https://rickbaker.ca/category/goals-smartacre-goals/ Rick Baker's Thought Posts — plain-spoken writing on leadership, business values, communication, habits, and the people side of building a business. Publishing since 2008. en-ca https://rickbaker.ca/post/when-you-chase-your-tail-literally-you-get-tired-when-you-chase-your-tail-figuratively-you-get-nowhere/https://rickbaker.ca/post/when-you-chase-your-tail-literally-you-get-tired-when-you-chase-your-tail-figuratively-you-get-nowhere/Fri, 11 Jun 2021 07:04:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet Bad Habits are a lot like chasing your tail. They consume energy and take you away from your long-term goals. Loss of Focus and… https://rickbaker.ca/post/when-a-combination-of-skills-goals-plans-is-not-present-people-give-up-their-dreams-hope/https://rickbaker.ca/post/when-a-combination-of-skills-goals-plans-is-not-present-people-give-up-their-dreams-hope/Wed, 26 May 2021 07:17:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet Skills , goals and plans will always be required. Without these basics, work is demoralizing and frustrating. Without these… https://rickbaker.ca/post/our-intrinsic-goals-feel-rightthey-align-with-our-talents-strengthsso-they-inspire-they-energize-us/https://rickbaker.ca/post/our-intrinsic-goals-feel-rightthey-align-with-our-talents-strengthsso-they-inspire-they-energize-us/Wed, 19 May 2021 07:34:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet Intrinsic Goals mesh with life purpose, mastery of task, and self-actualization. Naturally, intrinsic goals align with talents… https://rickbaker.ca/post/if-you-assume-communication-is-easy-youre-dreaming-alone-if-you-find-communication-is-easy-youre-dreaming-with-others/https://rickbaker.ca/post/if-you-assume-communication-is-easy-youre-dreaming-alone-if-you-find-communication-is-easy-youre-dreaming-with-others/Fri, 07 May 2021 07:48:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet Shared dreams and goals, naturally, breed quality communication. https://rickbaker.ca/post/seek-simple-advice-when-people-are-annoyed-with-setting-goals-dont-fight-against-the-flow-help-them-make-predictions/https://rickbaker.ca/post/seek-simple-advice-when-people-are-annoyed-with-setting-goals-dont-fight-against-the-flow-help-them-make-predictions/Mon, 26 Apr 2021 07:03:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet Some people, perhaps many people, are annoyed by the pressure of setting goals. Many people, if not most people, love to learn… https://rickbaker.ca/post/written-goals-dont-just-help-you-set-your-work-priorities-they-help-you-define-your-personal-values/https://rickbaker.ca/post/written-goals-dont-just-help-you-set-your-work-priorities-they-help-you-define-your-personal-values/Wed, 14 Apr 2021 07:14:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet Values , Purpose, Vision , Rules , & Goals are not discreet, stand-alone concepts. They are intertwined. For most People, they… https://rickbaker.ca/post/willpower-is-about-converting-self-drive-into-purposeful-action/https://rickbaker.ca/post/willpower-is-about-converting-self-drive-into-purposeful-action/Tue, 16 Mar 2021 07:46:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet If you have no definite purpose, no chief aim, no goals - then you have no need of willpower. Of course, your accomplishments… https://rickbaker.ca/post/you-gotta-go-the-first-mile-before-you-start-talkin-about-going-the-extra-mile/https://rickbaker.ca/post/you-gotta-go-the-first-mile-before-you-start-talkin-about-going-the-extra-mile/Sat, 20 Feb 2021 07:07:00 -0500The Thinkin' Behind The Tweet Everyone knows, " Talk's cheap ". Yet, some people forget it. They get all carried away talking about going extra miles when… https://rickbaker.ca/post/discipline-its-about-teaching-learning-accepting-correct-ways-of-doing-things/https://rickbaker.ca/post/discipline-its-about-teaching-learning-accepting-correct-ways-of-doing-things/Wed, 17 Feb 2021 07:44:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet Discipline is about embracing rules & accountability . Discipline is about directing actions toward goals . https://rickbaker.ca/post/values-are-the-ground-rules-that-drive-actionsbehaviour-shared-values-are-the-ground-rules-for-behaviour-in-business/https://rickbaker.ca/post/values-are-the-ground-rules-that-drive-actionsbehaviour-shared-values-are-the-ground-rules-for-behaviour-in-business/Mon, 15 Feb 2021 07:21:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet When there is clarity around and embracing of shared values: actions are magnetized in desired directions people behave well… https://rickbaker.ca/post/when-leaders-tell-followers-what-to-do-they-need-to-limit-that-telling-to-big-picture-things/https://rickbaker.ca/post/when-leaders-tell-followers-what-to-do-they-need-to-limit-that-telling-to-big-picture-things/Sat, 16 Jan 2021 07:24:00 -0500The Thinking Behind the Sales Tweet Some think Leaders should provide followers latitude to do their work as they choose. Some think that’s the way to breed… https://rickbaker.ca/post/personal-strengths-desire-to-achieve-attitude-3-key-things-you-can-develop/https://rickbaker.ca/post/personal-strengths-desire-to-achieve-attitude-3-key-things-you-can-develop/Fri, 08 Jan 2021 07:55:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet Lou Holtz, the famed Notre Dame football coach, said something like: "Ability is what you're capable of doing. Motivation… https://rickbaker.ca/post/willpower-is-the-human-bodys-most-energy-intensive-process/https://rickbaker.ca/post/willpower-is-the-human-bodys-most-energy-intensive-process/Thu, 10 Dec 2020 07:31:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet The brain accounts for 20% of the body's energy use. And, nothing consumes more brain energy that the exercising of willpower … https://rickbaker.ca/post/curiosity-moderation-variety-are-the-archenemies-of-bad-habits/https://rickbaker.ca/post/curiosity-moderation-variety-are-the-archenemies-of-bad-habits/Sun, 22 Nov 2020 07:26:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet Q: Why are certain habits called Bad Habits ? A: Because they reduce the ability to achieve our Goals ? Q: How might we change… https://rickbaker.ca/post/intrinsic-drives-often-persist-as-lifelong-drives/https://rickbaker.ca/post/intrinsic-drives-often-persist-as-lifelong-drives/Fri, 13 Nov 2020 07:24:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet Do you have some internal drives that have survived for decades? If you do then you know what I'm talking about. Long-lasting… https://rickbaker.ca/post/if-you-want-to-develop-more-self-control-start-by-setting-goals/https://rickbaker.ca/post/if-you-want-to-develop-more-self-control-start-by-setting-goals/Sat, 24 Oct 2020 07:05:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet No point getting chicken-and-egg bogged down thinking about what comes first - goals or self-control. No point debating whether… https://rickbaker.ca/post/persistence-is-self-discipline-in-thought-then-action-self-discipline/https://rickbaker.ca/post/persistence-is-self-discipline-in-thought-then-action-self-discipline/Fri, 09 Oct 2020 07:21:00 -0500The Thinking Behind the Tweet Brian Tracy said, " Persistence is self-discipline in action. " I believe desired Actions are always preceded by desired… https://rickbaker.ca/post/if-you-cannot-see-the-forest-for-the-trees-youre-too-far-out-on-that-limb/https://rickbaker.ca/post/if-you-cannot-see-the-forest-for-the-trees-youre-too-far-out-on-that-limb/Sat, 19 Sep 2020 07:34:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet Few people possess the ability to think strategically while having a solid grasp of the details of the plan. Some people do not… https://rickbaker.ca/post/lets-not-stumble-along-purposeless-roadslets-construct-better-paths/https://rickbaker.ca/post/lets-not-stumble-along-purposeless-roadslets-construct-better-paths/Mon, 14 Sep 2020 07:52:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet "A person with clear purpose will make progress even on the roughest road. A person with no purpose will make no progress even… https://rickbaker.ca/post/thought-has-two-forms-one-is-creative-the-other-is-not/https://rickbaker.ca/post/thought-has-two-forms-one-is-creative-the-other-is-not/Sat, 22 Aug 2020 07:34:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet It seems I am on the verge of concluding Thought is either Creative or Destructive...never in between the two. Our Creative… https://rickbaker.ca/post/an-ounce-of-problem-finding-is-worth-a-pound-of-problem-solving/https://rickbaker.ca/post/an-ounce-of-problem-finding-is-worth-a-pound-of-problem-solving/Thu, 20 Aug 2020 07:44:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet As the saying goes, " An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. " So, why not plan with methodical risk-management… https://rickbaker.ca/post/pervasive-habits-take-us-both-to-and-from-elusive-goals-habits/https://rickbaker.ca/post/pervasive-habits-take-us-both-to-and-from-elusive-goals-habits/Fri, 24 Jul 2020 07:47:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet Your choices, whether intentional or not, become your habits. Pervasive habits are like governors ...some good and some bad… https://rickbaker.ca/post/focus-on-the-goal-and-move-beyond-the-obstacles-move-beyond-the-obstacles-and-focus-on-the-goal/https://rickbaker.ca/post/focus-on-the-goal-and-move-beyond-the-obstacles-move-beyond-the-obstacles-and-focus-on-the-goal/Wed, 15 Jul 2020 07:39:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet There's an interesting relationship between goals and problems : if we focus on problems, we can bet side-tracked and stall out… https://rickbaker.ca/post/intrinsic-goals-feel-rightthey-inspire-they-energize/https://rickbaker.ca/post/intrinsic-goals-feel-rightthey-inspire-they-energize/Thu, 09 Apr 2020 07:51:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet Intrinsic Goals envision life purpose, mastery of task, and self-actualization. Naturally, intrinsic goals align with talents… https://rickbaker.ca/post/influencing-powerful-people-6/https://rickbaker.ca/post/influencing-powerful-people-6/Sat, 02 Mar 2019 08:00:00 -0500This week’s Dirk Schlimm quote: “The fact is that many powerful people successfully overcome conventional wisdom and have the resources to keep their… https://rickbaker.ca/post/what-awesome-power-lies-in-the-combination-of-strong-willpower-guided-by-strong-definite-life-purpose/https://rickbaker.ca/post/what-awesome-power-lies-in-the-combination-of-strong-willpower-guided-by-strong-definite-life-purpose/Mon, 22 May 2017 08:00:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet Willpower is wonderful, but without proper guidance it consumes energy without purpose . Definite purpose is wonderful, but… https://rickbaker.ca/post/conflict-at-our-offices-is-it-a-foe-or-a-friend/https://rickbaker.ca/post/conflict-at-our-offices-is-it-a-foe-or-a-friend/Mon, 08 May 2017 08:08:00 -0500Some people complain about the interpersonal damages done by office conflict while others applaud the value office conflicts have injected into innovative… https://rickbaker.ca/post/do-you-want-to-be-on-time/https://rickbaker.ca/post/do-you-want-to-be-on-time/Tue, 02 May 2017 07:18:00 -0500On Timeliness... Do you know anyone who has achieved success in life without having the habit of meeting time commitments? As I write this I'm thinking of… https://rickbaker.ca/post/sorting-out-decisions-before-you-make-them/https://rickbaker.ca/post/sorting-out-decisions-before-you-make-them/Mon, 24 Apr 2017 07:52:00 -0500On the Nature of Decisions Every one of us makes numerous decisions every day. Many of our decisions are small, like - “What shirt should I wear today?” Some… https://rickbaker.ca/post/building-self-confidence/https://rickbaker.ca/post/building-self-confidence/Tue, 28 Mar 2017 07:15:00 -0500A strong desire to achieve promotes self-confidence . Positive self-image and high self-esteem promote self-confidence. Sense of purpose and goals promote… https://rickbaker.ca/post/when-alpha-dogs-collide/https://rickbaker.ca/post/when-alpha-dogs-collide/Mon, 13 Mar 2017 08:00:00 -0500When alpha dogs collide you see raising of hackles and you hear snarls & barks...then comes the gnashing of teeth and to-and-fro attacks...much noise, much… https://rickbaker.ca/post/when-it-aint-broken-but-its-broken/https://rickbaker.ca/post/when-it-aint-broken-but-its-broken/Tue, 14 Feb 2017 18:06:00 -0500Sometimes... Every action, taken on it's own, seems right and feels right. Yet, when you add them altogether you do not get the desired result and things no… https://rickbaker.ca/post/big-hairy-audacious-anxieties/https://rickbaker.ca/post/big-hairy-audacious-anxieties/Tue, 07 Feb 2017 07:46:00 -0500Good to Great ? & Big Hair Audacious Goals ? You gotta learn how to tune strings before you can become a rock star! https://rickbaker.ca/post/hope-and-goals/https://rickbaker.ca/post/hope-and-goals/Thu, 26 Jan 2017 19:10:00 -0500Hope is a wonderful ‘background mindset’, For example, hope either inspires or opens the mind to accept inspiration. Hope is not a strategy but it is an… https://rickbaker.ca/post/the-conflict-between-long-term-desires-and-short-term-gratification/https://rickbaker.ca/post/the-conflict-between-long-term-desires-and-short-term-gratification/Mon, 23 Jan 2017 17:56:00 -0500We all have desires and goals. How do we achieve our desires and goals? For most people, the equation can be as simple as this: My Personal Changes + Other… https://rickbaker.ca/post/getting-on-the-talent-track/https://rickbaker.ca/post/getting-on-the-talent-track/Fri, 30 Dec 2016 07:26:00 -0500When we thoroughly understand our Talents we improve our ability to: clarify and express our personal Values & the Rules that are most sacred to us, ability… https://rickbaker.ca/post/15-ways-to-influence-thinking-inspire-action/https://rickbaker.ca/post/15-ways-to-influence-thinking-inspire-action/Thu, 22 Dec 2016 14:45:00 -0500Vision inspires Leadership has a few essential ingredients. For example, the leader must possess a level of intelligence and the leader must possess a… https://rickbaker.ca/post/discern-then-do-and-make-a-difference/https://rickbaker.ca/post/discern-then-do-and-make-a-difference/Wed, 21 Dec 2016 08:25:00 -0500Nike says, "Just Do It!" While that may lead to better health, more energy and more fun it sure creates inefficiencies when it happens at work. The tech… https://rickbaker.ca/post/strengths-weaknessesclose-neighbours/https://rickbaker.ca/post/strengths-weaknessesclose-neighbours/Wed, 07 Dec 2016 19:40:00 -0500We must never forget, the DNA of our greatest weaknesses lurks within our greatest strengths… and vice-versa. The fine line separating strength from weakness… https://rickbaker.ca/post/about-habits-people-a-bit-about-bosses/https://rickbaker.ca/post/about-habits-people-a-bit-about-bosses/Thu, 24 Nov 2016 08:16:00 -0500Most people do not think about how personal things including their values and goals are intertwined with everything they experience during their workdays. As… https://rickbaker.ca/post/thinking-big-without-being-hairy-or-audacious/https://rickbaker.ca/post/thinking-big-without-being-hairy-or-audacious/Wed, 12 Oct 2016 08:17:00 -0500Hairy means covered in hair. Audacious at best means taking surprisingly bold risks and at worst being impudent and disrespectful . It seems some people buy… https://rickbaker.ca/post/on-improving/https://rickbaker.ca/post/on-improving/Mon, 08 Aug 2016 07:59:00 -0500It doesn't matter where you came from, what's happened to you or what you've done so far. While those things may carry some interest and perhaps even some… https://rickbaker.ca/post/what-are-you-committed-to-deliver-to-your-world/https://rickbaker.ca/post/what-are-you-committed-to-deliver-to-your-world/Mon, 01 Aug 2016 07:56:00 -0500You have your world. It surrounds you. It consumes you. You have needs and wants. Your ego makes its demands. You work away at satisfying those needs and… https://rickbaker.ca/post/people-resist-new-things/https://rickbaker.ca/post/people-resist-new-things/Tue, 19 Jul 2016 08:09:00 -0500I think most people object to, argue against, or otherwise resist New Things (...as in - People Do Only 3 Things: Good Habits, Bad Habits & New Things )… https://rickbaker.ca/post/you-know-what-you-need-or-you-dont-introduction/https://rickbaker.ca/post/you-know-what-you-need-or-you-dont-introduction/Tue, 12 Jul 2016 07:14:00 -0500Some people know exactly what they need. They know the details. They know their 'must haves', their 'nice to haves', and their 'fantasy wish lists'. And … https://rickbaker.ca/post/on-goals-greater-than-oursleves/https://rickbaker.ca/post/on-goals-greater-than-oursleves/Mon, 04 Jul 2016 08:18:00 -0500"Our goals should serve as markers, measurements of the progress we make in pursuit of something greater than ourselves." Simon Sinek, inspirational post … https://rickbaker.ca/post/do-you-choose-action-over-strategy/https://rickbaker.ca/post/do-you-choose-action-over-strategy/Tue, 28 Jun 2016 10:09:00 -0500In recent conversations, it became clear to me that many people believe other people favour taking action over thinking about strategy. This viewpoint has… https://rickbaker.ca/post/on-accurate-thinking-part-1/https://rickbaker.ca/post/on-accurate-thinking-part-1/Thu, 23 Jun 2016 13:57:00 -0500Some people believe I get too bogged down or is it tied up in words. Writing too much. Going into too much detail. Being too nitpicky about definitions. No… https://rickbaker.ca/post/being-perfect-by-the-end-versus-doing-better-today/https://rickbaker.ca/post/being-perfect-by-the-end-versus-doing-better-today/Wed, 04 May 2016 07:22:00 -0500Simon Sinek wrote, “ The goal is not to be perfect by the end. The goal is to be better today . ” I wonder – What do people think and feel when they read… https://rickbaker.ca/post/you-can-make-positive-use-of-stress-energy/https://rickbaker.ca/post/you-can-make-positive-use-of-stress-energy/Mon, 18 Apr 2016 08:52:00 -0500We all experience Stress. Most of us view Stress as a necessary evil, a part of the human condition...a thing that damages all who experience it. Few of us…