What are your goals for the year?

As this year is coming to an end, many of us are getting ready to set goals for 2018. Isn’t it sad that 80% don’t even make it through February? Whether you’re setting New Year’s resolutions, goals or plans for 2018, we want you to succeed! Here’s the ideal way to set and meet your 2018 goals:

Dream big

What do you want to achieve in 2018? Many folks overestimate how much they can fit into a day and underestimate how much they can accomplish in a year, according to Joe Bruce from Path Boss. This year, dream big and define your goal. Imagine how your life will look like once you’ve reached your goal. How does it look, feel, smell? Draw your future life if words are harder to write down.

Be SMART

Use the SMART approach when defining your goals:

S: Specific. Be precise when writing down your goal.

M: Measurable. Define how you know you’re on track and have achieved your goal.

A: Achievable. Choose a goal that you can actually attain.

R: Realistic. Decide a goal that is realistic for you.

T: Time bound. Give your goal a timeframe.

Break it down

Understanding your motive for your goal will give you the clarity to break it down. Define the smaller or daily steps or projects you need to achieve it and create an action plan. You can use a calendar.

Schedule activities

With your action plan to your side, set time aside. If it’s not in your calendar, it won’t get done! Successful entrepreneurs make sure their goals and related activities have been scheduled and worked on during this time.

Measure your progress

Goals which you can’t measure are meaningless. As you work towards them, regularly monitor how you’re progressing. Whether you write it in your notebook, use a project plan (a client of mine used these for her home projects, too) or draw on a colourful sheet. Your creativity is limitless!

Adjust as needed

When you see you’re not achieving as much as you had planned, review and decide whether any adjustments are required. Sometimes, life gets in the way and you may not have as much time as you scheduled. Tweak your plan to still make it.

Drop a goal

Should one of your goals have lost its importance, contemplate whether you want to continue working on it. Do you want to postpone it but until when? Use this time to also reflect what you’ve learnt, felt, experienced during this process. Most likely, you’ve achieved something on the way already!

As in previous years, I’m limiting my goals to just 2 big ones: One business-related one and one personal one. The business goal is posted in the centre of my white board, the place I look at quite often each day. It becomes almost engrained in my daily life and drives all subsequent actions.

If you’re still looking for your very own goal, get inspired by these.

Now, tell me, what’s your trick to achieving a goal? I’m looking forward to reading it!

Until next time,
Agni