Actually, there's more to it than that. While goal setting is important, reviewing progress and adjusting plans at various points throughout the year is even more important.
To be honest, I'm not very good at long-term goal setting. "Life" changes things sometimes in the blink of an eye (I know that all too well), so I don't like to set myself up for failure right from the start. Obviously I, too, need to not only set yearly goals and make plans, I need to concentrate on short-term goals and set aside time to adjust as necessary on a regular basis.
There are many goal-setting tools available and I'm sure I have at least two or three "how to set goals" e-books on my hard drive that I've purchased or downloaded for free with the greatest of intentions. But I'll admit that I am easily overwhelmed when it comes to tackling the job of reading the books and putting plans behind the goals and action behind the plans. So, this year what I intend to do (good intentions as usual, but I think this will work for me) is to simply write monthly goals in the front of a stenographer's notebook (the size suits me), record plans for the month, and then write a daily to-do list each night or early morning. I've been doing the daily lists for the past few weeks and that method is working well for me.
Have you started planning and setting goals for 2012? How do you do it? I'd love if you'd share your methods and favorite resources here. Perhaps the way you plan will ring true with someone who reads your comment, someone like me who struggles in this area. So please, leave a comment below. Your suggestions could really help someone have a truly productive new year!
I love goal setting. I have 12 goals for 2012. Each month I will chart whether I have progressed toward those goals. Like you, I use a daily list, too. And on a steno pad!
ReplyDeleteI make a big visual poster of my goals and I also use a goals notebook/prayer journal for daily reading. This gives me visual images of my goals for the year, and a way to work toward them one step at a time.
Happy New Year!
Joan, you are an inspiration, especially when it comes to goal-setting. Thanks so much for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking that the most important thing to remember about setting goals is not so much about the how but more important that we LOOK at them daily. I also have tried many different strategies toward addressing goals and have found for me that the simple habit of focusing on them every day matters the most, even if only for 10 minutes.
ReplyDeleteGreat point, Carolan, and very helpful. I really like the idea of a brief daily focus on goals. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteLike you my goal setting skills and follow thru can use some improvement. Over the years I’ve used a variety of things, including notebooks, calendars, post its, etc. It seems a system/method last a few years then changes for whatever reason. Most recently I’ve been using a “Palm” (a PDA). That is starting to change a little as I’m starting to use my phone and an online calendar some. Last year I did a lens, http://www.squidoo.com/my-personal-goals that was helpful. I checked back thru the year and each time it helped me to focus. I think I’m going to do that again this year along with trying to do some of the Flylady routines again. I meet with some other Flylady followers every other week, and we set measurable goals, and share our “Tada’s” (things we’ve accomplished). We limit our goals to 3 for a two week period as we have a tendency to put too much on our list which sets us up for failure. Tada’s can be anything accomplished, not just goals, this is especially encouraging if we didn’t get our goals done, because we usually got something done. This way we don’t beat ourselves up to much. As humans we have a tendency to “Write our failures in stone and our victories in sand” Here’s to the reverse in 2012.
ReplyDeleteAmen to that last statement, Valerie! You have some great ideas and I love your personal goals lens that you shared. Thank you so much for some new insight and methods that I will be incorporating into my 2012 plan!
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