Attach 'When [situation], I will [action]' to every…
Write implementation intentions beneath each written goal using 'When [specific recurring situation], I will [specific first action]' format, specifying concrete triggers rather than time-based or motivation-based conditions.
When This Fires
- After writing any goal during planning sessions
- When goals consistently appear on your list without making progress
- During quarterly reviews when evaluating goal-execution gaps
- Complements Make implementation intention triggers highly specific… (trigger specificity) with goal-specific application
Common Failure Mode
Writing the goal without the implementation intention: "Goal: write daily." No trigger, no first action, no pre-loaded response. The goal exists in your system but has no mechanism for translating into behavior. It requires daily motivation-based initiation, which fails most days.
The Protocol
For every written goal: (1) Write the goal. (2) Directly beneath it, write: "When [specific recurring situation that I encounter naturally], I will [specific concrete first action]." (3) Verify the trigger is situation-based (not time or motivation), specific (not "when I have time"), and recurring (happens regularly). (4) Verify the first action is concrete enough to start without thinking. (5) The implementation intention transforms the goal from "something I want to do" into "something my environment triggers me to do."