GOAT: It’s not what you think

Have you run into obstacles or issues, and you don’t know where to start? You’re not alone!

The GOAT EFFECT tool is designed to help individuals overcome obstacles and achieve their goals. GOAT stands for Goal, Obstacle, Action and Timeline.

By identifying a goal or issue, listing the obstacles, determining actionable steps and setting a timeline for completion, users can break down complex challenges into manageable tasks. This approach encourages taking action and emphasizes the importance of starting, as progress often leads to overcoming initial doubts and fears.

Often when we are trying to solve a big problem or achieve a goal, it is hard to get started. Getting started is the key to success. Like the quote says: You don’t need to be great to get started, but you need to get started to be great. That statement is so true. We will sit and ponder a situation for hours only to think of all the things that could go wrong and who wouldn’t approve of the idea.

Self-doubt starts creeping in and before you know it, you talk yourself out of the idea entirely. If you only got started, it would’ve been great. I’m here to tell you to stop beating yourself up. The GOAT can help you and I will explain how. GOAT also stands for Get Out And Try. You can’t be the ‘Greatest Of All Time’ if you don’t try.

To begin this exercise, write GOAT at the top of the page or flipchart separating the letters and drawing lines in between the letters from top to bottom like this:

Think of a goal or an issue that you have been procrastinating on, and you haven’t done anything about it. Write the goal or issue you want to solve under the “G.” Once you have that, start thinking of the obstacles that are keeping you from solving the problem or reaching your goal. The book “The Obstacle is the Way” states that with every obstacle, there is an opportunity.

Think long and hard and list out all the obstacles that come to your mind. I find this exercise very useful in a group setting. When you have all the obstacles listed out, put a dash next to each one leading you to the action step or the “A” on your chart or piece of paper. Now is the time that the rubber hits the road.

Don’t think of everything but just one thing you could do to help eliminate the obstacle or make it better. The goal is to move the needle and not necessarily solve it completely. When the action is figured out, put the timeline that you will have the one thing done by and who is responsible for it: “I would be as specific as possible on day and time like Friday the 20th at 4 p.m.”

If you are not doing this in a group setting, find a partner or someone to hold you accountable to the timeline. In a group setting, hold a follow-up meeting and review who was responsible for what and when. If for some reason the action step wasn’t done, ask who is in charge, what is the next step?

What I have found over the years is that my goals and/or issues aren’t as overwhelming as I first thought. When things are broken down into small digestible pieces, your brain starts thinking, “Wow, this is possible.”

The author is CEO of New Castle Lawn & Landscape in Pennsylvania. He can be reached b.stephenson@newcastle94.com.