for 10 years since leaving Uni, even the car I was driving like an enraged lunatic was brought from my Mum - I didn’t even pick my own car!

And I’m sure for my boss this was a throw away remark, but for me it stuck.

Anyway it gave me really impetus to reflect and look at and how and where I was going, and I came to the realisation that I absolutely must take control of my own direction. And in the later half of 2015 I did make, some positive steps.

But I’ve decided that 2016 is going to be the killer year!! Coming to the end of the year I was determined to set new years resolutions, make them count, and make the stick, so I started researching goal setting and found loads of interesting stuff....

One blog and podcast in particular that I’ve really connected with and enjoyed is michael hyatt he talks a lot about goal setting and the do’s and don’ts, and his whole ethos is around living a designed life - one where we actively choose what happens, what we get involved in, and what we say no to. Yes, ultimately he’s trying to get you to sign up for one of his programs ($$$), but I think he’s very generous with his free content.

Finally today I’ve received my passion planner which is also a key part of my strategy in keeping my goals written down, accessible, and has a great method of breaking them down into steps - so each week when you sit down to plan your week you know what you need to include. Simple, but genius.

And of course I’ve spent sometime really thinking about my future and goals for 2016, and I’ve got some great ones, more on which I will share next time.

Michael Hyatt’s 3 Questions for The Designed Life

Michael Hyatt spoke at the World Domination Summit last year on The Designed Life, which is perfect to share with you here because we’re all about designing your life.   The video is inspiring, but 37 minutes long, which is why I’ve summarized the highlights for you here and included it below if you want to watch it.

The Designed Life

Hyatt contrasts The Designed Lifeto a ‘drifting life’ or a…

Faith & Fashion Magazine Feature!

Remember when I hosted Faith & Fashion Week Detroit? I’ve been featured on their October online issue which includes my interview with the Designed Life team! Such a great experience as a host, fashion designer, and above all else, a Christ follower. Thank you Quintaria and your entire team for being a catalyst movement to bridging Christ and fashion to the world!

Click hereto read the full…

Faith and Fashion Week Detroit: The Grand Finale

Day two of Faith and Fashion Week! After a long day of rehearsal, fittings, last minute sewing, and run thrus, the show finally began. Designers and clothing brands showcased their garments In the Black Suites overlooking a beautiful skyline of Detroit. Hosting this event was so much fun! It was awesome to introduce and network with different Christian clothing lines, all of which I didn’t even…