I love getting to do this with all of you.

This goal-setting session is the best 40 minutes you can spend. I’m not just saying that. I did it this morning, too.

Participating in this session will transform the next three months for you.

Let me guide you for 40 minutes.

You’ll leave knowing what matters to you and who you want to become; where to focus; and where to spend your time, attention, energy, and (yes) money.

The 4 steps to achieving your Substack goal

Having a goal is and isn’t about achieving the goal.

It’s about four things: Having a ritual of appreciation, discovering what’s most important to you right now, knowing where to focus your efforts, and becoming the person you want to be.

Step 1: Ritual of Appreciation

Having a goal is about having a ritual to appreciate what you’ve done during a certain period of time, regardless of the goal, and what and who helped you get there.

Right now: Write down three successes in your Substack.

Those could be:

* Subscribers

* Paid subscribers

* Producing posts you’re really proud of

* Making connections

* Getting engagement in the comments

* Getting likes

* Having people restack your posts

* Showing up in the Notes Boost Challenge

* Revenue

Take a moment. Celebrate these. Really feel them in your body.

Now, who helped you achieve them?

* Family

* Colleagues and friends on Substack

* Friends

* Substack guides/teachers

* Substack—the platform

* Food in your fridge that nourished you

* Animals (maybe your cats :)

* Sunlight and fresh air on your walks

* The yoga mat you stretched on

* The water in your tap that hydrated you

* The bed you slept on

Maybe send them a thank you.

Step 2: What matters most to you (right now)

Choosing a goal helps us discover what’s most important to us right now.

* Choose one Substack goal for Q3 (July, August, September).

One goal.

The beauty of goal setting is that it also helps you determine what matters most to you right now.

Start by eliminating from this list what’s non-essential:

* Subscribers

* Paid subscribers

* Producing posts you’re really proud of

* Make more connections

* Get engagement in the comments

* Get more likes

* Have people restack your posts

* Show up in the Notes Boost Challenge

* Revenue

That will lead you to the one goal that’s essential to you right now.

Write it down.

Step 3: Become who you want to be

Trying to achieve a goal is about who you want to become.

If I just want money or subscribers or likes or even connection, it will likely feel empty whether I achieve it or not.

* Who do you need to become to achieve your goal?

* Fill in the blank:

* Someone who ______.

Write as many as apply.

Step 4: Focus your time, attention, energy, and money

Where will you focus your time, attention, energy, and money in Q3 to achieve your goal in a way that going for it brings you more calm and health?

* Time

* Attention

* Energy

* Money

From these, write down two small teeny action steps you can take and take them!

Thank you (!) Meghan Daum, Susie Bright, Debbie Weil, Amy Gabrielle, Francesco Turrisi, and many others for tuning in.

Share your goal or any part of this process with us. And then find someone to meet and say hello.

Also, if you’re new or haven’t been to our paid-subscriber chat (!), please go and introduce yourself and your Substack. Our community is one of the best parts of your subscription. Don’t miss it!

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.substackwritersatwork.com/subscribe