Beyond Resolutions: PACT Your Way to Achievement

For years I have marveled at the statistics around New Year’s resolutions and the amount of people who quit on their goals just a few weeks into the grand promises of the new year. Some reports suggest upwards of 90% of resolutions never see completion. We all have these grand designs for a better job or career, loss of a few pounds, better relationships, etc., but often we don’t have a good technique to adequately plan for the behavior changes needed or a way to sustain the actions that support the new behaviors. A few years ago, I found a process of goal setting that connects with my values and purpose, which seems to be very important to goal achievement. This process, called PACT goals or Purposeful, Actionable, Continuous, and Trackable goals, focuses on my actions and not so much on my outcomes at the end of a set period as other goal-setting mechanisms do. My goals have always been ambitious, a bit of a stretch, and often taken a long time to achieve, for example completing my doctoral degree. However, this process emphasizes output, spurs action, and sets up prompts to make that action easy. Therefore, actions become consistent, and habits form around a new behavior that supports your goal.

Let's delve into the four elements of PACT goal setting and explore how they can facilitate goal attainment. It's crucial to recognize that PACT goals are all about output, making them particularly effective when establishing your objectives. PACT goals are meticulously designed to kickstart your journey immediately. PACT goals also avoid the paralysis of over-planning for the future.

Start by contemplating what you want to accomplish and why it holds significance for you. What specific actions can you take to enhance your progress? It is best to connect an action to something you already consistently do. Maybe it is turning on your computer in the morning when you get to your office. While it is booting up, you make a sales call and check on a potential or existing client. You can potentially add 250 calls a year to your already bulging list. Utilize a daily checklist, simply marking 'Y' for yes and 'N' for no to denote your progress consistently. Once you've identified these actions, you can commence your journey to forming a new habit that aids in achieving your goal. Continuous pursuit of repeatable and straightforward routines is key. Embrace experimentation and face the fear of the unknown. Through trial and error comes growth and progress.

In conclusion, the PACT goal-setting technique, created by Anne-Laure Le Cunff, is meant to achieve goals by developing new habits for focused output. Additionally, I have found using the work of B.J. Fogg’s Tiny Habits to reinforce those new habits will excite continuous action and immediate output over distant outcomes. By focusing on purpose, immediate action, continuous effort, and tracking progress, PACT goals empower individuals to pursue and achieve long-term, bold, and ambitious goals.

Ready to transform your goal-setting journey? Explore the power of the PACT goal-setting process and witness the positive impact it can have on your personal and professional aspirations. Seize the opportunity to experiment, learn, and steadily progress toward the life you envision. If this sounds like something you would like to explore more deeply, I can help. Together, we can delve into your key objectives, and find ways to make them straightforward to act on, easy to track, and reward yourself.