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Don’t Make New Year’s Resolutions (Part Two)
…Create Lasting Personal Success Instead!
Let’s recap what we did last month. You took time to make a list and celebrate your accomplishments from 2009, you wrote down your top five accomplishments, and three ways you’ve grown in the past year. You completed the Wheel of Life self-assessment and now you’re ready to move forward in 2010 to create lasting personal success. Read Part One Here
Next, we’ll use the information you learned from the Wheel of Life to set S.M.A.R.T. goals for the coming year. In this case, S.M.A.R.T. stands for:
Specific – The more details the better: make, model, colour, size, shape, weight, etc.
Measurable – Anyone can show up on the end date and see if the goal is achieved (e.g., I will weigh 150lb by 5:00 p.m. on December 31, 2010, vs. I will lose 30lbs in 2010).
Achievable – Is the goal realistic, can you actually achieve it in the time frame?
Resonant – Does this goal excite you? Are you motivated by it? If not, why are you doing it?
Trackable – Can you track the progress of your goal? It is important to know where you are in terms of progress, so you can adjust your actions accordingly.
Try setting at least one goal for each slice of the wheel. The goals don’t have to be huge or hard, but they do have to be conscious and intentional. By thinking about each slice of your wheel and how you would like to improve or maintain that area and then setting a goal around it, you are already starting to change it.
Regardless of the size of the goal, it is helpful to break it down into manageable steps. If the goal is a yearly goal such as “I will earn $100,000 net income in 2010,” you may want to break it down into quarters, and then months. Now depending on your business, it may make sense to break it down evenly by quarter or month, but if your business has peak and slow seasons, it will not be an even split. Breaking your goal down into small manageable steps, helps to avoid overwhelm and helps keep you on track for achieving your goal. Think of it like a marathon, you don’t want to start running thinking of the 42+ km, you want to think of putting one foot in front of the other, one step at a time.
Now that you have at least ten meaningful goals for 2010, it’s time to get into action. What is one thing you can do in the next two weeks toward achieving each of those goals? Any small action will do:
- You may need to do some research for one goal.
- You may need to look at your schedule and start blocking off work time.
- You may need to make a phone call to get started.
Identify three action steps for each goal and get at least one of those action steps done in the next two weeks. The one thing more than anything else that separates people who achieve their goals from those who don’t, is that people who achieve their goals take action.
Review your goals on a regular basis (daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly) and keep track of your progress. If you get off track with a goal, adjust your actions and attention accordingly to get back on track. Identify any obstacles or road blocks you might run into upfront and prepare to handle those obstacles before they occur. Finally, share your goals with someone – a friend, your spouse, a family member, your coach, anyone you can count on for support and accountability. Writing your goals down makes them more real and sharing them with someone makes you more accountable for the result.
So, let’s recap:
- Set a S.M.A.R.T. goal for each slice of life.
- Break those goals down into manageable steps.
- Take action.
- Track your goals and course correct as needed.
- Be gentle with yourself; don’t expect to accomplish everything overnight.
And above all else, make it a great year!
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Tina Chappell is a Certified Professional Life Coach offering coaching solutions for everyday people. To find out how you can get a free session, visit www.lifecoachtina.com or contact Tina at 519.488.6865 or life_coaching@sympatico.ca.
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