One of the exercises we do at The Simple Plan as a part of our goal-setting and vision-defining is to name our challenges.  This seems like a pretty simple exercise (and it is – that’s why we call it The Simple Plan)!  But, what we often uncover is a new way to look at goal-setting.

Today, I’d like you to grab a sheet of paper and quickly jot down 5 challenges that you are currently facing.  These could reflect business or personal challenges.  What do you see?

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These are some things that I notice when I write down my challenges:

  • Writing them down makes them REAL.  By seeing them “live” I feel better able to face them.  This is similar to naming your fears.  By knowing them you now have something to work with.
  • Staring at my challenges gives me a new way to look at my goals. Often the key to goal-setting is to identify our trials and tribulations and make a plan to overcome them.  Sometimes I realize that what I have previously set for my goals are not really as much of a priority as overcoming some of these challenges.  A goal of attaining more sales may not be realized until I overcome the challenge of an out-of-date website turning away customers.
  • Knowing my challenges helps me better prioritize. There are days when you feel that you really need to tackle that inbox or its going to eat you alive.  But are there more important things to focus on?  By knowing my challenges I am better able to make decisions about what is most important on any given day.
  • Seeing my challenges helps me attain balance (or stay a bit more balanced).  You know what I usually see when I do this – and when I watch The Simple Plan participants do this?  The biggest challenge that we usually face as business owners is being balanced.  I do think that balance is a myth (another thought for another blog post), but I do think there is something to shifting the weight back and forth a little more equally.  Love your job but love your family and friends too.
  • It clears my head.  I’m going to be honest: some mornings I wake up and feel the weight of the world on my shoulders.  It’s tough being a business owner.  (Exciting, yet tough.)  By writing down the challenges that I currently face, I feel like I’ve put some of that weight onto that 3×3 post-it.  It’s incredible cathartic.

So… what do you think?  What did you uncover when you wrote down your challenges?  How does that feel?