Happy New Year!
Are you ready? For most, this is the first day back in the office (whether virtual or not) for 2021.
A fresh start. A clean slate. I always get excited with a new planner or journal to start the year.
So, what’s in your planner? Hopefully you say,”goals!”.
Ensure you have chosen professional and personal goals that stretch you.
Put checkpoints throughout your planner to refer to your goals and ensure they are on track. If you are not like me and love pen to paper, you should have an electronic planner. There are great tools out there to organize goals and planning ranging from MS Outlook to online platforms like Trello.
Since my love for pen and paper, I use Passion Planner for 2021. It’s a great planner with goal setting templates included. They also have electronic versions as well.
Either way, put a plan with checkpoints to your goals to ensure you meet or even exceed them!
Remember, in order to ensure effective goals, use the SMART acronym:
S: Specific
What is it you want to achieve? At the end of the time period, can you articulate if you met it?
M: Measurable
What’s the quantity or amount?
A: Attainable
Can you actually achieve it? Stretch yourself, but also be realistic
R: Relevant
How does it relate to your total goal or aspirations?
T: Time-bound
When will you complete it?
Here is one of my SMART goals:
Increase my business acumen and continuous learning by reading 12 nonfiction books (1 per month) by the end of the year. Apply at least 1 principle from each book read.
To some that’s a small goal, but for someone like me that is a stretch goal. On top of my love of fiction books, movies and life in general, squeezing in 12 additional books will definitely take effort and planning.
So what are your goals? Include comments below on what are your goals and your planning techniques.