2012 can be the best year yet! How are you going to set your goals? If you followed along for the last couple of weeks, you should have completed a good review and reflection of 2011. Now you need to take those thoughts and turn them into action in 2012.
Setting goals can take many forms. I would like to share with you three tips that can help you.
1. Think Big. Goals need to be big. You will be amazed at what you can achieve with the right plan, and a big goal. Dr. David Schwartz said this the best, “Believe Big. The size of your success is determined by the size of your belief. Think little goals and expect little achievements. Think big goals and win big success. Remember this, too! Big ideas and big plans are often easier — certainly no more difficult — than small ideas and small plans.”
2. Set Targets. Most of the time people will tell you to set target dates. Some people are not helped by target dates. Target dates can sometimes pass, and if you did not meet your objective you can feel depressed, and with the lack of action to get back on track, you may give up your action.
So if target dates work for you, use them. But if they don’t, find another method to stay on track. For example you can use a counter. If you want to read 20 books this year, put a sticky note with your remaining count of books in front of you. You can put it on your desk, or wherever you can see it everyday. Another option is to find a picture of what achieving the goal will mean to you. Keep it in front of you, and make it a part of your reflection process.
Don’t get hung up on target dates. Spend more time on defining your big goals, and the actions required to achieve them, which is tip #3.
3. Take Action. Everyday. Plan your work, and work your plan. If your goal was to chop down by hand a large tree in your yard, and everyday you went outside and took two swings with your axe, what would happen? At some point in time, that tree would fall. The same is true with those big goals. Take some action everyday, and you will achieve them.
I hope those three simple tips can help you get off to a great start this year. It will be a great year!