Setting Expectations

What if I told you I was going to become

A Doctor in a year...

Or a world class pianist in a year...

You would say I was crazy, and in this case you would be right.

This is where research and setting expectations plays a big role in goal setting.

With a quick google search "Training to be a doctor"

Google: It typically takes seven years to become a doctor, including attending medical school for six years and completing a one-year medical internship.

... that's just to get to the starting line!

So why when we decide to start working on a meaningful business venture or creative project for ourselves do we slap such a short time frame on it to work.

I've found a lot of this stems from desperation and impatience!

I have decided on a goal and I want it NOW!

At the end of the day we are human and we all face our own cognitive biases.

A cognitive bias is a type of error in thinking that occurs when we allow our judgments to be influenced by our own personal preferences, beliefs, or feelings.

For example you might judge a new product to be better than it is because you want it to be successful.

It also happens when a person looks for and interprets information (news stories, statistical data or the opinions of others) that backs up an assumption or theory they already have.

The famous Henry Ford quote sums up that last one up perfectly!

"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't – you're right"

Underestimating the time it takes to accomplish goals is a common cognitive bias that can lead to frustration, stress, and disappointment.

So why does this keep happening?

Focusing on best-case scenarios and assuming everything will go smoothly

I am guilty of planning my weeks like this, assuming I'll be in top focus mode for all the time blocks allocated, when time and time again I have proven that this is not the case!

It's a lesson I am still learning.

Being overly optimistic about our abilities and underestimating the effort required to achieve our goals.

Usually to achieve something we've never had before is going to require us to do something we've never done before.

Learning something new is always a slow and often frustrating process, but if we can give ourselves more time to get in the reps and build up to 'peak-performance' before we shit on our progress, we might actually achieve what we are looking for.

Taking writing as an example, when you start up on twitter it might take you 2 hours to write a thread. Cut to 3-6 months in and you're able to write a thread in 20-30 mins!

Lack of clear understanding of the steps required to reach our goals

The most common advice in the one person business space at the moment is

'Just Start, You'll figure it out along the way'

I back this 100% as it was the only way I could get out of my own head.

For bigger goals, (something we have never accomplished) the steps will be unclear to start, and that's where research comes in.

A quick google search and we found out how long I should expect to become a doctor.

Here's another one for you. "how long before my business should turn a profit"

Google: Most businesses don't make any profit in their first year of business, according to Forbes. In fact, most new businesses need 18 to 24 months to reach profitability.

... When you search a bit deeper the time frame actually starts to extend, other articles state that it takes two to three years minimum to turn a profit!

This leads me to my next point

Unawareness of external factors that can impact our progress

Life has a funny way of testing us I feel. When we set a goal and start taking action towards it, it's fascinating what comes out of the woodwork.

Work gets busy

• Our partners need more attention

• Family members get sick

• You might have an injury

• A sudden event might need your full attention.

Such is life! But does that mean we should give up on our dreams entirely? ... I'll answer that one for you - NO!

Take the time to re-assess your goals and see if they still align with your new reality, and how you are going to accommodate for the setbacks.

Setback! Not failure!

Procrastination and putting off tasks until the last minute

At the end of the day we are in charge of our free time and what we do with it. We all have 24 hours in a day, and not all of us have much spare time to begin with. Floyd Mayweather broke it down in an interview like this.

You have 24 hours in a day:

• 8 hours - Sleep

• 8 hours - Working (most people have a 9-5)

• 3 hours - Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• 1 hour - Getting ready

That's 20 hours... We only have 4 left.

• 4 hours!! That's it if we are lucky.

You will also want to factor in

- Time to read

- Time to commute

- Time to do nothing

- Time to build a side project

- Time to work on your hobbies

- Time to unwind after a long day

- Time to train and move your body

- Time with your family, kids, partner, spouse, friends

That's a lot to get into 24 hours.

Also...How well do you think your brain is functioning to build yourself towards your dreams when you come home exhausted from a day at work?

Are you in top mental condition to provide 100% focus and creative thinking towards your goals and the tasks at hand?

This is where the 'I'll do it tomorrow' line becomes very appealing.

Questions

It's important to ask questions. Check in with yourself when setting goals and the expectations you've created along with them.

Here are some questions you can ask:

• What specific goal do I want to achieve?

• Why is achieving this goal important to me?

• How would my life change by reaching this goal?

• How do I expect to feel after I reach this goal

• What will success look like?

• What is currently stopping me from achieving this?

• What are my first steps?

• What step will take me furthest, fastest?

• What have I done so far?

• Who can help me achieve this?

• Who will support me?

• Who won't support me?

And finally

• What can I do today to start working on that goal?

It might not be the goal that is the issue but your expectations of outcome and timeline.

Maja