But don’t do it yet. I’m going to ask you to do something else first.

Before you put your goals down on paper and create a plan for where you will go this year, I want you to step back and look at where you went last year. Here are five reasons why this crucial step must not be missed:

1. You need to celebrate your wins

No matter how many times I say this, I know there are still people who take it lightly or skip it altogether. Celebrating what went well last year will fuel your fire well into the New Year.

2. You need to analyze your pitfalls

Looking back at the goals you did not meet will give you valuable information about what gets in your way, so that you can avoid those same things tripping you up this year.

3. You need to measure your results

Once you have a sense of how much you were able to improve last year, you can use that number to set your sights even higher this year. It will help you stay realistic and still strive to hit that next level of success.

4. You need to look at the big picture

Examining the entire year gives you a birds-eye perspective of your highs and lows, wins and losses. You’ll see where your professional life took the forefront, when your personal life did, and how they balanced out overall.

5. You need to score your own performance

When you see how you put your skills to work, it will reinforce that those are what you need to access this year as well. Likewise, when you can identify your liabilities, you can plan to compensate or delegate to address them

Here are five self-assessment questions you should definitely answer before you set any more goals for next year. Download the Tough 20 Pre-Goal Setting Questionnaire here.

1. What went well last year?
2. What was most challenging last year? What did you learn from those challenges?
3. What is motivating you to succeed this year?
4. If things worked out perfectly, what professional and personal goals would you accomplish over the next three months?
5. What qualities will you need to accomplish these goals? For example, courage, strength, persistence or confidence.

Are you going to be like so many who burn out and give up on their goals and resolutions by March? Or are you going to set yourself up for success by creating a realistic plan by taking action now? Answer these questions, and download the Tough 20 Pre-Goal Setting Questionnaire.

If you want to start the year strong, be strong enough to be honest with yourself.

As the seasons change, it’s a perfect time to perform a personal and professional goals “check-up”. In business, we have natural “check points” to determine if we’re on track to meet our annual goals. We have budgets, cash flow, payroll, bankers, boards, etc., all keeping us on task.

But what do we have for natural check points for our personal goals? I advise my clients to use the change in seasons as the “natural” time to do your personal goals “check-up”. That mindset helps you to remember to check in on your goals at least four times each year.

Right now we’ve got a few minutes between quarters to get you refocused on the goals you want to achieve by year-end. So let’s get
to work.

Here are just three things to consider when evaluating your year-end goals:

FUN

Yes, we’re getting to work on meeting your year-end goals, but you can also have some FUN while working on them. If achieving your goal means you must put all else in life (especially a little fun once in a while) on hold so you can WORK on that goal, then maybe it’s not realistic. Can you rework that goal in a way that lets you build in some fun? Can you join a class at the “Y” to help you work on your fitness goal? Attend a motivational seminar to help you work on reinforcing your positive mindset and attitude. Set a goal for your work team with the prize of a group lunch at a fun restaurant. Working toward your goals MUST be fun and exciting as well.

REALISTIC

I often refer to the story told by Frank Shorter, US Olympic Team Marathon Gold Medal Winner, when he describes his mindset of not thinking of a marathon as running 26 miles, but instead as running one mile 26 times. Break it down into smaller and more manageable pieces. We’re entering the 4th quarter, which is made up of three months, and each month has four weeks, etc. Break a three month goal into more manageable monthly, weekly or even daily pieces – and track your progress!

EXTRAORDINARY

I challenge you to do something once a day that “scares” you a little. Step out of your comfort zone. Be adventurous. Think and act “outside the box”. Feel alive. Have something to brag about at year end. Achieve your goal!

Take a look at the goals list you created late last year and consider if it’s realistic to think you’ll achieve all on your list. And remember…it’s YOUR list! You can be flexible. You MUST be flexible. Revisit your goals list. Rework the goals that may not be realistic. Realize that you can’t reach the goals you set unless you have a sense of urgency and have made a commitment to live your life “with
purpose”.

Take the next step

Would you like to sit down with me for a few minutes and get started on your daily, weekly and monthly actions? Send me a message and we’ll coordinate a time that works best for both of us to focus on what’s best for you.

Keeping the Main Thing the Main Thing. Go For It!

Making decisions about what’s important in your life, where you want to go, and who you want to be – is easier when you have a goal, because if you’re honest with yourself you know in your head and in your gut if a particular choice is leading you towards your goal or away from it.

When you don’t have a goal – a roadmap, life can be aimless, stagnant, or even self-destructive.

Here are the Top 10 Qualities of Your Next Winning Goal:

1. Fun.  When the game is fun, the goals get done. Whatever your goal, make sure it’s something you can enjoy working towards. Find a path to the finish line that makes use of your strengths and gives you opportunities for connection, fulfillment and joy.
2. Realistic.  Your goal needs to be realistic and not too lofty – a marathon runner aims to run one mile, 26 times. Use your track record of meeting or not meeting previous goals as your guide. Not meeting your goals has as much to teach you as meeting them – instead of giving up, break the goal down further.
3. Personal.  Goals need to be something you want to achieve, based on your own passion and vision. If a goal is something you or someone else thinks you “should” do, it’s not your goal.  It MUST be YOUR goal.  Own it.
4. Concrete.  Your goal needs to be tangible and definable. “I’m going to spend more time with my children,” is an admirable thought. “I’m going to spend 30-minutes reading a bedtime story to my children every night,” is a goal.  It’s defined and it’s measurable.
5. Revered.  Achieving a goal is cause for celebration. Too often people swing from berating themselves for not working hard enough or letting themselves off the hook, to shrugging off their accomplishments because they’re too busy chasing the next goal.  Recognize your hard work – and note that you’re making progress.
6. Extraordinary.  Eleanor Roosevelt implored, “Do one thing every day that scares you.” Your goal should be outside of your comfort zone, outside of your job description, outside of your daily routines and rituals that you’re going to do anyway. We set a goal when we want to do MORE or do better.
7. Flexible.  You may need to shift and adapt your goals if you find you’re consistently off track. How can you think outside of the box and still get where you want to go?  Don’t let one setback derail your entire plan.  Be prepared to take a step back, assess the situation and get back in the game – perhaps with a revised plan.  Don’t quit.
8. Applied.  You can only turn your passions and dreams into reality by setting and reaching your goals. Make this new effort part of your everyday routine.  Apply to how you think and what you do – and it will change the way you feel.  Decide what you want, what you’re going to do to get it, write it down and start doing it. Don’t take it lightly, live your life “on purpose.”
9. Top-of-mind. Goals need your attention, or they can be easily obliterated by daily life; other things will inevitably become more important and take over. Make your goals fit in with what you also want to do for your family, career and community, so that you’re not choosing between them.  This is important – YOU are important.
10. Shared.  Goals need to be spoken out loud, committed and shared. When someone else knows what you’re trying to accomplish, you give them the opportunity to support you. And for them, you’re a living role model of inspiration, passion and purpose.

If your previous attempts to improve yourself have failed, go back to the drawing board and make sure that you’re working towards the right goal. Once you set a winning goal for yourself, the road to change becomes clear.

You have the power within you – right now, to change your life. The first step is to change your mind – about who you are, what you want, what you’ll accept in your life – and what you want to achieve.

Let’s work on this together. Let’s take this journey side-by-side.

Live your life with purpose – and on purpose.