Field notes · Goal Setting
Sixteen habits for figuring out what you want and moving toward it — gathered over 20+ years of writing goals down, reviewing them, and following through.
We've used goal setting for over 20 years to help us identify and achieve the things we want — the things that improve and broaden our lives. Chau and I each enjoyed 25-year careers in technology and corporate management, then retired, more or less, from daily "going to the office" at age 52. In the years since, we've spent our days as we wish — about 5–10% of our time making sure we have something to live on, and the rest however we choose.
We've been married for 35+ years and raised two daughters who are adults now. We live a simple life in a prosperous community, feel personally and financially secure, and still follow the tips below. We believe goal setting is an important tool for achieving good things in life, and for continuing to move forward happily toward the next thing.
This list is here for younger friends — smart people we hope are thinking about what's important, what the plan for life is, and who want to use this "how to" for goal setting.