The Whiteboard Project

Early last year, I was touring my son’s most recent post-college apartment in Brooklyn. Carefully avoiding the embattled bathroom shared by several millennial males and other probable public health hazards, I came across a whiteboard hanging in a housemate’s bedroom. Below the heading, “2018 Goals,” were three carefully drawn columns. The first laid out a training program for an upcoming triathlon. The second listed professional goals. The third was a pledge to read 30 books and several titles were already checked off.

I have to admit: I was startled. Not only were these ambitious goals by anyone’s standards, they included the reading of actual books. So much for the myth of the lazy, device-addicted millennial!

Driving home, I felt inspired. I figured, if this kid can read 30 books, I could read 50! If he can train for a triathlon, I can at least make it to the gym more than semi-annually! One quick stop at Staples and a whiteboard later, I began laying out my goals for 2018. This is what I learned about setting goals as the year progressed:

 Be realistic

 Get specific

 Make your goals measurable and time-bound

 Check in weekly

 Progress is as important as the results

 Put it in writing and/or make it public

 Don’t get discouraged

Admittedly, it wasn’t easy, but I hit my goals just under the wire and it felt pretty good. When the year ended, I figured I’d be ready for some mindless television and Facebook scrolling. What I found myself doing was dry erasing 2018 and getting to work on 2019.

What would you like to accomplish this year? Got a whiteboard?