The 4 STAR Rules of Goal Setting: Write, Commit, Act

Transform Your Goals into Reality

In this episode, we dive further into the concept of the 4 STAR Rules of goal setting and the transformative power of writing down your goals.

We explore how putting your goals on paper engages both your creative and logical brain, making goal-setting more effective.

Learn how breaking down big goals into manageable steps can help you overcome overwhelm, stay committed, and stay accountable.

Whether it’s writing a novel, saving for a big purchase, or improving your fitness, this method of goal-setting can turn your dreams into achievable realities.

T: THINK ON PAPER

Because of the incredible power of committing your goals to paper, international speaker and author, Brian Tracy, says we should all ‘think on paper’.

The impact of the written word on human motivation and achievement is undeniable. There is power in the written word, and the act of writing down your own goals serves as a catalyst for your success.

Setting and achieving goals is a multifaceted neurological process that engages both the creative and logical aspects of your brain.

Harmonising your imaginative right brain with your analytical left brain is vital for effective goal-setting and goal-getting, a process that I call ‘100% Goal Setting’.

Your right brain is a creative powerhouse, responsible for envisioning your future and painting a mental picture of what you want to achieve.

Your right brain is where all your possibilities, dreams, and desires are first imagined. It’s where you generate ideas, desires, and aspirations.

When you imagine your future, your right brain is in action, creating the vision that you want for yourself. This is the emotional, imaginative part of goal setting, where you tap into your deepest desires and dreams.

On the other hand, your left brain is the rational, logical thinker that breaks down your vision into actionable steps. It’s the part of your brain that is responsible for organisation, planning, and problem-solving.

This is where you devise strategies, create plans, and work out the detailed steps required to make your goals a reality. It’s the pragmatic side of goal-setting, where you figure out how to bridge the gap between where you are now and where you want to be.

A: APPLY YOURSELF

Another benefit of writing down your goals is that it sets commitment.

The act of transcribing your aspirations into written words means your commitment is no longer a fleeting thought; it’s a documented statement to yourself that you can revisit as often as needed.

This commitment is a powerful motivator. It solidifies your determination to take action and work diligently toward your goals.

Whenever you revisit your written goals, you reinforce your commitment, which in turn strengthens your resolve to persevere, especially when faced with obstacles and challenges.

In moments of doubt or when you encounter setbacks, your written goals remind you of your commitment and they reinforce your desire to strive for your dreams.

This commitment provides you with the necessary emotional and mental energy to keep moving forward no matter what.

Some goals, however, are so big they are overwhelming. No matter how committed you are, they are so big they can frighten you into inaction.

They are so de-motivating they cause you to give up and stop.

How Do You Eat An Elephant?

This is where writing your goals down can help you move past the overwhelm, yet another benefit of ‘100% Goal Setting’.

Goals are more likely to become a reality when they are broken down to small steps or actions that you can incorporate into your everyday activities.

Breaking your goals down into manageable, bite-sized chunks is the answer to the question of how do you eat an elephant?

Let’s use the example of writing a novel. A good-sized novel is about 100,000 words, which can be a bit overwhelming.

But if I write 1,000 words per week, which is not overwhelming, I will be able to finish my novel in 100 weeks, or about two years.

Now, that might be a bit too long for me. So I’ll aim for 2,000 words per week, which is still doable. This will mean I will finish the book in 50 weeks, or about 1 year.

Again, that time frame might be a bit too long for me. So I’ll aim for 4,000 words per week, which I can still comfortably do, and aim to finish my novel in about 25 weeks, or about six months.

I can break this down even further by writing 800 words a day for five days of the week.

This leaves two days free to do other things, or to have as a buffer should something unforeseen happen and I am unable to complete my word count goals on my assigned writing days.

This seems feasible and realistic.

-> Goal = 100,000-word novel.
-> Breakdown = 800 words per day, five days a week, is realistic and achievable.
-> Time-frame = A deadline of six months to complete my novel.

Other goals that you can set using this breakdown method include:

• • • Saving for a home loan deposit or holiday.
    • Weight loss.
    • Exercise and fitness.
    • Learning a musical instrument or a new language.

R: RESPONSIBILITY

Another benefit of goal-setting and writing them down is that your accountability is bolstered.

When your goals are written on paper, there’s a sense of responsibility that naturally arises. You’re more likely to follow through because you’ve documented your intentions.

Accountability is a key component of being effective, but it is often overlooked.

You can either be accountable to yourself (that is, take responsibility for your thoughts, emotions, and behaviours), or you can have an accountability partner to hold you accountable to do the things you say you will do.

Being held accountable to yourself or by another is a great incentive to keep working toward your goal.

When you are held accountable, you are less likely to procrastinate and more likely to take the action you need to take.

Bob Proctor, motivational speaker and international bestselling author of You Were Born Rich, said this about the power of accountability:

Accountability is the glue that ties commitment to results.

Accountability stems from the word ‘account’, which means to tally up, to keep score. This underlies the power of effective goal-setting.

Thinking on paper and breaking down your goals helps you to ‘keep score’ of the things you need to do to achieve your vision.

The impact is especially so when goals are written down and visible.

For example, pinned to a corkboard at or near your main place of work—it’s very hard to ignore goals that you see and review every day.

Main Points:

1. There is power in the written word, and the act of writing down your goals serves as a catalyst for your success.
2. Goals are more likely to become a reality when they are broken down to small steps or actions that you can incorporate into your everyday activities.
3. Accountability is the glue that ties commitment to results.