How to achieve any goal you pick

After reading this article, you’ll learn:

1. What is 4DX?

2. How to use it.

3. Where you can use it in your life.

“I know what I need to do. I just don’t know how to do it”

Every year on Jan 1st, I make resolutions.

“I’ll cycle daily”.

“I’ll write daily”.

“I’ll practice guitar daily”.

“I’ll read 12 books this year”.

Today is July 1st. 7 months after my resolutions, I’m disappointed. While goals are important, they’re nothing without systems.

Enter 4DX. It is a management tool which tells you how to achieve any goal you pick

It was developed for companies, but it’s great for personal progress too.

Why should I know about 4DX?

It helps you:

• Focus on what is really important.

• Allocate time to it.

• Track progress.

• Be accountable.

What is 4DX?

The 4 disciplines are:

1. Focus on the wildly important.

   These are your wildly important goals (WIG).

   Create SMART goals : Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound.

   “I want to run a 10 Km race in 6 months”.

   “I want to complete PMP certification in 3 months”.

2. Act on lead measures.

   Lead measures directly help you achieve your WIG.

   “Run 5 days a week, 2 Km per day at 6 PM. Increase by 2 Km every month”.

   “Study for PMP certification 3 days a week from 4 PM - 5 PM”.

3. Keep a compelling scoreboard.

   Print a calendar. Paste it on a place which you see daily. On every day you act on your lead measure, put an “x” mark.

   Your job is simple = follow your lead measures.

4. Create a cadence of accountability.

   Either we need to be disciplined enough to not let ourselves down. Or we need an accountability partner.

   If you are disciplined, good. Otherwise you can join a group / friends who have the same goals.

   Another trick is to pay your best friend / girlfriend $100. The deal is, if you miss more than 1 practice/ study session, you don’t get your money back.

So, don’t wait till January 1st 2024 to create resolutions. The best day to change is today, this is why it’s called “the present” 🙂 

To help you get started:

How to pick & focus on your most impactful goals.

Hope this helps in your journey. And if so, share the article with your friends and family.

Further reading

• The 4 Disciplines of Execution.

• The 4 Disciplines Of Execution Summary.