Today is New Years Eve. Tomorrow will be the start of a new year and a new decade. Everyone reading this, no matter what their age or circumstance wants this decade to be the best ever. The single one thing you can do to improve the odds of having a fantastic 2010 is to start with a set of goals you an work to achieve throughout the new year.
Notive I said goals, not resolutions. To me a resolution has a negative connotation to it since resoultions are usually framed in terms of things we want to avoid. Goals on the other hand are things you want to accomplish that are framed in a positive manner. It does make a difference. Studies have shown that goals framed in a positive manner are more likely to be acheived then ones framed in a negative way. Since it makes sense to get on the side of research we should put a positive spin on all our goals.
I’m not going to bore you with a long drawn out post on the importace of setting goals because you should pretty much know how important goals are. I’ve found that most people know they should set goals but tend to procrastinate in doing so. Goals are something they intend to do in the future or that they bounce around in their heads. Both of these are bad ideas. Make it a priority ot set a some goals today. And don’t make it a long, drawn out painful affair, should only take a few minutes…really. My wife and I set our goals for 2010 in about ten minutes while driving in the car. Setting goals is the esy part.
I’ve found it useful to divide your life into separate areas for the purpose of setting goals and recommend you do the same. Here are the areas I use:
- Money or Financial Goals - This includes job, career and investments
- Physical – This is health and fitness.
- Relationships – Friends, family and associates
- Emotional – This are the things that will make me happy. Things like travel, personal development and achievements
That’s it, four areas with maybe one or two goals per area. Why not more? Well, basically because I want to keep it simple and make it easy to achieve. Reaching these goals will markedly improve my life and I know that getting one or two things done in these areas will make anyone’s life better.
{ 6 comments }
Steve,
I agree with you. Goals are so important for us to move forward. I think it was Jim Rohn who said, to be successful, notice what the successful people do and do that. All successful people I know set and accomplish goals.
Happy New Year!
Lynn Lane
Success Strategies For Life
“Goals” does sound better than “resolutions.” I am usually fearful of setting goals because there are too many variables in my life that prevent me from reaching my goals, then I feel like I’ve failed. If I don’t set any in the first place, then I have nothing to lose! hahhaha Ok, yeah, bad attitude – I’ll set some goals!!!!! Thanks!
Lisa McLellan, Child Care Expert
Babysitting Services, Babysitting Tips, Babysitters, Nannies
Goals are vital for rapid achievement. As long as you have an overall direction e.g. building a business, saving for a holiday etc, I would keep to a few, simple, short-term goals rather than an overwhelming list of overwhelming goals – which in my experience (personal and as a coach) usually lead to stagnation.
A timely reminder.
Martin
http://www.martin-wright.com
Yep I wrote four major goals two months ago- well before Jan 1. They’re actually starting to materialize! Although honestly, we can’t really have a WORSE year than 2009….. hahaha. I’m currently writing a blog on a new concept: Having a to-do list and a “to-think list…”
Greg Dougall, Philanthropist-in-Training
Plansetting, goalsetting, written down and or strongly visualised – does any of it matter as much as getting on with the task at hand? I’m always surprised that an entire industry has come out of trying to get people to do what they already want to do.
K.
Hi Steve,
indeed, this habit does make such a difference in both our life success and certainly our sales success. In my sales days in Silicon Valley having a post-it note of the goal for that day before me made all the difference in the world toward achievement.
Happy Dating and Relationships,
April Braswell
Single Boomer Dating Expert
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