Goal Setting with Mike and Sara B

On this episode of Financially Naked: Stories from The Financial Gym, two of our Level 2 Certified Financial Trainers, Mike Poulin and Sara Belhouari, sit down to talk all about goals! They discuss their favorite kinds of goals, how to achieve them, and how to keep yourself motivated along the way. The end of the year is a popular time for reflection and goal setting. This episode is full of tips about how to be thoughtful and intentional with your new goals! Even though it's an especially popular topic this time of year, you can set a new goal any time. The tips and exercises in this episode can be used any time of year.

Podcast Notes

• You don't have to wait for the New Year to make changes, but there is something magical about a fresh start in January. It's a great time to reflect and ground yourself again.
• Sara and Mike are both people who like to set goals. Mike's are more reflective and Sara focuses on very interpersonal goals with tangible metrics-based goals sprinkled in.

FIND WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO YOU

• Goals are your values put into reality. If you know what your values are, setting goals becomes easier.
• Plans at The Financial Gym are designed around your goals. Figuring out what those are is a huge step. The first quarter is explortarty for the clients and often, the goals change!
• Clients will ask their trainer, "what are other people's goals?" There are many outside forces: friends, family, social media, society, all influencing what we think we want.
• Your goals don't have to be, 'buy a house,' 'have a kid,' or 'buy a car.' We assume they have to be big, tangible milestones, but there are many types of goals!
• They can be around setting boundaries, feeling more confident, saving a certain amount of money. It's about figuring out what YOU want, not what somebody else wants.
• Sometimes you find new goals while living life. Mike shares an example about setting boundaries and how it was a goal he didn't know he needed.
• Society has a very set structure and if you want anything outside of that, it's seen as taboo or weird. It can be easy to adopt the goals of others and society.
• You are the only person who can hold you truly accountable, so set goals that YOU want to achieve.

SMART GOALS

• Smart is an acronym to help aid in goal setting. It helps you with setting goals beyond, 'I want to save money this year.' SMART stands for:
• • Smart
  • Measurable
  • Achievable
  • Realistic
  • Timeframe
• This framework is a great starting point, but you can modify and adjust it to fit your needs!
• Don't get caught up in the weeds if that isn't enjoyable for you. Setting goals doesn't need to be a stressful process.
• When it comes to the 'realistic' aspect of SMART goals, don't sell yourself short. Even if your goal might not seem realistic, put it out there! Speak it into existence. Once you say it out loud, there's a better chance that it is going to happen.
• It can be hard to admit or even know what you actually want, especially after the last few years. Sometimes you have to think out of the box and really go for it. You never know what might happen. The universe has a funny way of making things happen.
• At times, the goal is not clear. When that happens, it's time to get out and find the next best thing! Life is unpredictable.

TAKING ACTION

• Once you have figured out the goal, what's next? How do you start making it happen?
• Taking action on the goals is the most important thing. You have to make a plan and spend time working on it, or it is not going to happen. You can use an app, spreadsheet, or journal!
• There are tools out there to help you with the measurable aspects of the goals. Once you figure out what you want, reverse engineer it.
• If there is too much time clutter in your day, clear the space to take action on your goals.
• If you're a person who sets goals, but struggles with follow through, find an accountability partner. This can be a friend, coach, or a trainer at The Gym. Accountability works and there's no shame in having people on your team helping you achieve your goals!

If you are looking for a BFF (Best Financial Friend) or want a Certified Financial Trainer to help you figure out your goals and hold you accountable, head to TheFinancialGym.com to book a complimentary consultation today!

Meet The TrainersMeet Mike Poulin, Level 2 Certified Financial Trainer Meet Sara B, Level 2 Certified Financial Trainer