Degrees of Goal Setting: Inputs, Outputs, Outcomes, and Objectives

I loved this distinction around goals and intentions that came up in a conversation recently...

There are a lot of different frameworks for this, but this one seemed to resonate, particularly for athletes where there is already such a focus on the process.

Inputs: the ingredients and actions I control. This is where I put my focus.

• 🏟️ Sport: Keeping my hips loaded; Focusing on my read key
• 💼 Business: Amount of calls made to leads

Outputs: the immediate result of the inputs. Outputs are neither good or bad, just feedback/data. We use outputs to strategically set our next set of inputs.

• 🏟️ Sport: Shots on goal; Being in the right spot
• 💼 Business: How many people I talked to

Outcomes: Progress markers that indicate the level of effectiveness (you can apply a 'good' or 'bad' label here).

• 🏟️ Sport: How many shots I made; Making the tackle
• 💼 Business: How many people said 'yes' to my offer

Objective: The ultimate goal, overall intent

• 🏟️ Sport: Win the game; Win the championship
• 💼 Business: Hit your revenue target; Create a thriving business that you're proud of

TLDR: Focus on the inputs, stay curious about the outputs, and the outcomes + objectives will take care of themselves.