Goals•2023-12-20•11 min

How to Review Your Personal Goals Effectively

A guide to reviewing and adjusting your goals to ensure success.

Introduction

Setting goals is easy; achieving them is hard. But the hardest part isn't the work itself—it's staying on the path. We often set goals in January with high enthusiasm, only to forget them by March. This is where the 'Goal Review' comes in.

A goal review is not just checking boxes. It is a strategic meeting with yourself to assess what's working, what's not, and how to adjust. Without it, you are a ship without a rudder.

What Is a Goal Review System?

A Goal Review System is a scheduled cadence of reflection. It prevents 'drift'—the slow, unnoticed deviation from your objectives.

Weekly Review: Tactical. What needs to happen this week?
Monthly Review: Strategic. Are we making progress on the big rocks?
Quarterly Review: Visionary. Do these goals still matter?

Why It Matters

You cannot manage what you do not measure. Reviews provide data. They tell you if your strategy is effective. If you don't review, you might spend 6 months climbing a ladder that is leaning against the wrong wall.

How to Calculate Your 'Execution Score'

Are you executing or just planning? Calculate your Execution Score (ES).

ES = (Completed Milestones / Planned Milestones) * 100

Example for Q1:
Planned: Launch website, write 10 articles, get 100 subscribers.
Completed: Launched website, wrote 5 articles, got 50 subscribers.
Calculation:
Website = 1
Articles = 0.5 (5/10)
Subscribers = 0.5 (50/100)
Total Completed = 2
Total Planned = 3
ES = (2 / 3) * 100 = 66%

Analysis:
< 70%: You are over-planning or under-executing. Adjust.

Real-Life Example: The 'After Action Review' (AAR)

The US Army uses the AAR method after every mission. They ask four questions:

What was supposed to happen?
What actually happened?
Why was there a difference?
What can we learn from this?

You can apply this to your life. If you planned to save $500 this month but only saved $100, do an AAR. Did you overspend? Did an emergency happen? The learning is more valuable than the missing $400.

Common Mistakes

Reviewing Without Adjusting: Staring at a failed goal and saying 'I'll try harder' is not a strategy. You must change the inputs to change the outputs.

Being Too Harsh: Be a scientist, not a judge. 'I failed' is an emotional statement. 'The strategy didn't work' is a factual statement.

Skipping Reviews: 'I'm too busy to review.' That's like saying 'I'm too busy driving to look at the map.' You will get lost.

Practical Tips

Sunday Summit: Block 30 minutes every Sunday. No phone, no distractions. Look at your calendar and to-do list for the next week.

The 'Stop Doing' List: In every review, identify one thing you should stop doing. Subtraction adds value.

Celebrate Wins: Start every review by listing 3 wins. It primes your brain for positivity and problem-solving.

FAQs

What if I consistently miss my goals?▼

Your goals are likely too big or your timeline is too short. Shrink the goal until it's achievable. Success breeds success. You need a win to build momentum.

Should I change my goals during a review?▼

Yes. If a goal is no longer relevant (e.g., you wanted to learn French for a trip, but the trip is cancelled), delete it. Sticking to an obsolete goal is a waste of life.

How do I track non-numeric goals?▼

Use a proxy metric or a subjective rating. For 'Better Relationship', track 'Date Nights per Month' or rate 'Relationship Satisfaction (1-10)' weekly.

What tools should I use?▼

A simple notebook, a spreadsheet, or a dedicated app like Notion. The best tool is the one you actually use.

Conclusion

Goals are the destination. Reviews are the GPS. Keep the GPS on, recalibrate often, and you will eventually reach your destination, even if you have to take a few detours.

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