With the plethora of apps/platforms out there for trackings goals and routines, Vervo differentiates itself by being deeply ingrained in scientific research. Therefore, we recognize and implement the true and significant differentiation between goals, routines, and projects. In this article, we will focus on outlining each of those important pillars of managing personal and professional life in hopes to help you make the right decision when embarking on your next journey.
Let’s start by defining each of those pillars:
Routines
Often referred to as habits. Routines are the smallest, achievable objective that has a recurrent pattern. Routines are not goals (as often mistaken/confused in so many platforms). To give you a better idea, think about what you do on a day-to-day basis. Brushing your teeth, working out, doing morning yoga, etc. all of those are repetitive actions that improve your life through consistently doing them.
Goals
They’re long term objectives that have a start, milestones, and end dates. Unlike routines, goals cannot be achieved in one shot. To achieve a goal, you need to have the following components:
- Milestones: break down your goal into smaller, achievable chunks of work that collectively, when done, mark the completion of your goal. If your goal is to buy a house, then example milestones would be: save up down payment -> market research -> talk to an agent -> view homes -> put an offer -> finish inspection -> close on house -> move in. The sequential completion and progression of your milestones help you get to your destination in a measurable, absorbable format.
- Tasks: they are small, one-time achievable objectives. Some examples would be “set up open house appointment”, “get checks from the bank”, etc. within your milestones and throughout your goal, you’ll find yourself needing to do various tasks here and there to complete a milestone, and eventually your goal.
Projects
They are medium-term objectives defined as a series of tasks to be completed by one individual or in a team environment to reach a particular outcome. A project is governed by four boundaries: scope, budget, time, and resources. Some examples would be “Release V1 of Product X”, and “Build a tree house.”
So how do I know which one to choose?
That’s a great and common question to ask yourself before embarking on your journey. Use the following diagram to help you determine the path you should take toward your next objective.
In closing, there is a science to managing and achieving objectives and careful consideration is warranted before making your next move. At Vervo, we spent years engineering our platform to serve those needs and help you choose the right path to accomplish your next, exciting adventure. Give us a try and see the results for yourself.
