Personal goal setting for growth

(J.M.) WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO SET PERSONAL GOALS?

(K.K.) Goals are important because they provide clarity, motivation, measurement, accountability, and a sense of achievement.

There are three types of goals. A-Type goals are ones that you know how to do and have likely already accomplished, like buying a new truck. B-Type goals are the next level. They are logical goals you’ve never achieved, but with a little more effort, you can probably reach them, like increasing crop yield or improving fuel efficiency. I work with clients who want to achieve C-Type goals. These goals don’t have a clear path to achievement but are created in the imagination and often require big-picture thinking and personal growth and development to reach.

For example, a C-Type goal could be tripling a person’s income. This is something that they likely have no idea how to do or how to change to make it happen, but the idea of what that level of income could do for their family, farm, lifestyle, health, or peace of mind inspires them.

I believe the purpose of a goal isn’t to get but to grow. When a person creates a C-Type goal, they aren’t supposed to know how they will achieve it because they need to grow into the person who realizes the goal. Growth might mean doing things differently, changing habits, processes, behaviours, and even how a person makes decisions.

HOW DO YOU SET GOALS FOR SUCCESS?

Setting C-Type goals requires using your imagination. The idea is to tap into your imagination to create a new picture of yourself, your life, your farm, or whatever you want. Ask yourself, ‘If time and money weren’t an issue, what would I be doing, whom would I want to spend time with, how would I operate my business, how would I spend my money, etc..’

Set your goal and spend some time imagining and exploring what it would be like to live in your goal-achieved world. This will help you build a vision of what you want. And only concentrate on the things you want. Not what other people might think or how challenging it will be. When we set goals this way, it can be hard. We can doubt and question ourselves, so to overcome these negative thoughts and emotions, focus on how you would feel if you achieved your goal. Like how would you feel if you tripled your income, had more time to spend

with your family, and had more balance, joy, or freedom in your life? Goals are their weakest at conception, so the more time you spend with them – thinking, dreaming, imagining, and writing them down – the better. That’s when you’ll be inspired and find those creative methods or learn how to achieve your goal.

The more you focus on your goal, the more open you will be to new opportunities that may help you realize what you want.

HOW CAN PERSONAL GOALS BENEFIT A FARM BUSINESS?

Goal setting is personal, but it can have ripple effects in every aspect of a person’s life and business. And because farm businesses are so closely tied to a person’s lifestyle, setting goals, especially C-Type goals that can be so transformative, can have a significant impact on the business.

Personal growth is hard, but it’s a good thing. And it can benefit everyone and everything around you. Goal setting can also help build resiliency. Life happens, and there are so many things outside of our control, especially in farming, but when you’re able to learn and grow (two things that are often secondary outcomes of achieving a goal), you will naturally become more resilient.

For example, maybe you’ll become more patient with employees, learn a new skill that will help you navigate commodity markets or successfully add a new income stream to your farm. These are all personal development outcomes that can stem from aspiring to reach a lofty C-Type goal. Setting goals can give you long-term vision and short-term motivation. They create clarity in what you want and focus your attention on whatever is necessary for you to attain your goal, including knowledge, personal development, resources, skill sets, relationships and mindset. Personal goal setting for growth will benefit every aspect of your life, personal relationships and farm business. Goal setting is worth the work. •