MEN'S MONTHLY REVIEW
FACT: what we measure and track improves.
Every year is neatly broken into 12 monthly sprints. 12 “legs” of your one-year race.
Of course, this applies if we’re using a “race” metaphor, and if we’re thinking in terms of yearly and monthly timeframes. But let’s continue with these ideas.
By the end of THIS month, what race are you striving to win?
What finish line are you running towards? You may have multiple finish lines.
In my experience, too many men aren’t running towards much of anything, and if they are running, they’re running in circles.
Worse, they’re running in the wrong direction, away from their priorities and what they value most.
Most of them are doing the best they can. But they’ve gotten off track.
How do we get back ON track?
There are 2 things that are helpful. One we’ve already mentioned–goals, and tightening those up. The other is having structure.
MEN NEED GOALS
Here’s a short list of why you need meaningful goals:
- FOCUS – we wander without a clear target.
- BOLDNESS – we stretch ourselves beyond our limits.
- MOTIVATION – we “lean into” achievement.
- RESILIENCE – we get back up and recover from set-backs much more quickly.
- STRUCTURE – we have a destination, a path, and a game plan, which is cooperating with how our brain works best.
- CLARITY – we always know where we’re headed and what our “mission” is.
- “JUICE” – we find ourselves experiencing the reinforcement of hitting our smaller targets that keep pulling us towards our one big target.
- TIME – life is short, and we need an efficient way of living out our highest values and priorities.
- ACCOUNTABILITY – an effective goals methodology keeps us accountable and honest.
- CHANGE – how do you think change happens, other than getting clarity on your target and then progressively moving towards it?? This is how we are WIRED! Oh sure, we can “change by accident”, but that’s not reliable and consistent.
But here’s a DEEPER REASON: because we become stronger when we follow a course and stretch hard after something we value, and then accomplish it.
We elevate ourselves in that particular area of life, but more importantly, we elevate ourselves as MEN, which has an ongoing ripple effect throughout our lives.
And EVEN IF we’re making slow progress, or “worse”, we don’t achieve our goal the first time through, we still grow as men. To endure the struggle and push against the resistance builds massive strength like nothing else.
Engaging in a goals process and seeing it through to the end is a crucial training ground for us to become better men.
A strong GOALS PRACTICE truly becomes a “way”, a discipline, that obviously results in you achieving what’s meaningful, but more importantly, forges your character and your spirit like few things can.
“The major reason for setting a goal is for what it makes you do to accomplish it. This will always be far greater than what you get.” – Jim Roh
STRENGTH IN STRUCTURE
Having healthy structure is a true asset for anyone trying to progress, regardless of what area of life we’re talking about.
The challenge is finding your unique “sweet spot,” where you have just the right amount of structure, in the right format, that works best for you.
My monthly review process has a basic level of structure that will keep you on track to pursue your highest priorities.
Oh sure, you can “wing it.” Hey, if that works for you, keep doing it.
For the rest of us, we recognize that the rhythms and boundaries of structure typically result in greater focus, speed, and efficiency.
THE GROUP
As stated above, what we measure and track improves.
Our purpose is to measure and track by:
> reviewing the month to see if we’re on track with the S.M.A.R.T. goals we had set one month prior.
> setting new S.M.A.R.T. goals for the upcoming month.
> thinking through any adjustments that need to be made, either in the goals themselves, or in our strategy in meeting them.
> reporting any wins from the month.
> reporting any challenges from the month, and any challenges we anticipate in the upcoming month.
> giving some “attaboys” to others in the group.
> zooming out regularly to keep the big picture in mind, and evaluating if our monthly goals are in alignment with our yearly goals.
> always keeping a strong action mindset, playing 100% offense.
FAQ
WHO AM I?
My name is Sean Patrick Cox, from the great city of Chicago. For the past 4 decades I’ve been enjoying the privilege of partnering with people to assist them in living lives of deep purpose, strong passion, and high performance.
This hasn’t simply been a “hobby”, side gig, or some mid-career transition. This has always been THE sole focus in my professional life, though it’s also played a huge part in my personal life as well, all the way back to my teen age years.
High performance, personal growth, the healing path, and “decoding greatness” are topics that consume me and fill my brain, and are the things I constantly read about, ponder, and consult with clients on everyday.
I don’t pretend to know everything, but I have much experience with a wide diversity of clientele, who I’ve been very honored to work with and learn from.
I’ve learned a few things along the way, testing and re-testing different frameworks and protocols, and developing my own best practices and methodology that you can’t figure out simply by reading a book or two – it takes field testing, practice, repetition, experience, and a lot of work over many years.
Some of my personal interests are biblical theology, traditional karate and its modern application, physical training, reading, and good conversation…and going for a long walk.
SIGN UP!
If interested, I invite you to sign up. I’ll email you the details, so keep an eye out for that.
If you’re not seeing my sign-up form, it has to do with your settings. You can also sign up by going to me Contact page and send me a message, putting “Monthly Review” in the subject line. Here’s the link: https://www.seanpatrickcox.com/contact-me/