How do I get the books?
They are PDFs, so there is nothing to wait for. After checkout you go straight to a download page for both files. Keep that page's address: it gives you fresh download links whenever you open it. If anything goes wrong, email hello@actbeforenoon.com and we will sort it out.
Can I print them at home?
Yes. Both are laid out on A4 and print cleanly on an ordinary home printer. If your printer takes US Letter paper, choose "fit to page" in the print settings. The plan suggests copying the daily page, or using it as the pattern for a notebook, so print it as often as you need.
Can I fill it in on a screen?
The plan is made for pen and paper and is not a fillable form. If you prefer a tablet, any PDF app that lets you write or annotate on a page will do the job.
Do I need to be religious to use the plan?
No. The workbook is practical from start to finish. Faith appears in it once, as one of the values you can choose to rank. The companion is where prayer comes in, and it is a free extra you can read or leave.
What are the steps of goal setting?
The plan uses ten, and you can run any goal worth a year through them. Write it so a stranger could tell when it's done, name the reasons, put a date on it, name the obstacles, and name the skill or fact you're still missing. Then finish the sentence "I could … if …" twenty ways, ask for help, list the steps in order, act today, and set yourself a reward. Before any of that, the plan has you review the last twelve months, score seven areas of life and rank your values, so the goals you pick are the right ones.
What does the Bible say about setting goals?
Plenty about plans. Proverbs 16:3 says "Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans." Proverbs 16:9 says we plan our course but the Lord establishes our steps, and Proverbs 15:22 says plans succeed with many advisers. The free companion, Faith, Prayer & Goal Setting, takes that further: a written goal is one of the practical forms prayer can take, as long as you hold the what tightly and the how loosely.
Does writing your goals down actually help?
There is a real study on this. In 2015 Gail Matthews at Dominican University of California had people work on a goal for four weeks. Those who only thought about their goal scored 4.28 for achievement. Those who wrote it down, listed actions, told a friend and sent a weekly progress report scored 7.60. The companion book sets out all five groups, and the plan is built around the same habits: write it, date it, and let someone see the progress.
Is the Harvard written goals study real?
It appears not to exist. The story of the class where three per cent wrote down their goals and out-earned everyone else has been told about Harvard and Yale for decades, but librarians at both have looked and never found the study. The companion tells the story because people know it, says plainly that it's a myth, and then uses a study that does exist.
Is it tied to a particular year?
No. It isn't tied to a year, so you can start it in January, in June, or tomorrow morning, and use it again every year. The quiet days around New Year are a good time for the review, with the daily page starting the week after.
What currency will I pay in?
The price is US$12, charged in US dollars. Your bank or card provider converts it to your own currency. Buying from New Zealand? Use actbeforenoon.co.nz, where it is NZ$15 including GST.
What if it is not for me?
The books are an instant digital download, so we don't offer change-of-mind refunds. If a file is faulty or won't open, we will fix it or refund you. Just email hello@actbeforenoon.com. This doesn't affect your statutory rights.
