Narrative Goal-Setting for 2012

Have you received a Christmas card that includes a year-end family letter? I enjoy reading them because it is a fun way to catch up on friends now separated by larger distances. I enjoy seeing what accomplishments and milestones friends and their families are proud of from the past twelve months.

I usually create a list of goals and, truthfully, I list too many. Less is more. Focus is critical. Yep, I’m working on that. I believe in it and do plan some of my life (particularly at work) around it.

But here’s something I did the other day that gave my goal-thinking a twist. I wrote my Christmas letter for December 2012 now. I tried to keep it short–about 300 words. It’s sort an extended version of the question “What would you like written on your tombstone?” And, it’s more narcissistic than I’d actually send to anyone at the end of the year. But hey, it’s about what I’m wanting to do this year, some of which is about individual achievement and some of which relates to family goals or milestones. And it’s written for me to read, reread, and envision, not for others.

I can’t guarantee this method, of course. I’m just trying out something different.

But I’m finding myself energized by seeing it in narrative form rather than in a bullet-list. I hope it will become true. It’s already stronger in my imagination.