Introducing The Five Ws
Have you ever been stuck? Not physically (although the principles may still apply), but mentally. You are trying to solve a problem, learn a new skill, finish a project, but you have no clue where to go next. If that is you, the best place to begin is with the Five Ws.
The Five Ws are five questions often used in journalism and other fields to learn the most basic facts about something. In their simplest form, these questions are single interrogative words:
Who?
What?
When?
Where?
Why?
In journalism, answering these questions sets the foundation for a good article. If a journalist cannot answer them, she does not have a story because she does not have all the necessary information. That is why you will usually see these questions answered in the first few sentences of any well-written news article.
Like a journalist, you can use the Five Ws to lay a foundation for problem solving and learning. If you are able to simplify your goal into five answers, you will be ready to begin building your solution.
Using the Five Ws for Self-Education
James Clear is one of my favorite writers. He writes on many different topics, such as habits, goals, and wellness. In one of his articles he uses an illustration that can help guide us in using the Five Ws for self-education. He says,
Imagine a small row boat. Your goals are like the rudder on the boat. They set the direction and determine where you go. If you commit to one goal, then the rudder stays put and you continue moving forward. If you flip-flop between goals, then the rudder moves all around and it is easy to find yourself rowing in circles.
James Clear, “Goal Setting: A Scientific Guide to Setting and Achieving Goals”
However, there is another part of the boat that is even more important than the rudder: The oars. If the rudder is your goal, then the oars are your process for achieving it. While the rudder determines your direction, it is the oars that determine your progress.
Following his rudder and oar metaphor, we can use the Five Ws to set our goals (the rudder) and take action to achieve them (oars).
Setting Your Goals
Remember, these questions are basic and introductory. They help you see the big picture of where you want to go and who you want to be. Therefore, they don’t have to be complicated or difficult. Here are few examples of using the Five Ws for goal setting.
Who?
Who do I want to be? Seeing an improved version of yourself is key to setting good goals. Comparing who you are now to the person you would like to become is an essential first step toward change.
Who do I want to emulate? Similarly, you can see people who are mentors or role models for you that you can emulate. I personally resonate with people who have similar personal backgrounds to me, yet have achieved great things.
Who can I help? Helping other people should be a strong motivator for your goals. It shouldn’t be something ethereal and unattainable, but someone you can truly have a direct impact on. That will help you goal be more focused, which will help you take immediate steps toward achievement.
What?
What does success look like for me? Success will look different for everyone. That’s why it is important to define it. In a previous post I talked about learning to play guitar as a personal goal. For some, success may look like learning a few basic chords to be able to strum several songs around a fire. For others, success for the same goal will mean learning music theory, understanding the fretboard, and playing scales in order to play and write more complicated pieces of music.
What problems do I need to solve? We all have problems. You can either let those problems fester, or you can set out to solve them. Thinking about a problem in your life or in someone else’s is a great way to think of new goals to set and accomplish.
When?
When do I want to accomplish this? As I mentioned in my article about great teachers, writing down your goals and giving yourself a deadline are two very important tasks to complete. Is there a natural timeline in your life for you to accomplish your goal? Maybe you are taking a trip, or your kid are going back to school, or the end of the year is coming up. Make sure a deadline is part of your goal setting. It will help keep you motivated to accomplish it.
Where?
Where do I see myself in (5/10/20) years? You’ve probably done this visualisation exercise at some point in your life, but it is important. Similar to who you want to be, it is helpful to think about where you want to be in the future.
Where do I want to go? Maybe you have a dream to finally visit a new country (that’s on my list!), or maybe you just want to be able to eat dinner at the fancy steakhouse downtown. If you recognize that goal you can start taking steps to make it a reality.
Why?
Why do I want to accomplish this goal? “Why” is probably the most important of all the Five Ws because it brings your motivations into the light and helps you better understand who you want to become.
Taking Action
If goals set your direction, you still need a power source to move you in that direction. That’s why it is not enough to simply set goals. You must put systems in place to move toward those goals. Here are some questions you can ask to help you take action and achieve!
Who?
Who do I need to learn from? Mentorship and emulation are important parts of accomplishing your goals. Most likely, there are many people who have learned what you are setting our to learn. Why not learn from their journey–either through observation or conversation?
Who will hold me accountable? Accountability is a great way to keep yourself on track. Think of achieving your goals like running a race. You can either have someone running with you, keeping you on track to finish, or someone cheering you on from the sidelines as you go. Both of these are ways of keeping you accountable on your journey.
What?
What will accomplishing this take? This is when you dig into the nitty-gritty details. You need to analyze your goal and determine what it is going to take to get you there. Consider this your roadmap to success!
What is one thing I can do today to help me achieve my goal? Once you have your roadmap, it is important to take that first step. Therefore, find something small that you can do immediately to move you toward what you want to learn or do.
What simple tasks can I complete quickly to allow myself to focus on my goal? Similarly, there may be other goals or tasks that you need to complete in order to create more space for what you really want to do. If you knock those our ASAP you will be more prepare to focus on your current goals.
What do I need to eliminate or add to my life to help me achieve my goal? Often times you will have other obligations and distractions in your life that will take attention away from achievement. You will need to analyze your daily activities to see where you can create more space to succeed. Often times, this can be accomplished by just being more productive and efficient in your daily tasks. You need to optimize your life to succeed!
What progress have I made already? In grade school you probably received a progress report every quarter so you (or your parents) will know what you have accomplished so far. Just like your school report card, it is important to give yourself a “goals report card” every now and then to see what you have accomplished and what you need to change before your next progress report.
When?
When will I work toward my goal? If you do not have time to work toward your goal you will never accomplish it. That is why you must create space in your daily routine to regularly work toward success. It is up to you to determine how much time you will need for that. Just make sure you commit to it. Remember, what gets scheduled gets done.
Where?
Where do I need to go? There are many places that you should consider going to work toward your goal. Firstly, find a place where you can consistently go to learn and work. When paired with your planned time, this will help keep you in the mindset of success. Secondly, find a place where other people who have the same goals as you go. You can connect with them for support and advice along the way.
Why?
Why am I working toward this goal? Just like when setting your goals, your “Why” is the most important question you can ask when working towards their completion. It will keep you motivated and grounded when reaching your goal seems difficult or unattainable.
Get Started Today
These questions are not meant to be exhaustive, nor do you have to ask yourself all of these questions every time. They are merely examples of ways you can use the 5 Ws to set goals and take action toward achieving them. It doesn’t matter how you answer. Your goals could be big or small, and you can have many different goals at the same time.
All that matters is that you are taking action toward personal growth and continual learning. As you think about these questions, write them down and keep them in a place that you can refer back to often. Put your “Why” right at the top of the page. As you make progress toward achievement, look back and cross off tasks as you go. Stay focused, and go learn something!