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By: Ryan Steuer, CEO
Magnify Learning
Dallas, TX
@ryansteuer
Welcome Movement Makers! You are a part of a PBL Movement that is going to change education forever. Our graduates will leave us empowered, equipped and inspired. Gone will be the days of apathy and passivity. As you lead with confidence and inspired vision, your school and community will change for the better. To get to 51% of schools using Project Based Learning by 2051, we have to do more than dream. We should dream! And then we should get to the work of goal setting to make that dream become a reality.
Setting clear and ambitious goals is not just a New Year’s Resolution obligatory gesture, but a commitment to transforming the landscape of education. The PBL Movement is about large-scale change, and this blog will dive deep into the significance of goal setting within the context of Project-Based Learning (PBL). The ability to transform vision into tangible outcomes is what distinguishes a Movement Maker. It is a process that calls for unwavering determination, strategic planning, and a relentless pursuit of one's objectives. The role of goal setting in the PBL Movement cannot be overstated. It serves as a foundational step that propels educators towards creating a meaningful impact in their schools and beyond.
In this blog, we will be taking inspiration from Brian Tracy's book "Goals!" Tracy discusses the importance of not just setting goals but committing to them with the entirety of one's resolve every. Single. Day. Writing down your goals is not merely an act of remembrance, but a ritual that shapes Movement Makers into catalysts of change. If you are not writing down your goals, you are missing a major aspect of Tracy’s concept. Don’t miss this! I write down my goals 10x daily to cement them into my being.
To achieve goals and continue the PBL Movement, the art of saying no to distractions that do not align with our overarching goal becomes paramount. A clearly defined goal is like a lighthouse guiding a ship through the night—it ensures that our daily efforts are not scattered but focused, intentional, and strategic. One of the reasons we write down our big goal is that it forms a sifting measure for us. If a new opportunity aligns with your goal…great! If a new opportunity does not align…it becomes an easy no!
My big goal for 2024 is to have 1,000 members in the PBL Movement Online Community. I’ve already had people tell me this is impossible and, “that’s not how it works, Ryan.” However, this is my goal, so now I simply ask, ‘How?’ How do I achieve this goal? Brian Tracy calls in a tool called “mindstorming” - a method that synergizes brainstorming with a focused purpose, driving us towards strategies that not only elevate our goals but also ensure they materialize into concrete results. We are listing at least 20 different, actionable ideas that can move us closer to our goal. Tracy tells us up front that the first five will be easy and the last 5 will be like squeezing water out of a rock, but it’s worth the effort. The last five ideas are often the breakthrough ideas, so do the work!
Brian Tracy emphasizes the importance of clarity in setting goals. Ambiguity is the nemesis of progress, and only by articulating our goals with precision can we mobilize ourselves and others toward them. Clarity instills a sense of confidence, not just in the leader but also in the team that follows. It is this clarity that translates dreams into accomplishments. In setting clear goals, we are not just aspiring to personal success but fostering an environment where every student, teacher, and community member can thrive.
Movement Makers can navigate the intricate journey of goal attainment, offering insights and strategies to ensure that the process is not only effective but also inspiring. The power of writing down goals, the discipline of adhering to a daily commitment, and the fortitude to persist despite challenges are a few of the tools you will need to see your PBL Movement come to life.
As Movement Makers, our dreams are not just figments of our imagination but blueprints for action, and it is with this spirit that we embark on the journey of transforming our educational goals into impactful achievements.
To join more Movement Makers just like you who can encourage you on your PBL journey, join the PBL Movement Online Community. The PMOC is filled with OnDemand Courses, Webinars, and most importantly people like you who are serious about changing education for the better. People just like you who are devoted to daily practice of achieving goals to create better outcomes for learners. People just like you who are passionate dreamers just crazy enough to think all of this work matters for a better tomorrow. I’ll see you in the community, Movement Maker!
**You can also check out The PBL Simplified Podcast Episode 163 to help guide you through setting your PBL Movement goals.
I’m Ryan Steuer – author and thought leader who specializes in Project Based Learning training, coaching, community, and content to help educational leaders fulfill their vision of deeper learning in their schools. I’ve worked with leaders in school districts of all sizes, from 400 students to 100,000 students. These visionary leaders care about their students, but they are often stressed, overworked, and overwhelmed with the work ahead of them. That’s where I come in! I help leaders achieve their PBL vision, lead their staff, AND stop working weekends.
When I’m not guiding school leaders through Project Based Learning mindset shifts, I am outdoors with my wife and 5 kids - canoeing, hiking, biking, and traveling the US in our RV.
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