This section will guide you through investigating different possibilities. The legwork will help you find clarity, so you can choose a specific destination or goal.
After you set your sights on a long-term goal, there’s B—Brainstorm Your Route. For a road trip, that means deciding when to drive, where to stop, and what sights to see along the way. For a project, you need to list out all the goals, benchmarks, and tasks. Gather the pieces, put together an itinerary, and create a clear path that leads to your goal.
Part 2 of the book, Rules of the Road, offers guidance including everything from Tips for a Successful Trip—time management and productivity—to Car Maintenance and Troubleshooting—staying on track and dealing with drama.
No matter your dreams, Your Goal Guide is the roadmap to help you set, plan, and achieve your goals.
Personal Versus Professional Goals
Although Your Goal Guide is geared toward professional aspirations, The D*E*B Method can be used for reaching personal goals as well. For instance, your mission might relate to having a healthier lifestyle or traveling more. You would then explore options and brainstorm a path to make it happen.
The other thing to keep in mind is that personal and professional goals work together. The things you do to improve your personal life may impact your professional life and vice versa. For instance, if you lead a healthier lifestyle, you will have more energy and be more productive at work. Or you may be out networking for work and make a new friend with similar interests. That could help you make progress on your personal goals.
My point: While one type of goal might be a priority over another in a certain phase of life, it’s not ultimately a choice between one or the other. All goals work in tandem. They elevate each other and can give your travel a turbo-boost in the process.
Goal-Setting Simplified
The key word here is “simplified.”
A lot of the time, people get stalled—or don’t even get started—because they overcomplicate things. This book, like my process, is very user-friendly.
Your Goal Guide has:
•Simple exercises to get you thinking
•Sound advice that’s short and to the point
•Troubleshooting tactics to deal with common problems
•Case studies that showcase examples
•Resources to keep you going
Beware of Backseat Drivers: Setting goals is a very personal process. You may be tempted to get advice from friends and loved ones while you are trying to figure things out. However, I recommend you keep any inquiries for feedback vague and limited to just one or two people until you come to your own conclusions. You don’t want to be lured away from the right route or steered in the wrong direction.
You can also stop by the Your Goal Guide community on Facebook to ask questions at any time.
Goal-Setting Survey: I surveyed a variety of writers, creatives, consultants, marketers, and entrepreneurs to ask about their goal-setting habits and challenges. Some of their strategies and suggestions are incorporated throughout the book. If you want your feedback included in a future version, take the Goal Survey at TheDebMethod.com/GoalSurvey.
How to Use Your Goal Guide
Use this book in the way it best serves you.
Whether you need to make a major life-change or minor adjustments to your lifestyle—and even if you know what you want—go through Part 1 to set goals. It’s your guide through the three phases of The D*E*B Method. Return to this section whenever you feel the need to refresh or reboot your plan. Use Part 2, which has tips for a successful trip, as well as the resources in the Appendices to stay on schedule and on track.
Oil Changes: Use the same time frame for reviewing and rebooting your goals as you use for servicing your car. Oil changes are recommended every six months. While you should review your goals regularly, try to place a minimum of three months between goal reboots.
Of course, there are exceptions to every rule: life changes (you have to move), plans change (you didn’t get the job), things change (a surprise personal or professional opportunity gets thrown in your lap), and you have to make adjustments. However, if you change your destination every week or even every month, just because you are not getting where you want to go fast enough, you’ll find yourself frustrated and stalled. Don’t panic. Give your plans a chance and give yourself a break.
Road Trip Survival Kit
To successfully plan and complete your goals, you need:
•Pen and paper, notebook, or dedicated computer document
◦There are a lot of free-writing exercises throughout the book. You need to have a designated location to write them all down
◦You may also want a separate journal
◦Optional: Poster board or portfolio folder and other supplies for creating and keeping your Trip Map
•A calendar
◦To make a change, you need to make the time.
A calendar—paper, electronic, or both—keeps you organized and on schedule
•A timer
◦It’s the best tool for tracking work time, break time, and brainstorming time. And the best part is everyone has one on their mobile phone, which for most people is never too far away
•Computer, tablet, and/or smartphone
◦This is essential for research and outreach
◦Tip: A portable keyboard is a must for those working on the go
•Items related to your goals
◦You will need specific resources based on what you need in order to achieve your goals
◦It can be electronic, educational, or interpersonal and involve supplies, vendors, and so on
◦This includes books, websites, videos, podcasts, courses, etc.
•The desire to make a change
Planning goals, like planning the perfect road trip, takes time, energy, and effort. When you make the commitment and do the work, the road ahead will be much smoother.
Throughout this book, I will be your goal guide and project catalyst. I will help you figure out what you want and break down your goals into doable parts. Combine that with strategies for success, and you are headed on the road trip of your dreams. Trust me. And trust yourself. The time and energy will be worth it.
Setting Up Your Road Trip
Where did you go on your last road trip? And what made that experience so special?
Was everything planned? Or did you jump in the car and go? I’m guessing it was probably a mixture. Even spontaneity—a.k.a. breaks for food and fun—works better when time is carved out for it.
I grew up in the Chicago suburbs, so I went on a lot of nearby adventures when I was a kid. These were mostly forays into the city to be a tourist or drives into Michigan to see family. As a teen and young adult, road trips became more of a rite of passage: driving to college, visiting friends, and having mini-adventures.
What is the minimum length of a road trip? Does a two-and-a-half-hour drive count? I figure anywhere you can get to between meals is more transit than road trip. But day trips have their place. Regardless of distance, in a perfect world—and in the goal-setting world—the journey