You are today where the thoughts of yesterday have brought you and you will be tomorrow where the thoughts of today take you. – Blaise Pascal
Maybe it’s the end of summer and coming of fall or memories of a clean slate with a new school year, but I’ve been thinking a lot lately about setting goals for the end of 2009 to continue the momentum of changes I’ve been making in my life.
A New Approach
I’m not new to setting goals, but my follow thorough lately with personal goal setting could use a little work. So I’ve decided to take a different approach. Here are the basic steps:
- Start now. Don’t wait until Monday or the end of the year to start. There’s no time like the present.
- Set realistic, quantifiable goals. When setting goals, it’s easy to try to set the bar too high. Somewhere in the middle is typically just right. Making goals quantifiable means it’s clear whether or not you’ve achieved them.
- Record and measure results. This is the part that most people leave out, including myself. Accountability greatly increases the odds of getting goals accomplished.
I’m planning to implement something similar to Chris Gillebeau’s annual review in December for 2010, but there’s no time like the present to start with goals for the fourth quarter of 2009. I’ve kept the number of goals pretty manageable since there are only 3 1/2 months left in the year.
Accountability
A couple of the goals I’ve set require consistent daily action. To keep track of my success on these goals and to calculate the totals for the metrics I’m measuring (i.e. books read, miles moved, posts published), I created a grid for each of the remaining weeks of the year with a spot for each daily goal. Hopefully, this will allow me to view my progress easily and hold myself accountable.
While I’m not planning to publish all of my goals, I will definitely check in at the end of the year, and let you know how I did.
Other Resources on Goal Setting
- How to Conduct Your Own Annual Review, by Chris Guillebeau at Art of Nonconformity
- Really Simple Goal Setting, by Leo Babauta at Zen Habits
- Goal Setting for Dummies – Part One and Part Two, by Paul Norwine
- Organizing Your Life’s Plan, by Dave Damron at Life Excursion
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Angela,
First of all, I love the quote that you used at the beginning of this post. Even if you move forward in small increments every day, you can’t help but achieve your goals if you put forth consistent and continuous action.
Thanks for the mention as well – as you know, I have had a history of setting too MANY goals that I begin to lose track so I know exactly what you are talking about in your desire to modify the process.
You also make a great point with recording and tracking your progress – that IS the step that most people miss and I have found, at least for me, that when I DO record and evaluate my progress, I stick with and maintain the motivation needed to achieve my goals. Anyway, great post!
Paul
I’ve had the same problem of setting too MANY goals. So here’s hoping that a little focus and accountability lead to different results for both of us!
I loved your Top Gun analogy and the suggestion of creating a mantra (“$15,000 dolla make-a me holla!”)!
Thanks, Paul!
Sounds like you are on the right path to a life full of happiness, fulfillment, and appreciation.
I am extremely happy to have been a source for organizing your life. Thank you for noting me in your great post!
Dave
LifeExcursion
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