Backrs’ tips for setting and working toward goals
At Backrs, we encourage everyone in our community—both our proteges and their teams of “backrs”—to share their ambitions. Working together, the teams in our community motivate, affirm, and support each other to reach their goals.
But how do you set a goal intentionally, and how do you hold yourself accountable? How do you figure out which milestones are sufficiently challenging–yet within reach? Use these resources to develop all types of goals, from short-term projects to larger ambitions (or new-years resolutions 😉).
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Why are goals so important?
Our brains are wired to take on challenges. New research suggests we can train our brain to value making an effort and not just the outcome—and people who find meaning in their efforts tend to report higher life satisfaction and meaning as well.
Finding the value in effort is why we are able to climb mountains and find that hidden reserve of strength during a race or near a deadline.
However, setting targets that are out of reach can lead to frustration—which is why we orient our proteges to develop SMART goals:
Specific: Your goal is direct, detailed, and meaningful.
Measurable: Your goal is quantifiable to track progress or success.
Attainable: Your goal is realistic and you have the tools and/or resources to attain it.
Relevant: Your goal aligns with your personal mission.
Time-based: Your goal has a deadline.
With support from accountability partners and SMART goals, the young people in our community are empowered to go for their dreams.
Smart goals are a lot like good habits.
The typical approach to self-improvement is to set a large goal, then try to take big leaps in order to accomplish the goal in as little time as possible. While this may sound good in theory, it often ends in burnout, frustration, and failure. Instead, we should focus on continuous improvement by slowly and slightly adjusting our normal everyday habits and behaviors. Because math tells us that if you get one percent better each day for one year, you'll end up thirty-seven times better by the time you're done.
This resource from Farnam Street Articles on Habits vs. Goals discusses some of the issues with focusing solely on goals, and how building systemic, small, easy habits can be a powerful influence on your behavior. Achieve big goals by starting with small habits. Find out developing automatic habits can powerfully affect your behavior.
Take things step by step.
Research shows that when we think of a goal as one step in a longer journey, not the final destination, we’re more likely to keep up the practices that led to reaching that goal. Don't solely define success as the destination, but consider the journey: What were the wins or high points, what were the losses or setbacks, and what did you learn from each?
Check out this Step By Step resource from our partners at Character Lab and watch this video from their founder Angela Duckworth who discusses her hierarchy of goals.
How Backrs approaches goal setting:
Having a network of supporters is one of the surest ways to reach your goals. A little affirmation goes a long way, and when you share your dreams with folks who are invested in your success, they can help you work through hurdles or connect you with essential people and information.
Proteges use this setting rubric proteges use to set personal goals.
Our protege orientation is specifically programmed around purpose-building and identity work, so that our young people can develop smaller goals that are aligned to their larger aspirations. They also record purpose videos that outline their ambitions and serve as an introduction to their teams..
Better yet, the Backrs app helps proteges codify and track their individual goals. They can choose to either keep a goal private or share with their team and use the app to tag what support is helpful–seeking advice, a call to discuss, or maybe a connection. Along the way, our community team provides resources to help backrs make the most of their protege’s goal sharing.
Purpose videos introduce a protege’s goals and aspirations.
Goals and aspirations change over time.
Keep in mind that your purpose changes across your lifetime, and meaning to life is a journey that develops as we go through stages and experiences. As such, your goals will evolve and that is okay! Plans change. And when you need a pick-me-up, it always feels good to accomplish some short-term goals and reset milestones every few months.