New Year, Old Goals

As the year winds down, many find themselves looking forward to the New Year.

They are hoping that it will be better than the current one.

They are setting goals and make resolutions about what they will accomplish in the coming year.

What about you?

Have you planned for the coming year?

Have you made your resolutions yet?

And here is the tough question… “Are they the same goals you set last year?”

Different Year, Same Goals

I’m not a big fan of New Year’s resolutions.

You don’t need to wait until the New Year to set goals and take action. (See why you should “Just Do It Now.”)

Studies have shown that 80% of people fall off their resolutions within 30 days.

Are your goals the same every year?

I bet I can name several of your goals…

– Get in shape/lose weight

– Get your finances in order/eliminate your debt

– Get a better job/change careers

– Spend more time with your family

– Learn something new

Do these sound familiar? Why haven’t you accomplished them?

After all, you said you were going to do them last year.

How about this year?

Make Your Goals… And Keep Them.

I have previously written about why you won’t reach your goals.

This year, let’s make them stick.

Here are 5 tips to help you when setting your goals:

  • Pick a Handful of Goals – When I say pick a handful of goals, I mean this literally. You have five fingers, pick 5 goals. You can keep track of them on one hand. I see people whose resolution list is well over a dozen resolutions. This is simply too much. These people tend to be unsuccessful at all of their resolutions. Be successful in your most important goals and the rest will follow.
  • Write them Down – Post your goals where you can see them. When I was started TMN several year ago, I posted papers all over the dining room wall. (My wife wasn’t too thrilled, but she went along with it.) Every day I had to look at those papers and they reminded and drove me towards my goals. Some people like to put them on their bathroom mirror.
  • Do Them Daily – When you are trying to make big things happen, you have to work on them every day. Yes, every day. When you start to think that you will put it off, or do it another day… that is when you start to slip. That is when you start to let go. Don’t let this happen to you. Daily discipline is how great things are done.
  • Be Willing To Pay the Price – You will have to sacrifice. Every goal has a price. If your goal is to write a book, you might need to turn off the TV at night. If you want to get in shape, you may need to get up early and go to the gym before work. If it helps, think of this as the “price of admission” to your goals.
  • Tell People You Trust – By this, I mean tell those people who will impact your path to your goals. Telling your office workers may seem like a feel good tactic, but will they be there to help you take that class late at night? Or help with the kids when you workout? We avoid telling those closest to us, because we don’t want to be vulnerable. However, it is your spouse, family, and closest friends that can support you along way to success.

Which Year Are You Waiting For?

Are you looking at a new year with the same goals?

If you don’t take action, I can tell you where you’ll be in a year.

In the same spot you are in now.

This year, don’t just think about the same goals.

Instead, think about what you are going to do differently.

Do you have the same goals this year as last?

 

PS – Want to join others that are going to stick with their goals in 2012?

Sign up to be notified about the new TMN Community. A group of us are going to set and share our goals for the New Year. Join us here.

14 thoughts on “New Year, Old Goals

      1. @TMNinja yeap, this is the year. I’ve read lots of your posts on this issue and I made probably the biggest resolution I’ve ever made

  1. I live a great life by living my goals every day instead of waiting for a once-a-year opportunity to decide what I want to do. I did not write down any official goals in the past year, but I did have a few specific goals in mind.

    Usually my goals are less often based on a achieving a specific result, and more focused on positive and productive growth. I have learned that I will go the direction I am headed, and paying mindful attention to my actions and attitudes results in far greater success than focusing only on an end result.

    I am working on a personal & professional review of my last year, which includes setting 3 goals. This year I am challenging myself to set a few SMART goals in my blogging, and one goal to re-asses my goals regularly and adjust as necessary.

    Have a grateful day!

    Chrysta

  2. I live a great life by living my goals every day instead of waiting for a once-a-year opportunity to decide what I want to do. I did not write down any official goals in the past year, but I did have a few specific goals in mind.

    Usually my goals are less often based on a achieving a specific result, and more focused on positive and productive growth. I have learned that I will go the direction I am headed, and paying mindful attention to my actions and attitudes results in far greater success than focusing only on an end result.

    I am working on a personal & professional review of my last year, which includes setting 3 goals. This year I am challenging myself to set a few SMART goals in my blogging, and one goal to re-asses my goals regularly and adjust as necessary.

    Have a grateful day!

    Chrysta

  3. Awesome advice Craig!

    The issue I have had in the past is that I have too many goals to accomplish. No wonder I haven’t been able to achieve them all (although I have reached many of them).

    Because of this, I came up with 20-20-1-1 rule for defining the goals and reaching them. It’s an application of 80/20 rule:

    – First you identify your most important goals (the 20% goals). When you reach this goal it has the substantial effect in your life

    – Another 20% in this rule means the single most significant action you can take on your journey towards that goal

    – 1: What is the simplest step in that 20% action you can take

    – 1: What is the first possible moment you can take that simple action

    For example: Building self confidence (20% goal), participating to public speaking training (20% action), registration to your local Toast Masters club (1), calling you local Toast Master tomorrow at 8 AM (1).

    BTW… that was my actual 20% goal I’m about to reach … 🙂

    Cheers,

    Timo

  4. Awesome advice Craig!

    The issue I have had in the past is that I have too many goals to accomplish. No wonder I haven’t been able to achieve them all (although I have reached many of them).

    Because of this, I came up with 20-20-1-1 rule for defining the goals and reaching them. It’s an application of 80/20 rule:

    – First you identify your most important goals (the 20% goals). When you reach this goal it has the substantial effect in your life

    – Another 20% in this rule means the single most significant action you can take on your journey towards that goal

    – 1: What is the simplest step in that 20% action you can take

    – 1: What is the first possible moment you can take that simple action

    For example: Building self confidence (20% goal), participating to public speaking training (20% action), registration to your local Toast Masters club (1), calling you local Toast Master tomorrow at 8 AM (1).

    BTW… that was my actual 20% goal I’m about to reach … 🙂

    Cheers,

    Timo

  5. @TMNinja yeap, this is the year. I’ve read lots of your posts on this issue and I made probably the biggest resolution I’ve ever made

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