THE POWER OF MILESTONES

Milestones vs. Goals:
a goal defines your purpose and
milestones measure your progress towards that purpose.

We're rapidly approaching end-of-year goal review time both personally and professionally.    For some, this is a time for celebration.....for some, a time for explanations....and, still for others, a time of wondering 'what happened this year?'

Successful leaders know that surprise outcomes are never a good thing during this process...and milestones can be one of the most powerful tools in driving achievement of goals.   Too often, though, in the busy-ness of handling our work and life we make one of two mistakes as it relates to milestones.

 Either we dismiss milestones as inconsequential and without purpose......OR, we spend way too much time celebrating the milestone and lose sight of the ultimate goal.

Definition: 
A milestone (from the Latin milliarium) is one of a series of numbered markers placed along a road or boundary at intervals of one mile. Milestones are constructed to provide reference points along the road that can be used to reassure travelers that the proper path is being followed or a mid-course adjustment is required.

Milestone-based thinking can help you organize your activities and your available resources into a logical sequence of steps or stages.  It can also serve as a powerful motivator to move your or your team away from destructive inertia when goals seem out of reach.

Yesterday I hit a personal milestone when I ran a race for autism awareness at a local park.   A busy work schedule this year with demanding travel requirements has jeopardized my ability to hit a few personal 2010 health goals  which I know all too well are more important with each passing year (another milestone this past weekend).

The health goals were big-picture, strategic and caused me much stress as I got further away from attainment.   With no in-between step from my current state to the goal, I lost focus and began the process of rationalizing the soon-to-be failure and
embracing my 'age' as a viable excuse.

That's where a milestone helped.  A far less daunting distance than the marathon training I had done a few years ago, the 5K race got me to lace up my sneakers and walk out the door (some say that is the hardest part of any workout).  It gave me the much needed and immediate success-boost to move the dial just a single notch up - and now its on to the next milestone.

Three key bullets about milestones to keep in mind:

• Milestones are significant because we give them significance. 
• Milestones compel you to be introspective.
• Milestones are motivating.

So, try applying some milestone-based thinking to one of your most challenging goals.  

Perhaps I'll see you on the running trail - you name the milestone marker.

 Looking forward to our next time.