Everything I’ve learned in five years of achieving goals.

July 2019

My last day of 20 years as an Artistic Director.

A moment of monumental change.

So I buy a book on goal setting.

I write down 10 short-term goals to achieve in 12 months.

And 5 long-term goals for the next 5 years.

I achieve 60% of my short-term goals in 18 months.

I achieve 80% of my long-term goals in 3 years.

What do I learn?

We over-estimate what we can do in 1 year.

But under-estimate what we can accomplish in 5.

January 2022

We’ve moved from London to live by the sea.

By now I have a portfolio career in TV, Podcast and Coaching.

And I’m spending more time as a husband, dad and frustrated tennis player.

At this point, there are too many possible future paths to set concrete goals.

Too much is unknown.

So I design a compass instead of a map.

Five priorities I want to keep in balance as I navigate new territory.

What do I learn?

In the midst of a career transition we can find direction by focussing not on what we want to have

But on how we want to be.

January 2024

I now Coach 3 days a week.

The other 2 days are dedicated to my family and my writing.

I love my work and I have an inspiring client-list.

I am living and working by design.

On purpose and with purpose.

But some things have happened that I was not prepared for.

Things that were not in the goals or the compass.

That weren’t part of the plan.

That are still happening as I write.

So my compass has become the most succinct strategic intent imaginable.

A single word that now serves as my North Star.

What I am learning?

Goal setting makes dreams reality by focussing us on the destination.

In other words, what we want to happen in the future.

Navigating by compass allows us to locate ourselves and adjust to an unpredictable journey.

That is, what might happen next.

But occasionally it’s necessary to trust a guiding light we can’t always see and embrace stillness.

Simply put, what is happening now.

After all, there is no time 

but the present.

“Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin.” 

Mother Theresa