The Last Podcast

Episode 297: How To Set Your Goals For 2025

Key Characteristics of a Goal
Clarity: A goal needs to be well-defined and unambiguous. For example, instead of saying, "I want to be healthier," a clearer goal would be, "I will exercise for 30 minutes, 5 times a week."
Specificity: Goals should be detailed enough to guide actions. Specificity helps you understand what success looks like and what actions are needed to achieve it.
Measurability: A goal should have criteria for measuring progress and success. This could involve numerical targets, deadlines, or other quantifiable elements.
Achievability: Goals should be realistic and attainable within the available resources and constraints. Setting unrealistic goals can lead to frustration and demotivation.
Relevance: A goal should align with broader values, priorities, or objectives. It needs to be meaningful and connected to the bigger picture.
Time-Bound: Goals should have a deadline or a specific timeframe to create urgency and structure.
Types of Goals
Short-Term Goals: Achieved within a relatively short timeframe (days, weeks, or months). Example: Completing a project at work by the end of the month.
Medium-Term Goals: Achieved over several months to a year. Example: Learning a new skill over six months.
Long-Term Goals: Achieved over years and often require sustained effort. Example: Saving for retirement or earning a degree.
Outcome Goals: Focused on the result, such as losing 10 pounds or earning a promotion.
Process Goals: Focused on the actions required, such as exercising three times a week or reading a chapter daily.
Performance Goals: Focused on improving specific metrics, such as increasing sales by 15% or running a mile in under six minutes.
Why Goals Are Important
Provides Direction: Goals act as a roadmap, helping you prioritize actions and resources effectively.
Increases Motivation: A well-defined goal gives you something to strive for, enhancing motivation and persistence.
Enhances Focus: Goals help eliminate distractions and guide your energy toward meaningful tasks.
Facilitates Decision-Making: Knowing your goals makes it easier to make choices that align with your priorities.
Promotes Accountability: By setting clear goals, you can track progress and hold yourself accountable for your actions.
Encourages Growth: Goals push you out of your comfort zone, fostering personal and professional development.
Goal-Setting Frameworks
SMART Goals:
Specific
Measurable
Achievable
Relevant
Time-Bound
OKRs (Objectives and Key Results):
Objectives define what you want to achieve.
Key results measure how you'll achieve it.
BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goals):Bold, ambitious goals that inspire and challenge you to think long-term.
I would love to hear from you. dave@thelastpodcast.infoYou can reach out to me at 214-518-9934‬.  I also accept a text as well.Website: http://thelastpodcast.info/ 

Episode 296: How To Turn Regret Into Opportunity

Some people live life without any regrets, and that's amazing. On the flip side of that coin, there are many people who do have regrets, whether they be minor, small, or big.If you ever had a regret, I want to show you how you can look at regret from a different perspective and see it throughthe lens of new opportunity.Understanding Regret: The Pain, the Lessons, and the OpportunitiesRegret is a universal emotion—everyone has experienced it in some form. It might stem from missed opportunities, mistakes, or choices that led to unintended consequences. While regret often feels heavy and unpleasant, it’s more than just a negative emotion. It has the power to teach us, shape our future decisions, and even open doors to new opportunities.What is The Dark side of regret?Emotional BurdenUnderstanding Its Weight and Navigating Its ImpactRegret is a profound emotional experience that arises when we perceive our past decisions, actions, or inactions as mistakes. While regret is a common experience, its emotional burden can be immense, often lingering in ways that affect mental health, relationships, and overall well-being. This podcast explores the emotional toll of regret, its manifestations, and strategies for managing its impact to foster growth and healing.The Nature of RegretRegret stems from the recognition that an alternative choice could have led to a better outcome. It often involves comparing the current reality with a hypothetical, idealized scenario. This process, called counterfactual thinking, is at the heart of regret and intensifies its emotional weight.Regret can be triggered by various situations, such as:Missed Opportunities: Failing to seize chances, such as declining a job offer or neglecting to express feelings.Wrong Decisions: Making choices that lead to negative outcomes, such as poor financial decisions or strained relationships.Moral Lapses: Acting against one’s values, causing harm to oneself or others.

Episode 295: Poetry Friday Four New Poems

Poetry Friday Four New Poems.  I created the first four new poems this morning.  I hope you enjoy it.  If you want to share you poem on Poetry Friday, contact me at thelastpodcast443@gmail.com.  If you have any ideas for the show please reach out to me at the same email address.https://mentalhealthhotline.org/grief-loss-hotlines/National Mental Health HotlineThe National Mental Health Hotline is a 24-hour helpline you can call for advice about all kinds of issues. The hotline is confidential and staffed by trained individuals who can connect you to a local grief counseling helpline or other free services, depending on the support you need. They support people across the United States and can help you find free, confidential mental health resources in your area.(866) 903-3787I would love to hear from you. dave@thelastpodcast.infoYou can reach out to me at 214-518-9934‬.  I also accept a text as well.Website: http://thelastpodcast.info/ 

Episode 294: My Podcast Saved My Sanity

My Podcast Saved My Sanity.  I am still picking up the pieces.  Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.I would love to hear from you. dave@thelastpodcast.infoYou can reach out to me at 214-518-9934‬.  I also accept a text as well.Website: http://thelastpodcast.info/

Episode 293: What Seeds Are You Planting In Your Garden of Life?

Have you ever looked at a garden with complete admiration?You may not even be into gardens, but when you see a beautiful well kept garden, with out a doubt you come to admire it's beauty.  What's amazing is there are all kinds of gardens.Botanical Gardens, Herb Gardens, Water Gardens, Wildlife Gardens,Japanese Gardens, Edible Gardens, and even theme gardens, which are designed around a specific theme, such as Shakespearean gardens with plants mentioned in his plays or a moonlight garden with white blooms.And butterfly gardens enriched with nectar-rich flowers.I would love to hear from you. dave@thelastpodcast.infoYou can reach out to me at 214-518-9934‬.  I also accept a text as well.Website: http://thelastpodcast.info/ 

Episode 292: Poetry Friday Several Poems

Poetry Friday Several Poems. I would love to hear from you. dave@thelastpodcast.infoYou can reach out to me at 214-518-9934‬.  I also accept a text as well.Website: http://thelastpodcast.info/

Episode 291: Have You Ever Felt A Nudge In Life?

Have You Ever Felt A Nudge In Life? Or perhaps you have felt a pull in a certain direction, but you're so accustomed to doing things your way that it's no longer working for you. I think it may be time for change.  I would love to hear from you. dave@thelastpodcast.infoYou can reach out to me at 214-518-9934‬.  I also accept a text as well.Website: http://thelastpodcast.info/

Episode 290: Preparing For The New Year 2025

Preparing to hit the ground running with new ideas in the new year requires a combination of reflection, planning, and action. Here's a step-by-step approach to set yourself up for success: 1. Reflect on the Past Year
Celebrate Wins: Acknowledge accomplishments and milestones, no matter how small.
Identify Lessons: Reflect on challenges and what you’ve learned from them.
Declutter Your Mind: Let go of regrets or ideas that didn’t work. Free your mental space for new opportunities.
  2. Envision the New Year
Define Your Vision: What does success look like for you? Visualize your personal and professional growth.
Set Intentions: Focus on how you want to feel and the impact you want to create.
 3. Generate and Vet Ideas
Brainstorm Freely: Dedicate time to generating creative ideas without judgment.
Prioritize: Evaluate ideas based on feasibility, alignment with your vision, and impact.
 4. Set Clear Goals
SMART Goals: Make them Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.
Short-, Medium-, and Long-Term: Break your goals into manageable timeframes.
 5. Create a Roadmap
Action Plan: Define steps for each goal. Break them down into weekly or monthly milestones.
Set Deadlines: Assign timelines to hold yourself accountable.
 6. Equip Yourself
Skills and Knowledge: Identify areas where you need to grow and seek resources like courses, books, or mentors.
Tools: Invest in tools or systems to streamline your workflow and track progress.
 7. Build Momentum Before the New Year
Start Early: Begin working on smaller aspects of your goals now to build excitement and confidence.
Build Habits: Establish routines that align with your goals, like a morning routine or productivity system.
 8. Create Accountability
Find a Buddy or Group: Partner with someone who shares your ambitions or join a community with similar goals.
Check-ins: Schedule regular reviews of your progress to stay on track.
 9. Stay Flexible
Adapt: Be ready to pivot if an idea doesn’t work out as planned.
Embrace Change: Use unexpected challenges as opportunities to refine your approach.
 10. Celebrate Small Wins
Reward Yourself: Recognize progress to stay motivated.
Gratitude Practice: Reflect on the journey and the support you receive.
 Bonus: Focus on Mindset
Positive Outlook: Replace doubts with affirmations.
Resilience: Prepare mentally for setbacks and view them as growth opportunities.
I would love to hear from you. dave@thelastpodcast.infoYou can reach out to me at 214-518-9934‬.  I also accept a text as well.Website: http://thelastpodcast.info/

Episode 289: Nothing But Poetry

Nothing But Poetry.  I comprised twelve poems for your listening pleasure.1. I stand in Awe of You.2. Unforgettable3. Love by imagination.4. Untitled.5. God's Brilliance.6. Dream 11.7. Your Love.8. Midnight Love.9. Chocolate.10. Basketball.11. A Gift.12. Woman Are a Blessing.I would love to hear from you. dave@thelastpodcast.infoYou can reach out to me at 214-518-9934‬.  I also accept a text as well.Website: http://thelastpodcast.info/

Episode 288: Poetry ~ Poems and Music

Poetry ~ Poems and Music1. Un-named poem.2. Finding our True Self.Music1. Windy. (Music)2. Poem Unforgettable over music.3. Blue. (Music)4. Bird. (Music)5. Beats Banging Harder (Music)6. Downtown Soul (Music)I would love to hear from you. dave@thelastpodcast.infoYou can reach out to me at 214-518-9934‬.  I also accept a text as well.Website: http://thelastpodcast.info/