Setting goals for success is more than just jotting them down and forgetting about them. Have you ever planned at the start of the year only to forget about the goals by summer? Or better yet, planned goals and completely missed the mark. Today’s post is all about setting goals that are obtainable and implementing strategies to keep you on track. In the 10 Things to Do Before the End of the Year article, I gave you the categories that will help you. Even if it is mid-year or end of the year while reading this, it is never too late to set goals or even edit the ones you have.
After all, Life always throws curve balls.
The categories:
- Financial
- Physical
- Emotional
- Career
- Relationships
- Spiritual (Faith)
It does not matter which ones you start with but just that you finish them all. Relationships tend to take the longest because I put three subcategories for them.
1. Set the scene
To start, I want you to get in a relaxing environment, This can be your bed, closet, living room, or wherever you feel at ease. I usually start by praying and follow with praise and worship. Allow God in and help guide you through the plan that he has for you. Don’t worry about writing the perfect sentence or planning your entire year in one sitting. Sometimes not everything is revealed to you when you want it to be. It is good to make a conscious effort but being relaxed, at peace, and allowing God in is the most important part of this entire process.
Tip: My thinking cap always comes on when I have something warm to drink. Try it out and let me know how it goes
2. Invite your maker
The reason why we were horrible at the end of the year or quarter that we did not accomplish things is more than likely because you did not invite your maker into the process.
God is our creator and has a plan for our lives
The reason why we must invite him into our space and process is because He has a plan and assignment for our lives. The assignment is something that we can choose to do or not to do. The most important thing you will read from this, and I want you to remember whenever you set goals is that they are in stone.
Plans change from week to week, what makes you think they won’t change throughout the year
God may not reveal to you everything for your assignment or season in a couple days of a sit-down for goal setting whether it be the New Year or a quarter.
3. The house of the information
Now that you know the categories, I want you to find something to put your goals in. Something cute, something you do not mind going back to every four months to make edits (because you should). It can be a physical journal from Target or something digital from Etsy that you upload on your iPad. I personally like digital books for my goals but, I do have a physical journal for my daily brain dumps. When you look good you feel good and that’s the concept I want you to adopt.
The columns
The columns for each goal are as follows:
- Where are you now?
- Where do you want to be?
- How you are going to get there?
- Who will help you?
For an example:
An assessment of your current environment for each goal category. For example, For the topic of career.
Where am I now?
Currently, a full-time college student who is graduating in 2019
Where do I want to be?
Have a full-time job working for a Fortune 500 company in their marketing department.
How am I going to get there?
By applying to two jobs a day on LinkedIn, visiting my career services center at school, and redoing my resume.
Who will help me?
My career advisor at university, parents, LinkedIn premium
The column or stage labeled,” Who is going to help me get there”, does not have to include people you personally know. It can be books, podcasts, influencers, or bloggers that share information in a category. If you do a survey for each category and realize that most content you consume only leads you to buy things like clothes, it may be time to shift what you are consuming digitally.
This was an example of one of my goals when I graduated college. I was able to achieve this exact goal by getting a job and starting my career.
By letting God into your space and help create the goals. God is not always going to reveal every detail of your year. Every quarter, revise your goals and edit, erase, or revise dates.
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