Congratulations!
Hopefully at this point you have taken the time to reflect on your last year, chosen your word to center on this year, brainstormed your specific goals and built your vision board. Whew, that’s a lot! What an accomplishment and, if I may say so, congrats! You are already a step ahead of approximately 97% of the population (LinkedIn).
So what happens now?
So often we take all this time to write down our goals and go through the process, but for some of us the process stops there. The accomplishment becomes the completion of the goal setting and vision board itself, rather than allowing it to propel and guide us through the next year.
Why?
Diving into goals can be very difficult. I mean take New Year Resolutions for example. On January 1st we are all ready to go, to crush our goals and by March 1st we have fallen off the wagon or burnt out. So what can you do get started on your goals and stay on track?
1. Start Small
How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. Do something TODAY that can get you started in the right direction. If you have health goals – start by walking an extra 30 mins everyday, or by going to bed 10 mins earlier in the evening. If you have big work goals and need to hit your sales quota, start by making 2 extra calls a day. To build lead generation, visit 2 clients every week to build relationships and promote sales. Or perhaps you start by organizing your work space.
If you can follow one or two mini goals for 7 days, then try 14, and next thing you know you will be 3-4 weeks in with a new habit and well on your way to your goals.
As you continue week to week and month to month, remember to challenge yourself and to keep moving. Gain momentum on your goals. Build on your new habits and successes. Build on your team – help others and learn.
2. Schedule a date
Schedule a date to follow up and track your progress. For some this may be monthly, for others perhaps quarterly. It is very important to take stock of where you are at and your path. Not only to ensure that you are on track but also to provide motivation. Perhaps you have surpassed some of your tasks. This is something to celebrate and acknowledge, the same way we have to also acknowledge sort comings.
If you are like most of us this April, you may have fallen off track. Don’t fret, it happens to us all. Lets remember to reset, refocus and re-center on our goals. There has never been a better time to begin again!
Track your goals
Sometime progress can guide us. It can re-ignite our motivation or it can prompt us to adjust some of our goals. Many of us had to make some, if not many, of these adjustments in 2020 as the Pandemic de-railed many of our plans. We are ready for 2021 and whatever it might bring. Jump in and start your board today.
3. Celebrate Your Successes
NEVER FORGET – Celebrate your successes! When we reach large benchmarks and certainly when goals are achieved, do not forget to take a moment to celebrate your success. Take your work team out to lunch, buy that dress you’ve been dying to fit into, schedule that vacation. Success breeds more success. When you celebrate the small pieces you are more likely to achieve all your goals.
Looking for More Goal Setting Resources?
Simplify Your Goal Setting
Finding Your Creative Space
Distracted and Working From Home?