How to Set Goals with Kaizen & Ikigai

1. Kaizen: The Power of Continuous Small Improvements

Kaizen is a goal-achievement technique that encourages continuous improvement via daily incremental progress.

Start small, but start now. Kaizen emphasizes taking immediate action, even if it seems insignificantly small. This approach helps overcome the initial hurdle of getting started and builds psychological momentum. For example:

• Write one paragraph of your novel instead of nothing
• Clean a small section of your garage for five minutes
• Jog on your treadmill for just one minute

Consistency is key. The power of Kaizen lies in the accumulation of these small actions over time. By committing to daily progress, no matter how minimal, you can achieve impressive results in the long run. This principle is illustrated by the story of Joe Simpson, who survived a perilous mountain descent by setting small, achievable goals every 20 minutes.

Embrace the process. Kaizen shifts the focus from achieving a single, lofty goal to committing to the process of improvement itself. This mindset helps maintain motivation and prevents discouragement when faced with setbacks or slow progress.

2. Ikigai: Discovering Your Reason for Being

Your Ikigai is often described as: My reason to get out of bed in the morning.

Find your purpose. Ikigai is the intersection of four elements:

• What you love (passion)
• What you're good at (vocation)
• What the world needs (mission)
• What you can be paid for (profession)

Balance is crucial. A true Ikigai should satisfy all four criteria. Focusing solely on financial gain or passion without considering the other aspects can lead to dissatisfaction and lack of fulfillment.

Pursue self-discovery. Finding your Ikigai is an ongoing journey. Remain open to new experiences and regularly reassess your goals and values. Use the provided worksheet to evaluate potential Ikigais by rating them on each of the four criteria.

3. Hansei: The Art of Honest Self-Reflection

Hansei is really much deeper than reflection. It is really being honest about your own weaknesses.

Practice regular self-examination. Set aside time daily or weekly for Hansei, a period of quiet contemplation where you honestly assess your actions, decisions, and their outcomes.

Focus on improvement, not blame. The goal of Hansei is not to dwell on mistakes but to identify areas for growth and develop strategies to prevent similar issues in the future.

Be specific and actionable. When practicing Hansei:

• Review a recent failure or mistake
• Ask yourself what went wrong and why
• Log recurring negative tendencies
• Make a commitment to improve in specific ways

4. Lingchi: Avoiding Death by a Thousand Cuts

As you look back at life's challenges (in health, wealth, and relationships), you'll find that personal failures are typically not the result of just one problem. Instead, the big problems in life—about the issues that really matter—are usually the result of many little problems.

Recognize the cumulative effect. Major life problems often result from an accumulation of small, seemingly insignificant issues that go unaddressed over time.

Stay vigilant. Be aware of the little "cuts" in your daily life:

• White lies to your spouse
• Skipping workouts
• Procrastinating on important tasks
• Overeating or poor food choices

Address issues early. By identifying and correcting small problems as they arise, you can prevent them from snowballing into major crises.

5. Overcoming Procrastination Through Purpose and Passion

Finding your Ikigai often entails simultaneously discovering the fount of your greatest inspiration as well as the arena in which your toughest battles will be waged.

Understand the root cause. Procrastination often stems from:

• Distraction
• Mental fatigue
• Anxiety
• Negative associations with the task

Find intrinsic motivation. Discovering your Ikigai can provide the internal drive needed to overcome procrastination. When you're passionate about your work and see its value, it becomes easier to push through challenges.

Break tasks down. Use the Kaizen approach to make daunting tasks more manageable by focusing on small, achievable steps.

6. Goal-Setting: The OPDCA Cycle and Five Whys Technique

Kaizen is a goal-achievement technique that encourages continuous improvement via daily incremental progress.

Implement the OPDCA cycle:

1. Observe: Identify the problem or area for improvement
2. Plan: Devise a strategy to address the issue
3. Do: Execute the plan
4. Check: Analyze the results
5. Adjust: Make necessary changes based on the analysis

Use the Five Whys technique. When faced with a problem, ask "why" five times to dig deeper and identify the root cause. This helps address underlying issues rather than just symptoms.

Measure and track progress. Regularly log your results to stay motivated and identify areas for further improvement.

7. Applying Kaizen to Health, Wealth, and Relationships

What gets measured gets managed.

Health:

• Start with small, achievable fitness goals
• Track your progress daily
• Gradually increase intensity and duration

Wealth:

• Focus on continuous improvement in your work
• Make "little bets" on potentially big ideas
• Foster pride in workmanship

Relationships:

• Practice open communication
• Contribute more than your "fair share"
• Address small issues before they become major conflicts

8. The 110% Rule: Going Beyond Fair Share in Relationships

Relationships call upon members to put in 110% of their efforts, not just their perceived "fair share."

Exceed expectations. In relationships, strive to contribute more than what's minimally required or expected. This creates a positive cycle of reciprocation and strengthens the bond.

Practice empathy. Before communicating with your partner, consider their perspective and needs. How can you go above and beyond to support them?

Focus on solutions, not blame. When conflicts arise, use the 110% rule to find ways to improve the situation rather than assigning fault.

9. Know Thyself: Identifying Triggers and Accepting Limitations

Happiness and freedom begin with a clear understanding of one principle: Some things are within our control, and some things are not.

Develop self-awareness. Use Hansei to identify your emotional triggers and behavioral patterns. This knowledge helps you navigate challenging situations more effectively.

Avoid trigger situations. Once you've identified your triggers, take steps to minimize exposure or develop coping strategies.

Accept what you cannot change. Recognize the limits of your influence, especially in relationships. Focus your energy on areas where you can make a positive impact.

10. The Pursuit of Meaning: Balancing Aspirations and Reality

Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans.

Set realistic expectations. While it's important to have goals and aspirations, be mindful of the gap between ideals and reality. Contentment often comes from appreciating what you have while working towards what you want.

Practice gratitude. Regularly acknowledge the positive aspects of your life to counterbalance the tendency to focus on shortcomings or unfulfilled desires.

Embrace the journey. Remember that personal growth and the pursuit of meaning are ongoing processes. Focus on making continuous small improvements rather than expecting instant transformation.

Last updated: October 3, 2024