Goal Setting Strategies for 2021

Goal setting and New Years Resolutions are always popular topics this time of year. Another thing people do this time of year is pick their word for the year. This year I chose 2 words that you can read about in last weeks blog post (link)

I spent Saturday Jan 2^nd setting my personal and professional goals for the year. It didn’t take long and I use the same system I used to teach when I first started speaking and still teach in my self leadership training. You can listen to me share about it on the Tea Time Tuesday Show.

The statistics on how many people actually follow through and accomplish their New Year's resolutions are rather grim. Studies have shown that less than 25% of people actually stay committed to their resolutions after just 30 days, and only 8% accomplish them.

The same goes for goals if they are just a list of things. Most people know about the SMART goal formula to set goals. Specific, Measurable, Actionable, Relevant and Timed. 

This is a good foundation for setting goals. I like to add Accountable to the A in SMART goals and change Relevant to Realistic. You need to be accountable to someone to keep you on track. Either a supervisor, coach, advisor, friend or an accountability buddy. Someone you can report your progress to and course correct for things that aren’t working.

You also need to set your goals with a statement that puts the goal into motion.

You can also edit it by adding “and I am committed to having or being”

“It is now” is the date you plan to achieve the goal by. Using the SMART goal formula for measurable and Timed, these both cover that. You can measure progress leading up to the time and being timed by setting a date. Also be realistic with the date. For instance if you are starting a business, its not realistic to expect to make $100k a month at the beginning.

It is now 31 Dec 20 (or Dec 31, 2020 for non military types :+)

The second part is the actual goal. For the goal you need to be specific.

And I have increased sales for Baskets and Beads to $10,000 a month.

Or if I add the extra statement :

And I am committed to increasing sales for Baskets and Beads to $10,000 a month.

This is a specific goal and is realistic given sales trajectory from 2019-2020. Obviously 2020 sales were reduced from COVID so looking at the trajectory we were doing in 2019 it would appear that this would be achievable for 2021. It’s also timed for allowing the year to ramp up and will be measured by monitoring sales stats.

If you want to be part of us achieving that goal for Baskets and Beads and increase opportunities for women to be self sufficient, click here to check out the on line store.

I added more specifics to my goal under the statement and I have a coach to help me be accountable.

I gave other examples of this and the outcomes in the Jan 5^th Tea Time Tuesday Show. Listen here:

There is one important step left to do and one important thing I include. I always take things to prayer to make sure I’m in alignment with God’s plans for my life.

I would not want to set a goal that goes against my faith. For instance setting a goal that would require doing something illegal or immoral to get there.

Once you set the goal, you need to figure out your “end step” which is the step you see that will consider the goal complete for you. For example like I shared in Tea Time Tuesday about the publishing of my book Heart of a Military Woman, the end step was me opening the first box of books and taking out and holding a book.

It’s whatever that step is for you. Whatever makes it real to you, not anyone else. It’s your vision, your dream, your goal.

Then you close your eyes and visualize the process to get to the end step. Let your mind go and imagine getting to your goal. I like to close my eyes and visualize that process to this video:

If you take these steps you will get closer to achieving your goals. It’s not an absolute because goals and focus changes and things can happen.

Someone once asked “what if I do this and it doesn’t work?” It’s important to always do an after action review to see what worked, what didn’t and what can be improved for next time. If you stay on this and monitor it closely, chances are you can course correct before things go wrong and make the adjustments you need to achieve your goals and dreams.

To a prosperous 2021

Nakupenda

Eldonna