Quarterly Quests Instead of Yearly Goals
An improved way to achieve major milestones in personal and professional goals
Hey friends,
I haven’t posted regularly as I had planned to enter the new year. However, that was intentional, as I’ll shortly explain.
After setting my New Year’s intentions, as I’d done the last few years, I attended a free online workshop with Ali Abdaal called Spark Summit.
During the two-day summit, Ali introduced many concepts, but what stuck was the idea of quarterly quests. Instead of setting yearly goals, which are often ill-defined and too many to accomplish, he argued the effectiveness of choosing only one main objective (or quest, as Ali likes to call it) in the two area of life and work. By using a series of prompts, Ali encouraged us to get real clear on what our Q1 quests are and why they are important to us. As part of the exercise, we were given the option of having three additional side quests in each area, noting less importance on their completion.
Quarterly quests, as opposed to yearly goals or resolutions, are intended to drastically increase our chances of making meaningful strides in achieving an important personal milestone. This approach was reinforced by Cal Newport, a guest speaker who advocated the concept of Slow Productivity (the title of his latest book). With slow productivity, Cal emphasizes doing fewer things at a natural pace, with a greater focus on quality and meaningful results.
I concluded the workshop having defined down my quarterly quests.
In the area of work, my main quest is to gain an assignment in a different department within the same company.
In the area of life, my main quest is to play piano for a live audience, no matter how small.
And so, writing this quarter was labeled a side quest and why I am okay with being inconsistent.
Since attending the workshop a few weeks ago, my drive and focus on my quests have been evident (well, the music quest in particular). Except for a few days, no matter how tired or blah I felt, I spent 30 minutes to an hour studying harmony or practicing at the piano. On weekends, it’s a few hours per day. It has become somewhat of a mission.
I hope what I’ve written reaches those of you who have stepped into the new year but have yet to find your footing and direction.
So, what are your quarterly quests?
What are the single most important goals for you to accomplish in the next 3 months?
If you are struggling with more immediate issues, like physical or mental health, putting your intention to heal in the form of a quarterly quest may set you in the right direction.
As Ali instructed us, I recommend you whip out your journal or a Notes page on your phone and clarify your quarterly quests in life and work.
Below are the prompts to help drill deeper into why your chosen quest is important.
PROMPTS
To complete the quest, I commit that by March 31, 2025, I’ll have…
This is the most important thing for me to accomplish this quarter because…
This feels really exciting and compelling because it is…
To make sure I complete the quest, I am going to…
After defining your quests and completing the prompts, I suggest revisiting them once a week to renew your intention and focus.
I hope this post was helpful to you.
Love,
Abi