The Goal of Goals
Being the start of the New Year, there has been plenty of talk about goal setting and 'New Year’s Resolutions.' A fresh year can bring a whole new level of optimism for the future, the turning over of a new leaf, and thoughts of what exciting possibilities lay ahead.
I love to talk to people about what they look forward to in the coming year - it is truly inspiring! Yet a vast majority of people tend to let their goals fizz out in the weeks and months ahead, and finish each year with a sense of ‘what might have been’, instead of powering through and smashing some big dreams and aspirations.
So why do people struggle to stick to their goals?
Generally speaking, we’re all great at working out the dream goal that we want to achieve. If you’re a cycling fan and have watched the Tour de France, you’ll know that this race is the pinnacle event in road cycling. Every rider is at near-peak fitness, and with the goal to win - be it winning a stage, to wear one of the coveted jerseys, being part of the winning team, or to be the rider on top of the podium after 23 days of racing. So if the goal of every rider there is to win, then how is it that only a select few riders achieve their ultimate goal, yet others miss out? If everyone has the same goal, what sets the best apart from the rest?
It all boils down to systems and values.
What systems do you have in place so you can slowly chip away at your goals day by day?
Are your goals in-line with your own values?
Firstly, as a musician, it is crucial to clearly articulate what your core values are, and why you choose to be a performer.
What is your purpose to play music? What do you value about being a performer, teacher, audience member, or student? Why are these things important to you? What have you done in the past to act in-line with these values, and how did that feel?
One metaphor I use is that your values are like the needle on a compass, always pointing North and guiding the way. Your values are a direction you head in, rather than a destination to eventually arrive at. If you are sailing a boat in the middle of the ocean, you want to make sure that you’re following your compass direction pretty closely, or else you could easily get off-track and lose your bearings (before the invention of GPS of course!)
If you let your values determine what direction you want to go, then you will naturally act in a way that is fulfilling and enriching to your life. This doesn’t mean that life will be easy, but it will mean that any struggles you encounter can indicate that you’re heading in the right direction, and towards the things that you value the most. It is often the case that when you act against your own personal values, then this can cause significant internal friction. You’re travelling in the wrong direction, with your boat heading West instead of North!
Take a minute to write down as many values that you have in relation to being a musician.
Do you value the sound of your instrument, and the various tone colours it produces?
Do you value working on solo pieces, or do you prefer playing music together with other people in a band or orchestra?
Do you enjoy connecting with the audience in a deep and meaningful way?
Or do you just love the joy and satisfaction of playing great music, and the reward you get after working so hard in achieving a great performance?
Once you’ve written your list, circle the top 5 values that resonate the most with you. These are your compass needle, which will guide you in your goal setting!
“Setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible into the visible.” - Tony Robbins
Now that you have clearly defined your values, you can look at setting goals in-line with those values.
Goal setting is divided into 3 different types:
Preference Outcome Goals are the outcomes you wish to achieve in the next 1 to 5 years. They are the big picture outcomes that you strive towards. However, because these goals are set well into the future, you will have far less control and influence over the end result. This is why they are called Preference Outcome Goals, as a lot of things can disrupt your progress over time eg. illness, injury, change in personal circumstances etc. This means that some flexibility and adjustment may be required, rather than rigidly sticking to the long-term plan. Reassessing your Preference Outcome Goals every 1-3 months is recommended, to ensure that your goals are still relevant and attainable.
With any type of goal setting it is important that you aim high, just beyond what you think would be comfortable for you to achieve. Psychologists call these “high, hard goals”, and they are essential in keeping you focused and motivated in pursuing the desired outcome.
You also want to keep your goals as SIMPLE, CLEAR, MEASURABLE, and SPECIFIC as possible. Try to precisely define each goal so that you know exactly what you’re aiming for. This will assist in tracking your progress, as well as helping to establish a clear timeframe for when the goal will be achieved.
Another acronym that is often used with goal setting is SMART, which I have covered in an article here.
Monthly Performance Goals are stepping stones on the path to your Preference Outcome Goals. You will have greater influence over these because they are in the not-too-distant future. People tend to value Performance Goals more than longer-term Preference Outcome Goals because you generally have more control over the result. You are able to see the light at the end of the tunnel, and this helps to keep you motivated to achieve the desired outcome.
With each monthly check-in you can examine your progress and track any statistics that have been collected over the previous month. This is a valuable guide to help determine whether your practice strategies are effective, or if they need adjusting.
Daily and Weekly Process Goals are the activities that you have the most amount of influence over. They are designed to give you focus on the here and now, and for the week ahead. They give you clear and achievable steps to take, which will move you towards your Monthly Performance Goals.
Many performers tend to fall down in their preparation when things get tough, busy, or when they are lacking in motivation. The best performers are able to show up rain, hail, or shine, irrespective whether they feel like practicing or not, on any given day. Taking tiny steps towards your dream each day will enable you to sustain consistent progress over a long period of time. This is where prioritising your practice time over other time-sapping activities such as watching Netflix, mindlessly surfing the net, checking social media, or watching TV, will help you make valuable progress in a relatively short space of time.
“A goal should scare you a little, and excite you a lot.” - Joe Vitale
To set your own goals, use the following steps:
Preference Outcome Goals
1. Ask yourself what challenging but achievable Preference Outcome Goals you would like to achieve in approximately 1-year from now.
Do you have a performance, audition, competition, or end-of-year exam to prepare for?
Is there a certain piece of music you would like to play?
Do you want to take on more responsibility in the ensembles you're currently in?
Do you want to form your own group, and plan to do some performances?
Write out all of your Preference Outcome Goals in your practice journal, and circle the 3 goals that are your highest priority - those that you really want to achieve. These are your Top 3 Outcome Goals for the year!
Now reflect on the kinds of changes that you will need to make in order to create a consistent trajectory towards these goals.
What type of person will you have to become to achieve these goals?
What habits will be ingrained in you?
What will you be doing on a daily basis?
Setting longer-term goals is all about visualising an improved and updated version of yourself, and recognising the changes in behaviour that will help you become that person. Goal setting isn’t necessarily about achieving a certain outcome. It is more about acting in a way that is closer to your values and desired future identity, and setting up suitable systems to achieve this. The better you can do this, the more successful and naturally driven you will become.
Monthly Performance Goals
2. Write down 1-3 goals that you want to achieve by the end of the month that are in-line with your Preference Outcome Goals. Note them down in your practice journal. Remember to make these goals SIMPLE, CLEAR, MEASURABLE, and SPECIFIC.
Some examples might be:
Improve a particular technique (sound quality, tempo, rhythm, articulation, phrasing, dynamic contrast etc.)
Learn a new piece and perform a section of it for friends or family.
Increase the tempo of a piece you’re currently working on
Practice every day this month
Weekly Process Goals
3. Set 1-3 goals that you want to reach in your practice sessions this week, and write them in your practice journal. Again, make sure that these weekly goals are in-line with what you would like to achieve by the end of the month.
Daily Process Goals
4. Set 1-3 goals to achieve in your practice session today that are in line with your weekly goals. Write these down and keep them out and visible while you practice. Periodically check these goals when practicing to make sure you stay on task and are as effective with your time as possible.
Writing out all of your goals may seem like a lot of work, but investing the time to plan where you want to go in the future will be incredibly rewarding in the long run. Through this exercise you will gain far greater clarity and focus in what you want to achieve, and this translates into greater improvements in whatever you set your sights on. Time spent in the practice room will be much more efficient and effective, and you will be able to achieve far greater outcomes in a shorter space of time.
If you are looking for a fantastic technique to keep your motivation up and stick to your daily goals, then check out my article on “The Seinfeld Strategy”. Alternatively, if you would like assistance with your goal setting, or need someone to keep you accountable and on track, then please get in touch. I’d love to help!