Parenting Pointers: Act. Adapt. Achieve

I had the chance to interview Dean Erickson, author of Act. Adapt. Achieve. to get some tips on goals and success. For more information, check out his book! 

1. We hear a lot about SMART goals, and how it's a good way to frame goals. But why aren't they always the best way to make goals?

The "SMART" acronym identifies adjectives, namely specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely, that can be used to describe the type of goals one might set. The acronym was originally created for business use, where metrics are important and can be used most easily, but it has spread beyond business use.

As I describe in my book Act. Adapt. Achieve., many personal and life goals aren't easily quantifiable. Goals like becoming happier or developing healthier relationships can't reasonably be framed using SMART goals.

Even in business, SMART goals aren't always useful. For example, one of Mark Zuckerberg's early goals for Facebook was to "create an open information flow for people." Most would say that goal was unrealistic, unattainable, not measurable, not time-based and not particularly specific, yet Facebook has connected much of the world. Had he utilized SMART goals in his thinking, he wouldn't have attempted to launch Facebook, let alone grow it into the force it is today.

It's important to use the right tools and best information for every purpose, but it's critical you pursue the goals that are most important to you and that will impassion your life. The SMART acronym isn't always the smart choice when determining what you will achieve.

 

2. You bring up the Idea Circle. Can you briefly explain what it is and how it could be used in the workplace or at home?

The Idea Circle is a diagrammatic representation of how people achieve. It illuminates a process distilled from my experiences while achieving success in athletic, academic, entertainment, and business endeavors. In every pursuit of every goal, certain things stood out: the origination of the idea/goal, envisioning the plan, taking actions toward the goal, adapting to the results of those actions, the importance of believing in the value of your goal to help you keep going through difficulty, and finally, achieving your goal. Each stage was necessary to fulfill complex, difficult goals.

Simple goals are often linear, meaning, if you do this and then do that, you will achieve your goal. Larger goals typically require multiple adaptations to your plan and actions during the process of achieving. At work, individuals or teams track their actions and the results of those actions. Managers oversee everyone's tasks and help determine what needs to be done next. The Idea Circle, along with the Success Worksheets, can be useful project management tools. Only through continual analysis, which is encouraged and supported by these tools, can one choose the next best action.  The world changes too quickly to blindly follow an original plan. Many companies have started with one goal, then adapted to another in order to succeed. Static systems or money-making programs that may have worked in their infancies don't work forever. Adaptation through conscious analysis and informed actions can keep you or your company on the path to success, especially when the path has to change to meet the realities of the marketplace or personal needs.

At home, I believe it's important for parents to teach their kids how to achieve. Setting goals and having a defined success process can help kids understand what it really takes to achieve and where they are on their individual paths. Whatever their goal, the Idea Circle can help illuminate what they need to do next. It focuses the process on their decisions and their actions, and emphasizes their personal control. They are in charge of their success. I think that's a valuable lesson for kids and adults alike.

 

3. Your book is titled "Act. Adapt. Achieve." What is the "adapt" all about - what should people be adapting to?

As discussed earlier, very few meaningful achievements happen in a linear fashion. Adaptations to tactics, actions and plans happen along the way. "Adapt" in the book's title emphasizes the responsibility and control we each have in determining our own successes. One needs to have a thoughtful and active process. Hoping and believing are not sufficient. Acting, adapting to feedback, and then acting again are critical elements in the process of achieving. Adapting doesn't mean you were wrong initially, but that you are consciously becoming wiser and closer to your goal. Don't take any feedback or results personally, just use the wisdom you gain and do what is required to get where you want to go. There are no emotions attached to the book's title or to the Idea Circle. Only verbs are used for a reason. Take charge of your success by adapting to the world as it is, not the way you wish it would be.