It’s goal time, baby.

2023 was the first year that I got serious and intentional about goals.

I continued using this annual planning guide in 2024, and it really gave me some great results:

• Started my LLC

• Got 3 new monthly retainer clients with ghostwriting

• Made my first $10k online

• Joined the 1,000# club for lifting

And more.

It’s been so clear that for actual growth I have to keep track of the habits and anti-habits. And, make sure these actions align with my life principles.

So without further ado, here’s my guide to help you make 2025 the best year yet.

Why

The overarching “why” behind this process is to provide a focus.

A direction.

A plan of action.

Because…

“If a man knows not to which port he sails, no wind is favorable.” - Seneca

The goal is to focus on a direction in life that provides value and is energy-giving; not energy-sucking.

The habits that I choose to use are to create movement. I want to create a framework for action-based habits that support my dream life.

And, these habits are going to be there when I am not motivated, but still follow the system.

When I wait to be motivated, nothing usually happens.

The truth is that motivation is a byproduct of action. You meet your destiny on the path you take.

Actions are the key.

And by using a framework of actions instead of goals, I have found that I am more likely to succeed in what I set out to achieve.

Framework

The framework I use is something I came up with called FCCMM (rolls off the tongue doesn’t it?).

There are 5 pillars:

• Fitness

• Connections

• Clarity

• Money

• Mastery

These are the 5 big areas i want to focus my time and action on.

Then, within those pillars, there are 4 key components:

• Vision (your big goal for the year in each category)

• Progress markers (broken down, incremental steps that get you toward the big vision)

• Daily habits (the ACTIONS you take every day to meet those steps)

• Non-Negotiables (all the stuff you aren’t going to do that will derail your progress)

Here’s how I marry the pillars and components:

This 5+4 system feels super comprehensive, but doable at the same time.

Breaking it down

Start with one of the pillars, body.

Fitness → Vision

Here was one of my 2024 fitness goals, in the Vision category:

Fitness → Vision → Progress Markers

To measure progress toward the big goal, I set up incremental markers that let me know I was on the right track:

• 25% of the way towards closing the gap to 1,000 by at 3 month mark

• 50% of the way towards closing the gap to 1,000 by at 6 month mark

• 75% of the way towards closing the gap to 1,000 by at 9 month mark

Fitness → Vision → Progress Markers → Daily Habits

This is where the rubber meets the road.

The habits to make this big vision a reality were:

• Workout 5x/week

• Utilize progressive overload each gym session

• Hit protein and caloric goals every day

• Track each session

Fitness → Vision → Progress Markers → Daily Habits → Non-negotiables

Anti-goals are results that I don’t want. In this category, I didn’t want to get injured while progressively adding more weight to my lifts.

You can also include intermediate goals if they fit.

Review

To ensure accountablity, reviews are essential.

Block time out of your calendar each month to review progress. As Tim Ferriss says, if it isn’t on the calendar it isn’t happening.

During the review, make any necessary adjustments to the action plan or schedule based on how well you’ve stuck to it.

I’ve found that it is important to celebrate small victories along the way. I write positive statements about my progress in a journal.

Keeping an annual plan is an excellent way to stay focused and make progress towards the life that you want for yourself.

Not only does it give you a roadmap for the year, but it also serves as a reference for those times when you feel like you’re spinning your wheels.

So give it a try and see how it works for you!

Cheers,

Swanagan

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