the OAK Journal Method
I developed the journal to share over 20 years of collective experience that will empower you to accomplish whatever you set out to do. In this book, you will find the best parts of the most significant business books from the last 100 years. I worked to combine the best processes and habits to help achieve even the loftiest goals.
Set GoalsClarity of vision is essential in accomplishing anything of significance. As humans, we have about a 3-month attention span. It takes character to reach the goals that will advance our BHAGs (Big Hairy Audacious Goals). Define SMART Goals (Simple, Measurable, Attainable, and Timely) and track your progress each week to make sure you achieve your intention.
Create HabitsInspiration is motivational, but habits get results. In business or personal life, creating habits will pave the way to accomplishing your goals. Just like athletes training to compete at the highest level or a soldier trained for combat, we don’t rise miraculously to meet a challenge but rather default to what we are prepared for. Good habits help you reach your goals while setting a foundation for life. If you have a life goal, it isn’t the goal itself that will help you attain your dreams; it is the habits that you form and follow while you are trying to get there. Habits are the basic building blocks of reaching any goal or succeeding in any plan.
Discipline & WillpowerDiscipline is the key. If you take one thing away from this journal, it should be fanatical discipline. It’s the difference between getting things done or just talking about it. My grandmother used to say, “you can wish in one hand and spit in the other, and at the end of the day all you would have is a handful of spit.” I am pretty sure she was censoring spit for shit since I was four but you the get the point.
Positive Psychology At the end of every week, we have created positive psychology exercises to help you become the best possible version of yourself. Take an hour each week to complete the activity to get the greatest value from this journal. From building willpower like a muscle to creating your bucket list, the process of completing the weekly exercises will maximize your ROI from this journal.
It has taken decades of wins and failures along with countless hours of continued education, the endless consumption of books from How To Win Friends and Influence People to Great by Choice, Mastering The Rockefeller Habits and Scaling Up to create this journal. We intentionally designed the OAK journal structure to develop habits that will empower you, while leaving enough flexibility to apply your individual preferences to the journal. As founders, we utilize this journal to be more successful, overcome personal challenges from depression and our struggles to become better business owners, better partners, and better parents. It's our vision that everyone can achieve anything they set their mind to accomplish. All it takes is the discipline to continue working toward your dreams.