COFFEE CONVERSATIONS: Systems > Goals for 2017


A few days before the New Year, people have been churning out their goals on Facebook and I sat down with a pen and paper in hand, facing my laptop, with the same goals in my head as two or three years ago, but no urge to write them down. I've had the same goals for the last two years or so, but why do some of them still remain as goals? I thought hard and here's my conclusion and resolution.

How many of you jot down your goals each and every new year? How many have you accomplished? If you're on track, congratulations. Well done. But if not, I'll tell you that out of the 30 goals I wanted to accomplish last year, only 8 have materialized. I work hard. I try to exhaust all possibilities. But what went wrong in there? Here's my assessment:

1. I had too many goals. To be honest, how can one try to materialize a ton of goals in one year without sacrificing health, social life, other life aspects, and sanity? For example. I wanted to have abs last year; that alone takes more than a year to achieve for people who aren't blessed with a revved metabolism as a Mesomorph. To be honest, it is completely possible last year: that would mean living in the gym and letting my business, blog, and social life slip into oblivion; that would've meant unhappiness and bankruptcy.

2. Some of my goals were unrealistic. P16,000,000.00 by the end of 2016? Yeah right. I've learned one of the secrets of the universe: if you don't believe that you can make your goal happen, it won't happen; if you believe it will happen, it will most likely happen. It was the former for me.

3. I didn't have a system.

SYSTEM.

Now let me get into detail into with this one.

A lot of us have goals, but most of the time, we forget the systems. We know our goals, but don't know how to materialize them. We are sure about attaining our goals, but we don't commit to a system to achieve them. This is why most of our goals don't come true. This is why at the end of each year, most of us feel like a failure.

A mentor of mine in theatre would always say: Forget the product; always focus on the process. And it rings true even for life outside theatre.

If an actor is fixated on just performing the role and puts the process of getting into that role aside, the character come show day will appear two- dimensional, flat, monotonous, and ineffective. Theatre characters are based on people and what people are is a sum of their systems; no one becomes cold- hearted and merciless without undergoing through a similar system of experiences, choices, and scenarios.

I've realized, the attainment of goals is highly dependent on the system that you make each day. Your goal won't come to you; it's planted in a set destination and you must be the one to journey to it; your personal system will be your vehicle to that goal. 

Given this, what do you do day in and day out to achieve your goals? What are you doing each day to get you closer to your dreams?

You want to lose weight? Are you committed to working out three times a week?

You want to better the life of your children? Are you committed to looking for at least three additional income- generating opportunities each week or a bigger, long- term source of income?

You want to expand your network? Are you committed to meeting at least 3 new people each week?

You want to save up for a house? Are you setting aside at least 2 or 5% of your income every month?

You want to improve your negative approach to life? Are you committed to thinking about at least one happy thought per day?

The more you commit to a system, the more you get closer to your dreams. You'll be surprised that one day, it's right in front of you already.

Going back to that moment wherein I'm facing my laptop and holding a piece of pen and paper, instead of churning out goals, I just chose 5 of the most important goals I had for the last two or so years and decided to write extensive strategies to achieve them creating a system that I decided to focus on for the year to get me closer to my dreams. So help me God.

What system are you creating today to achieve your dreams?

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15 Comments

  1. Very well said Ms. Martha..i can relate in a way to what you have said. I've always wanted to loose a bit of weight and atleast have a flat abs..but of course. I haven't done anything to achieve that. I seldom do goals or resolitions, but now it made me think I'm not getting any younger at the age of 40. I have to be healthy and fit not just for me but as well for my family. Plus, to push myself in achieving few of my goals pitting up a online preloved/new shop. Since I'm a stay at home mom..I think and I would be able to do that..with a lot of help and push from MYSELF! 😊

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    1. Thanks for sharing. Start with baby steps with your workout. You will get there. To inspire you, I started with weightlifting in 2013; I could barely lift a 20lb. bar and plates. Now, I'm lifting 210lbs. :) good luck.

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  2. That's true ms. Martha, last year my goal is to save for the future of my kids but still until now it remains a goal. Hahah But for now, I really did my best that I can save money 2% from my salary. Because it's too hard when there's emergency and you have nothing. You don't know where to go and whom you can lend money. So, I put in my mind that every payday I have to save. :-)

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    1. I'll share with you something: My fiance has an account wherein he puts a percentage of his monthly income. It's like an emergency fund for whatever: children, home, health, or whatever that will require immediate money and a lot of it at that; he pledged that he will never touch that account unless it's very, very, very needed. That account only has a passbook and no atm so he cannot touch it. He also kept his passbook in a place in his room that he rarely opens/touches to curb the temptation to touch that account. :) hope this helps. Good luck. :)

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  3. This is so real. I've been to theater myself and building up a character is not an overnight thing we undergo a lot of trainings and internalization in order for us to really be the character and not to portray anyone else and you really must know the character so even if other characters didn't deliver what is really on the script if you really know your character, you will act and deliver another line that your character will really be saying, it'll come naturally. What I really wanted is to gain weight and cut my unnecessary expenses to save more. We can do this!!!!

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  4. I agree ms.martha.we should just focus on fewer but important goals/.the more we had are most likely to fail.me I only have 3 resolutions this year..and I'm very specific and detailed on my goals and plans to achieve it but also realistic.I write how many pounds I should shed.I bought new gym and running shoes to help me motivate more hahahaa.always remind and refresh my self. so I made my resolution as screen saver of my cp.and write it on my planner too.and I seek/ask/help from the people I know that had done it.and surround myself with people that inspire me to do more.I restrict myself to those who are negative.these are my system to achieve my goals for 2017.
    @damdidi1998

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    1. I wish you the best, Licel. I also restarted my fitness journey this year with Crossfit. Good luck to us. :)

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  5. I am a goal setting and planning addict. On my journey to find the best way to achieve my goals, I've read different articles on how to's, bought different kind of planners. There are so many system out there and you can choose what suits for you. One thing that I learned is that you must set a measurable target for your goals. Arriane Serafico (arrianeserafico.com) is giving free goal setting workshops for free! You might want to check her out. :)

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  6. Napag isip tuloy ako. Goal? Resolution? For my personal goal, I like to be still look young in my age. I just started to used skincare last August lang. Super late na ko, am a full time mom at least priority ay makeups at skincare. This year, I'll be in the big 4 na. Kaya pinipilit kong magkabudget for skincare. Hehehe Sana magtuloy tuloy.

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    1. Remember, commit to a system. So your system is to be religious with a skin care regimen. Good luck! :)

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  7. Nice blog miss Martha so inspiring.. my goals in life is to be successful woman.. sana yung goal n un maachieve ko ..

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  8. Actually, every year I have goals to fulfill in my mind. Pero di ko sya naisasakatuparan kasi inuunahan ako ng negative thoughts na baka di ko kaya. One of my few problems talaga is pagiging negative-thinker sometimes, inuunaan ako ng takot. But for this year, though di ko sya jinot down, I know that it's about time para gawin ko finally yung mga goals ko sa buhay. I have now a baby, so it's always better to focus on his needs and kung paano ko sya bibigyan ng magandang future. That is why I decided to seek for a job, at last. I had these realizations na masaya naman maging stay-at-home mom kasi I get to take care of my baby personally but when my son was admitted to hospital before Christmas last year, I said to myself I really need to have a job. Paano na lang kung may mas grabeng emergency na wag naman sana mangyari. I don't know kung saan ako kukuha ng panggastos. This is too haba na, nagconfess na ko haha basta yun po ang goal ko for this year and I intend to do it. ☺☺☺

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    1. I've realized that the more positive your outlook in life is, the more opportunities come to you; it's not that they're not there when you are negative; you just don't see it because you are clouded with negative thoughts. I hope this helps and I wish you all the best for you and your child. :)

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