In my previous post, Connect with your WHY, I suggested that when people have a goal in mind, like quitting smoking or losing weight, the reality is that this goal is in fact a means to an end, not the end itself. The person who says they want to stop smoking always has a more fundamental reason behind giving up smoking, such as health, family or money. This is what I mean by the 'why' and this is what we should all connect with to have the best chance of success.
Clearly however, the WHY alone is not enough, and in the example above, the person who wants to give up smoking has already identified another part of the chain of success - the WHAT. Consider the example of someone who wants to lose weight; again, they will most likely succeed if they identify the real goal here: is it overall health, to look better to attract sexual partners or perhaps an important event coming up where they need to fit into their favourite outfit that they've modestly outgrown? Having identified the WHY, the WHAT might be a diet, or it might be exercise (or both).
We can now see that starting with the WHAT is premature, in that diet or exercise or both might best serve your WHY and deliver a result, afterall, that's what we care about, the result. The WHY naturally asks WHAT do I have to do to achieve the goal?
And then beyond the WHAT is the HOW. Having decided (in the example above) that your WHY is overall health, and your WHAT is to go on a diet, the final question is HOW? Do you see your GP for advice, simply eat less than you currently do, join Weight-Watchers or go full on low calorie or alternatively low-carb? or something else? That's the final part of the puzzle.
Before you set out to achieve your goal then, you have fundamentally established WHY you are doing it, WHAT you have to do to achieve it and HOW you will go about it. While your tactics might evolve along the way, grasping the WHY, WHAT and HOW before you start gives you a full toolbox to help you achieve your goal and therefore the best possible chance of success.
Clearly however, the WHY alone is not enough, and in the example above, the person who wants to give up smoking has already identified another part of the chain of success - the WHAT. Consider the example of someone who wants to lose weight; again, they will most likely succeed if they identify the real goal here: is it overall health, to look better to attract sexual partners or perhaps an important event coming up where they need to fit into their favourite outfit that they've modestly outgrown? Having identified the WHY, the WHAT might be a diet, or it might be exercise (or both).
We can now see that starting with the WHAT is premature, in that diet or exercise or both might best serve your WHY and deliver a result, afterall, that's what we care about, the result. The WHY naturally asks WHAT do I have to do to achieve the goal?
And then beyond the WHAT is the HOW. Having decided (in the example above) that your WHY is overall health, and your WHAT is to go on a diet, the final question is HOW? Do you see your GP for advice, simply eat less than you currently do, join Weight-Watchers or go full on low calorie or alternatively low-carb? or something else? That's the final part of the puzzle.
Before you set out to achieve your goal then, you have fundamentally established WHY you are doing it, WHAT you have to do to achieve it and HOW you will go about it. While your tactics might evolve along the way, grasping the WHY, WHAT and HOW before you start gives you a full toolbox to help you achieve your goal and therefore the best possible chance of success.
Author's note: I am a professional life and executive coach with a special interest in success and goal achievement. I work with individuals and groups to help them achieve their goals. I also undertake events and public speaking engagements. If you are interested in how I can help you or your organisation achieve your/its goals, without obligation, please get in touch via email (david at thecriticalcouple dot com) or via the contact tab on this website.
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