How to Commit to Your Goals as an ID Freelie

Are you dreaming of the sweet land of freelance freedom? Are you imagining a world of joy, autonomy, and zero commute time? Good news— you can totally get there! Semi-badish news— that means it’s time to get serious and commit to your goals.

Whether you’re totally ready to make the leap or not quite there yet, we’re here to help you get the heck outta Dodge aka your current job.

Getting to the promised land will take some hard work, street smarts, and a steady dose of resolve. Believe it or not, there are some techniques you can use to maintain the determination and focus you need to commit to your goals. After all, you must commit if you want to quit! Just know this; the more committed you are, the smoother your transition will be.

So, are you ready to make the leap into full-time freelancedom? Then read on for some tips on making your goals stick.

Make Your Goals Mini

We know that your goal is shedding your “normal” 9-5 and going freelance. That’s a big goal! It’s a doable one…but big. It’s easy to be overwhelmed by such a goal.

To save your brain from exploding, we recommend breaking down your Moby-Dick-sized goal into smaller, more manageable, goldfish-sized pieces.

It’s possible that the first iterations of your mini-goals will be pretty vague. They’re probably not going to be specific enough to know what you actually have to do. Fix them now or regret it later! Ask yourself, “What concrete actions do I need to take to make this happen?” Those actions should be your real mini-goals.

Let’s say that one of your mini-goals is something super general like, “Get my finances in order.” That’s an easy one to ignore or sort of mentally write off as a “work in progress” every time you see it. That’s not good. Instead, try “I’m going to tabulate all my income and expenses from the last 6 months and categorize them.”

Specific goals will tell you what you need to do to consider it complete. They are kinda like learning objectives, right? (You know all about those!)

Unspecific goals can be very overwhelming and confusing. They’re also more likely to discourage you or make you think “I can just do that later.” Incorrect—the time to commit to your goals is now!

Write Your Goals Down

Alright, now that you’ve set some mini-goals for yourself it’s time to write them down. We’re talking old school. We’re talking about putting a pen to paper. Yes, you heard us right— pen to paper!

According to a goal-setting study (270 participants) led by Psychology professor Dr. Gail Matthews, at the Dominican University in California, you are 42% more likely to achieve your goals if you write them down. Now how’s that for increasing your commitment?

Writing your mini-goals down is an explicit, intentional action. The process helps you articulate exactly what you intend to do AND it plays a part in motivating you to complete the tasks to achieve it. Doing this also gives you the opportunity to strategize, ask questions about your current progress, and brainstorm your plan of attack.

Share Your Goals

In life, we’re all just looking for someone to share our goals and aspirations with! Awww! But, it’s true. Sharing your goals with trusted friends or family members is a surefire way to commit to your goals.

We all know that if you share your goals with another person, you’re gonna feel obligated – and maybe even shamed – into reaching them. It’s almost easier to do the hard work to reach the finish line than it is to feel the red-hot embarrassment on your face when all your Facebook friends realize that you’re still on the couch in your pajamas, eh? Not that there’s anything wrong with that.

Even if you talk with only one other person about your goals, your commitment will be much stronger than if you keep it to yourself. So if you’re nervous, just start with one person. When you’re more comfortable, keep sharing the news with more trusted friends, siblings, cousins, shamans, cashiers, milkmen, etc.

Revisit Your Goals Frequently

Okay. You’ve written down your mini-goals. You’ve told your friends and family and Santa about them. Now what? Revisit them.

MANY. MANY. TIMES. It isn’t one of those things you just write down once, tell once, and then forget about. No, you need to revisit your mini-goals enough times (like daily) so that thinking about them becomes a habit. Put ‘em on a bunch of sticky notes or a dry-erase board or splurge on a custom print of one of those motivational posters of a cat hanging on a branch!

When you revisit each mini-goal, it’s an opportunity to reflect on your own progress toward it. You can ask yourself what actions you can take to get even closer to achieving your goal.

Get an Accountability Partner

Lastly, find yourself a buddy who will hold you responsible for your progress. A progress pal if you will!

Getting someone officially on your side, a partner who BELIEVES in you can help you commit to your goals. This is a time when it’s okay to give into your competitive spirit or social guilt from not living up to a promise. This is your future we’re talking about! Having someone or something to answer to is a powerful motivator, and the best accountability partners are also trying to achieve their own goals.

Maybe it’s a friend who already made the leap and is working to expand their own business. You could check in on each other every week to see where you’re at in terms of meeting your mini-goals. Or maybe it’s someone who will be your business partner and is striving to make the same leap as you! Twins!

Whoever it may be, stay in touch as often as possible. Talking once a month ain’t gonna cut it in terms of keeping each other in line. You need someone to check in at least 1 or 2 times a week – throughout the WHOLE journey. Someone who is committed to helping you as much as you’re committed to helping them.

Conclusion

We know it’s daunting to make the BIG transition to full-time freelancedom. Like most new adventures, there will be plenty of bumps along the road. But over time, you’ll develop a stronger work ethic because you’ve used all of the above techniques to keep your commitment game strong. Way to go, freelie!

Before you know it, you’ll be making that sweet, sweet progress toward your goals! And if you ever get really stuck along the way, we’re always here to help you get back on track.

We’re kinda like your other accountability partner.

See ya, next week?