Smart Goals. Commitment. Setting Goals.

Smart Goals. Commitment. Setting Goals.

Another year has come to a close. Where did it go? Where have the last 15 years gone? I remember when we were all getting ready for the New Millennium. Now, 15 years later we wonder where did the time go?  Personally I love this time of year because it is the beginning of a New Year and it’s right before my birthday. It is a time to reflect. A time to assess my last year’s commitment to my goals, and a time to create a new commitment for setting goals.  It’s a time to get excited about all that awaits me.
Additionally what I particularly like about this time of year is that it gives me, yet, another opportunity to be grateful — for the small stuff.  And I know what is true for me is also true for you.  It is an opportunity to ponder all that we’ve been given, all that was taken away, and all that we were left with. So together, let’s renew our commitment to setting goals.
First, let’s reflect on your goals from 2014. Ask yourself:

• Of the goals you set last year, which ones did you accomplish?
• What did it take for you to accomplish those goals?
• Of those you did not accomplish, what do you think got in the way of you realizing those dreams?

Now, let’s turn to this year. It’s a brand new chapter, a clean slate, where you get to create the first patch of your 2015 quilt.  Ask yourself, what is important for you to accomplish by the end of this year? What will it take to make that happen? Make the commitment today to make it real. Write each goal down on a colored index card. Most folks call them Smart Goals, but I also call them SWARM Goals.  Here are some additional things to take into account as you are identifying your goals:

1. SWARM goals
   1. Specific,
   2. Written,
   3. Achievable,
   4. Realistic,
   5. Measurable;
2. Feel free to do whatever you like, but what works for me is categorizing my smart goals or SWARM goals. I like to put my goals in categories e.g., health, financial, business/work related, spiritual, personal development, relationships (family and friends), miscellaneous;
3. After I identify the big overriding goals, I break my tasks into small manageable pieces — baby steps.

To motivate you in this New Year, also consider the following affirmations:

• Just for today, I will keep my eye on the goal.
• Just for today, I will have the courage to risk failure.
• Just for today, I am willing to try something new.
• Just for today, I see myself as living the life of my dreams.

Throughout the year check-in with yourself (or me) on your SWARM goals and be honest about your progress. Make sure to ask yourself, “Are my goals achievable and realistic?” Let’s make this a great year!
Feel free to join my conversation on Facebook, Facebook Esteemableacts Fan Page, or my Facebook Law Page, you can also interact with me on my Twitter Esteemable Acts page, Twitter Law Page, or on LinkedIn. Let me know how you are doing with your personal and your career goals.