A Skeptics Attempt At The 12 Week Year
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I’ve always thought that goal setting was practical and important, I just didn’t think it was for me. I am usually a logical person. I fundamentally understand the psychological benefits of setting aspirational goals. I am aware of the research that details the correlation between setting specific goals and increased confidence and performance. I get it- honestly. But for some reason, I’ve never been able to get past the “fluff” of goal setting. I simply tend to prefer action over contemplation, and thus I usually find myself diving into the deep end rather than learning the techniques of long-distance swimming. This hasn’t been a problem for me, but it hasn’t been a solution either.
I received the book The 12 Week Year by Brian Moran this past Christmas. I thanked my sister (side note- I think a book is the most thoughtful and useful gift one can receive) skimmed it, and tucked it between two others on my shelf.
It’s not that I am not interested in goal setting, I just haven't been ready for it. Today I walked by that bookshelf and, for some reason, that 12 Week Year book caught my eye. I took it out, blew the dust off, and threw it in my bag.
This morning I listened to a podcast by NPR called TED Radio Hour while getting ready for work. This episode was called A Better You. It detailed insights about the seemingly insatiable human appetite for self-improvement.
During the episode, the host Guy Raz, introduces Matt Cutts- Google engineer and self-proclaimed life-experimenter. Matt explains how he explores the world by trying something new every month- for 30 days. Some months he chooses a deceptively simple challenge, such as showing gratitude daily. Other months he elects harder challenges like climbing the highest mountain in Africa (Mount Kilimanjaro) and running a marathon. Matt Cutt’s TED talk, Try Something New for 30 Days, is really good and sure to inspire!
