MORE LESS Goal Method: Get More of Want and LESS of What you Don’t

MORE LESS GOAL METHOD: Get MORE of what you want and LESS of what you don’t

The start of a New Year is a great opportunity to hit the reset button. Recently Allison and I decompressed at Fort Pierce Beach and reflected on the past year’s challenges and accomplishments. We outlined some broad and specific goals for the next 12 months and how we intended 2019 to be different from 2018. And what we could do differently to support this.

If you’re ready to look at your goals a little differently as well, consider the MORE LESS GOAL METHOD. We originally introduced this in one of our personal development programs – 40 Days of Fitness. It’s simple and only a couple of steps. All you need is a journal and an open mind.

On one side of your paper write the heading MORE. On the other, write LESS. Now, take a minute to clear your head of any preconceived ideas of what these words mean and give yourself the freedom to analyze the different areas of your life. Reflect on your Family, Friends, Finances, Field, Health/Fitness, Faith, Service, and Community. Also consider your mindset, emotional well-being and the experience of life you want.  

What MORE do you want?

Ask yourself,

• What do I enjoy most?
• What do I want to experience more of?
• Who do I want to be around more often?
• Where do I want to be?
• What feelings do I want more of?

Maybe you want more time at the beach. It might be to spend more time with family. Or you may want to increase your reading or community service. Or you want to develop a personal attribute – like patience. Perhaps you want a sense of peace, joy or certainty more often. These go on your list of MORES.

LESS is MORE

Now, as we learned in school (we don’t need to discuss when), for every positive reaction there is an equal and opposite reaction. For each MORE there is often a corresponding LESS. For instance, you many want less debt, less anxiety or less time in the office. It is just as important to know what you would like to reduce as it is to know what you want more of.

By identifying your LESSes you make room for your MOREs.

Once you have your lists made, you will almost assuredly see a pattern or categories. Once you identify that pattern, you then create a discipline to make it happen. For instance, let’s say you want to save money (a MORE) and you also want to reduce debt (a LESS). What daily activity can you do that will help you accomplish this? Maybe it’s making a minimum number of prospecting phone calls a day. Or maybe it’s identifying one daily expense that you can eliminate (think that morning coffee or eating out).

Applying the MORE LESS GOAL METHOD

Here are a few examples using the MORE LESS Goal Method:

• More energy, less fatigue —-> More water, less soda
• More peace, less anxiety —-> More quiet time, less social media
• More money, less debt —-> More lead generation, less eating out
• More growth, less stagnation —-> More reading, less social media
• More connection, less isolation —-> More quality time with friends, less television

Whatever you choose, I encourage you to set realistic minimum standards. You can start in 30, 40, or 60-day increments (I recommend no more than 90). For most people, a minimum standard for the entire year is too daunting (Read: Why do most New Year’s Resolutions Fail?). But starting a daily routine for 30-90 days will snowball into big accomplishments!

Revisit your MORES and LESSES list often. Pay close attention to how your disciplines support getting more of what you want and less of what you don’t. Also check out: Performance Standards for Entrepreneurs and Salespeople

Be sure to watch the video to learn about the discipline spurred on from my friend Choppa, my goal for 2019, as well as a new app I’ve starting using that helps me track time spent on my discipline.