Getting Comfy with the Anti-Goals
Why I’m Adding an ‘Anti-Goal’ to My Strategy: The Stick Behind the Carrot
“This isn’t working… Something has to change.”
My brain was talking to me on my walk this past weekend.
“You know of 100 things you need to do and you aren’t doing any of them.”
I hate when my brain offers smart, insightful stuff and my mind doesn’t listen.
…
I recently set up a 90-day goal, though I’m not working on it with less gusto that I’d prefer.
Looking back over the past month or so, I can see that I haven’t had my familiar joi de vivre.
I’m setting up plans, making goals and starting habits all with the point of creating something but not with the fire of building something.
It isn’t a lack of interest, it’s actually the opposite. I find myself wanting or needing to do more things than I can properly manage. I’m overwhelmed because I’m unable to pick the right thing to work on.
I have a lot to do, I love them all, how can I choose just ONE?
That’s a prioritization topic for another day. For now, I’m looking to get my motivation set up properly. I have a goal, but now it’s time for a complimentary Anti-Goal!
Plotting an anti-goal
An ‘anti-goal’? What the heck?
The carrot is the goal.
The stick is the anti-goal.
I need a stick to drive me towards the carrot. Why? Two words …
“Extrensic Motivation.”
Maybe it’s an ADHD thing (I know part of it is), but I’m not great at extrinsic motivations. I can’t offer myself a reward for doing good. I’m not trying to get rich, having more things isn’t enough to drive me forward. The same with food.
at Extra Focus likes to reference his 4 C’s of motivation:Captivate. Create. Compete. Complete.
His point is that an ADHD brain needs intrinsic motivation, self-directed stuff. I agree with that, but find that a bit of stick behind my carrot can help when there are extrinsic factors in place.
That’s where the anti-goal comes into play.
If I have a bill coming up, I can get real worried about income.
When my back hurts, I’m the most consistent yogi on the planet.
When I’m anxious, hello meditation.
I need a fire just big enough to almost burn my butt, but not so big as to consume me if I slip.
Ideally a good anti-goal is a consequence for failure, but it’ll also place some boundaries around the goal to keep it on target.
In the old web-design days, that was making a webpage that was only 640 x 480. In the ancient computer days, it was making software run on 640k of memory.
The anti-goal has to put restrictions on the process and hurdles to overcome. The anti-goal is what makes it a challenge and what keeps it interesting.
In the case of my 90-day goals?
Create an income stream by bringing value into people’s lives and helping them enough that they are willing to pay me.
Anti-goals for this are the timeline, the need to generate income and the need for it to be helpful, novel but still simple.
Create a life management system for ADHD brains that helps manage the big 3: Procrastination, Attention, and Motivation.
Anti-goals on this are utility, simplicity and adaptability.
It needs to be easy to learn, effective and easy to adjust as life changes.
So there we have it, create valuable things and monetize them.
Sounds easy…
How’ve things been looking?
I’m sad to say, I don’t feel like I moved the needle much in the last week. I know that to be untrue, but the needle could have and should have moved more.
I’m struggling, as I said, with prioritization and chasing after too many different tasks and projects all at the same time. So while I chased several things, I didn’t make progress on any of them.
I’m only closer to my goal in concept. I’ve read or learned new perspectives. I’ve found new tools to implement. I just need to put them in place and start creating again.
Gratitude?
I’m thankful for a mastermind group I joined in July, that has spun off a cohort of Substackers all with a goal of 200 subscribers and 20 paid community members by the end of the year.
I’m glad for the like-minded folks in that group keeping me excited about the newsletter. Likewise, I’m glad for the callout on
from (she’s in that group with me) to get me a bit back on trackNext Steps
I have a goal with my Substack buddies to get my ‘About’ page set up to be useful, the same goes for the initial Welcome email I send out.
Tweaking my pricing for Channeling Chaos as I continue to add value and looking for my community more aggressively.
Wish me luck!
Awwww, thanks, Jody! Of course, glad we came together to form this awesome accountability group as it's been so impactful for me. I appreciate how we inspire and push each other to grow. (You're the one that got me to create my 90 day goals!) It's super encouraging and getting me to kick my excuses to the curb.
You got this, Jody! We all have our low moments, but the important thing is to pick ourselves up and keep going. Wishing you tons of luck! 🍀