STEP ONE: Framework Basics and Identify the Big Goals

In today’s fast-paced world, setting and achieving personal goals can sometimes feel like an insurmountable task. January comes, people hit the gym for a week or maybe two, and then slowly drift back to their couches, wondering why this year couldn't be different.

However, with the right strategies and frameworks in place, you can smash your goals and reach new heights of success. In the information technology world, teams are responsible for delivering changes to websites and platforms, typically every two weeks.

By implementing IT frameworks in your personal development journey, you can break down your long-term goals into more manageable tasks. This approach allows you to focus on short-term objectives in two week chunks (called "sprints" in IT) making it easier to track your progress and stay motivated along the way.

One key aspect of utilizing IT frameworks for personal growth is the concept of planning increments, or PIs. For our purposes, these are personal increments. By setting aside time to review your progress, reflect on what worked well, and adapt your strategies as needed, you can ensure that you stay on track towards achieving your goals.

Hierarchy of Agile Framework Elements (puzzle pieces)

• Milestones (very large goals a person wants to achieve)

  • Epics (medium goals that, when combined, roll up to achieve the large goal)

    • User Stories (items that can be completed in a period of two weeks or less that, when rolled up together, complete the goals of the epic)

      • Subtasks (the smallest units of work that contribute to completing a User Story)

Hierarchy of Agile Framework Elements (time boxes)

• Personal Increments (PIs) represent larger time frames where significant progress is made, typically around three months or a quarter of a year in length

  • Sprints are shorter time frames within a Program Increment, typically lasting 2-4 weeks, where specific features or user stories are completed.

  • Daily Scrum is a short, daily meeting within a Sprint, reviewing all in progress user stories on the board, closing out stories or subtasks that have been completed, and

Understanding that the combination of bite-sized goals and time boxes is crucial for success, we must first focus on articulating our big goals. These overarching objectives serve as the guiding stars in our journey (don't get me started on NorthStar Architecture), providing direction and purpose. Whether you’re aiming to advance your career, improve your skills, or enhance your overall well-being, EPIC 2025 offers the tools and guidance necessary to help you achieve these aspirations. By writing down your big goals, you create a roadmap that can be broken down into manageable tasks, making the path to success clearer and more attainable. So why wait? Start implementing IT frameworks into your goal-setting process today and pave the way for a brighter, more successful future.

STEP ONE: What are your milestones? On a vision board or a simple piece of paper, list your top 5 to 20 goals for 2025. These are your milestones, your big goals for the year.

They might be more than you can handle in a 3-month PI - and that's ok. You will have a chance to prioritize these next, but the first step is listing out your top priorities. The things you really want to accomplish this year. Be comfortable brain dumping. At this point, your goals don't need to be SMART; we'll work on that later. The first step is getting the big ideas out of your head and onto a screen, poster board, or sheet of paper.

Examples:

• Become a NYT Bestselling Author

• Lose 30 pounds

• Run a 5k (or a marathon)

• Spend more quality time with the kids

• Learn to juggle

• Advance my career

• Tackle housing issues in the community

Remember, success is not just about setting goals – it’s about having the right strategies in place to achieve them. That’s where IT frameworks like Scrum and Agile come into play. Pat yourself on the back for taking the first step in achieving your goals and move on to Step Two after you've spent some time laying out your goals.

"And if you find yourself getting stuck or distracted... maybe set a timer. Because a goal is a dream, with a deadline.