I love a project. Don’t we all?
A project helps to create focus by creating a clear timeline and defined milestones needed to bring the project to life.
But how do we stay on track between short projects? How do we stay motivated for the longer term?
The key, in my experience, is to document your future. Create a 10-year vision (aka obsession!) that acts as your ‘North Star’.
When daydreaming about the future, which we all need to be doing, an important actionable step is to decide when a dream will come true. Rather than thinking ‘one day I’ll do that’, be bold and decide when you will make it happen. (After all, it was Napoleon Hill who wrote: ‘a goal is a dream with a deadline.’)
In his famous book Good to Great, Jim Collins describes a long term vision as a 'Big Hairy Audacious Goal', or BHAG.
This huge, seemingly impossible-to-achieve goal is one that can inspire a group of committed people over a ten to thirty-year period.
As an example, in 2009, The Physio Co, the business I lead, set a 10-year obsession: to deliver two million consultations to Australian seniors. (From close to a standing start of 40,000 per year).
When a goal is measurable, and you track it regularly, it becomes compelling. You’ll then work backwards to bring it to life.
The concept of a long-term goal, or 10-year obsession, provides great focus and inspiration. So start thinking long term, document your future and create a high performing team.