3D your way to achieving your goals with these three easy steps

When I accomplish a goal it’s like I have a tiny parade of cheerleaders racing through my blood shaking their pom-poms. It feels great. Like I’ve summited a mountain.

When I achieve a goal I’ll often realize I have a sloppy grin on my face.  From ear to ear.  It feels soo good!

But given the ongoing stresses of the pandemic, the war in Ukraine, you name it, it can be hard to get that sense of accomplishment.

That got me thinking about affecting change, getting motivated, and achieving goals.

Which is how I came up with my 3D path to achieving your goal with three seriously easy steps

3 x 3 x 3 + D

1. The first 3 = tiny wee changes

Think about something you want to accomplish.  Then think of three realllllly tiny things you can do to achieve that goal.  They have to be tiny.  Use the K.I.S.S. principle – Keep It, Super Simple.  If any of the three things you’ve thought about making your stomach churn in protest then they’re not the right things, they’re too big.  Try again.  Once you have your three things that are super simple and tiny, go ahead to step 2.

2. The second 3 = three minutes or less

Run the three things you thought about through the next filter.  In addition to being super tiny and easy to achieve, they should each also be able to be done in three minutes or less.  If any of them take longer than three minutes, scratch them and think of something different. When you have your three tiny wee changes that can each be done in three minutes or less, proceed to the next step.

3. The three 3 = three days in a row

The final filter to run your three action items through is to make sure you can do them three days in a row.  It should feel imminently doable.  Almost laughable actually.  They should be so easy, so quick and so doable for three days in a row that the possibility of failure is close to zero.

Want some examples?  Here are two.

Example one: a personal example

I’ve been watching what I eat lately and the three tiny things I’m focusing on are eating smaller portions, eating less chocolate, and drinking more water.  Each thing is very small (1), can be done in three minutes or less (2), and can be done at least three days in a row (3).

Example two: a working example

I love exploring new tech tools but sometimes that can either feel overwhelming or hard to find the time for.  So my three tiny things to move towards that goal are keeping a list of the tools I want to explore, looking into one tool a week, and getting my VA (virtual assistant) to add the tool to my master Tech Tools list.  Again, each thing is super simple, takes three minutes or less, and it can be repeated three days in a row (though note I’ve chosen to actually explore a new tool once a week a.k.a. feel free to play around with this method to make it fit you.)

Each of these things in both examples passes the 3x3x3 rule

They’re easy peasy, they take three minutes or less and I can do them three days in a row. (Caveat: I did adjust the trying a tech tool to once a week as that seemed way more doable.  Feel free to adjust yours if that fits better.)

But what about the D in 3D?

I’m glad you asked.  The D stands for data.  As in pay attention to how you’re feeling, how it goes, what difference it makes, etc.  Adjust as necessary.

And, get some help in collecting and tracking that data, plus celebrate your success.  Feel free to play around with some tech tools to help you reach your goals. Here are seven to try thanks to LifeHack.

So get going.  Pick a goal you’ve been trying to reach that’s proven elusive and try my 3D technique:

1. Easy peasy
2. Takes three minutes or less
3. Can be repeated three days
4. Collect data to be sure it’s working for you and adjust as necessary

Now go on and learn, laugh and lead

Learn

• Check out some other resources I’ve written about:
• Mountains, Mediums, and MoleHills – Your Recipe for Serious Success
• How to id & harness this powerful force that drives your everyday behaviour 
• Your secret sauce for overcoming procrastination (hint: it has to do with your perspective)

Laugh

• Trying to reach a goal can sometimes feel like climbing Mount Everest, backward, in a bikini.  But with a little help, sometimes you may just stumble into your goal with a giggle or two like this adorable puppy.

Lead

• If motivation continues to be an issue (hey we’re all human!) for more information check out Eight ways to amp up your motivation, even and especially if it’s in the dump right now and take my motivation survey to see which of the six motivation styles motivates you.

P.S. Let’s stay connected. Free weekly coaching by email on how to use humanity and humour to problem solve, right here.