THE BARRIERS EXERCISE

STRATEGY
PAGES
JOURNALING
PROGRAM
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EXERCISE #2

INTRODUCTION

THE BARRIERS

JOURNALING EXERCISE:

This is a very tactical goal setting exercise to help you figure out what barriers
are standing in the way of you reaching your goal.

One important thing about this exercise is that it’s best done as a weekly
strategy page, in other words, as an ongoing exercise. Another thing is that
it’s really important to turn your ideas from the exercise into new daily habits.

The first part of the exercises is coming up with a list of the barriers you
keep seeing come up on your path. It could be, “I’m not sure what to eat to
lose weight” or “I don’t know where to go to meet good men/women” or
“I don’t have enough money to take that trip to Paris.” The second part of
the exercise is idea generation for figuring out creative ways around those
solutions. Remember, ultimately these need to form your new habits for the
week.

NEW CREATIVE SOLUTIONS ==> HABITS

Let’s jump into the exercise now.

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PART 1:

CREATE THE
BARRIERS TO
YOUR GOALS
Let’s go through a few sample goals, and break down their barriers:

#1 LOSE 20 POUNDS

Barrier:

> What do I even eat?

> I don’t know what to do in the gym

> I can’t afford healthy food

> I’m so lazy

#2 WRITE A BOOK

Barrier:

> I don’t know how to write

> I don’t know how to sell books

or do marketing

> How do I find a publisher?

> I don’t have the time to write

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PART 1: CREATE THE BARRIERS TO YOUR GOALS

#3 EARN $500 A

MONTH EXTRA

Barrier:

> I don’t get paid a lot at my job

> I don’t have any outside business

> I don’t have valuable skills to get

paid more

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PART 2:

GENERATE IDEAS
TO OVERCOME
THE BARRIERS
Now let’s come up with just one idea to overcome the barrier to that goal,
and the third step will be to turn that into a daily habit.

#1 LOSE 20 POUNDS

Barrier: New Ideas:

> What do I even eat? > What if I just pick one diet plan
and try it out?

> I don’t know what to do in the gym > I’ll spend 10 minutes today googling
a beginner workout, and just try it.

> I can’t afford healthy food > I’ll find the cheapest foods that
are the healthiest.

> I’m so lazy > What if I just walk for 10 minutes?

#2 WRITE A BOOK

Barrier: New Ideas:

> I don’t know how to write > I’ll

open one of my favorite books
to see how this author writes.

> I don’t know how to sell books > I’ll spend 1 hour, once per week,
or do marketing studying book marketing strategies.

> How do I find a publisher? > I’ll spend 30 min. finding a podcast
on how to find a book publisher.

> I don’t have the time to write >I may not have an hour per day,
but I’ll dedicate 30 minutes in the
morning or evening to writing.

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PART 2: GENERATE IDEAS TO OVERCOME THE BARRIERS

#3 EARN $500 A

MONTH EXTRA

Barrier: New Ideas:

> I don’t get paid a lot at my job > What if I get a part-time job, just
for 10 hours per week?

> I don’t have any outside business
> Maybe I don’t have to have my own
business to earn extra money. Can
I coach someone on something or
teach something 5 hours per week
for $20 an hour?

> I don’t have valuable skills to get
paid more
>What if I spent 1 hour mining my
mind for valuable skills I may have?
And if not, what if I dedicate an
hour to acquiring new skills that are
valuable.

NOW YOU KNOW SOME OF THE COMMON BARRIERS THAT COME UP WHEN
YOU’RE WORKING ON YOUR GOALS, AND NOW YOU CAN FORMULATE SOME
NEW HABITS FOR THE WEEK.

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PART 3:

GENERATE NEW
HABITS TO FOCUS
ON FOR THE WEEK

#1 LOSE 20 POUNDS

New Habit:

> What if I just walk for 10 minutes?

> What if I just pick one diet plan and try it out?

> I’ll spend 10 minutes today googling a beginner workout, and just try it.

#2 WRITE A BOOK

New Habit:

> 1 hour - I’ll open one of my favorite books to see how this author writes.

> I’ll spend 1 hour, once per week, studying book marketing strategies.

> I’ll spend 30 minutes finding a podcast on how to find a book publisher.

> I may not have an hour per day, but I’ll dedicate 30 minutes in the morning
or evening to writing.

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PART 3: GENERATE NEW HABITS TO FOCUS ON FOR THE WEEK

#3 EARN $500 A

MONTH EXTRA

New Habit:

> What if I get a part-time job, just for 10 hours per week?

> Maybe I don’t have to have my own business to earn extra money. Can I
coach someone on something or teach something 5 hours per week for $20
an hour?

> What if I spent 1 hour mining my mind for valuable skills I may have? And
if not, what if I dedicate an hour to acquiring new skills that are valuable.

TAKE SOME TIME TO TRY OUT THIS EXERCISE, TURNING YOUR NEW IDEAS
INTO NEW DAILY HABITS. YOU CAN FOLLOW THE JOURNALING PROMPTS
BELOW.

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PART 1:

THESE ARE MY CORE

GOALS AND THE BARRIERS
THAT KEEP COMING UP
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PART 2:

THESE ARE NEW IDEAS

*AND THE HABITS* I
CAN WORK ON DAILY
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