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.

Take a few moments in the coming days to pause for just a bit. Find a quiet place to sit down with a pad of paper and pen and make some notes of your most memorable moments of the last twelve months. Sometimes it helps to start in January and work your way through to the end of the year. It doesn’t have to be a highly detailed list, just bullet-points will do. Perhaps there was the birth of a new family member, an anniversary, a promotion, a special dinner you planned with friends, a new business or great new account, a child’s graduation, a project you completed, a vacation, etc.

Once you have your year’s “greatest hits” list take just a quick moment to let the last year “sink in”. We get so caught up in getting things done that we don’t always take a moment to appreciate what we have accomplished. Take a moment to find some satisfaction in what’s happened and how you made an impact. Celebrate.

Now take another look at your list. What you have on your list can say a great deal about you. Think of your list as the start of your “report” on the last year.

Here are some things to consider about your list:

Accomplishment “Thinking”

Was it easy for you to even start the list? Do you regularly note when you experienced an “event” or “moment”? If not, then start making it a regular practice. Write a quick note in your planner or on the calendar the day it happens. Make it easy to take account of your “moments”.

Balanced

Are there just as many personal and family moments as there are work and business moments? Don’t forget to “live” your life. Sometimes we have to make plans and “force” ourselves to do things out of our normal routine. It’s great to have your list of professional and business goals, but don’t forget about your list of personal and family goals!

Looking Ahead

How can you make next year even better? What might you have accomplished in the last year if only you’d planned a bit better? What should be your Top 5 professional and personal goals for the coming year? What’s something you’ve REALLY wanted to accomplish in your life? Can you at least start down that path in the coming months?

It is the most wonderful time of the year because it’s the close of one period in our lives, but also the opening of a brand new opportunity.

You do have accomplishments from the last year. You have proven that you can get things done. But only you can turn your passions and dreams into reality, and you do that by setting and reaching even small goals. 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.”

Happy Holidays!

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.

Before you set personal or professional goals, take a deep and honest look at yourself, your achievements and your challenges. This questionnaire will help you.

Instructions: Before you answer these questions, grab your appointment calendar on your phone or from Outlook, your “to do” lists, and other records. Use them to collect a list of the highlights and challenges of the year to date. You may be surprised how much you’ve already forgotten, or that it was such an eventful year!

What goals did you set last year upon which you feel you made progress or that you accomplished?

What are you most proud of accomplishing last year?

What skills did you use most in your effort?

What else helped you succeed?

What was most challenging to you last year?

What else might have held you back?

Was it time management, unexpected events (“life”) or a lack of energy?

What goal did you set last year that you kept delaying or putting off for another day or week?

What is still challenging you right now?

What do you like most about yourself right now?

What do you think others like most about you right now?

How will you know if you’re successful? What does “success” really mean for you?

What is motivating you to do something different to find success?

Are you REALLY ready, willing and able to change – no matter how hard it might be to stick with it?

If things work out perfectly, what key 4-6 professional and personal goals will you accomplish over the next three months?  What will that look like for you?

What qualities will you need to accomplish these goals? (for example, courage, strength, persistence or confidence)

How will you handle setbacks, mistakes and failures?

Who do you consider to be your “support system”?

Who do you know and trust who can help keep you on track and support you through tough times?

How are you prepared to keep track of your goals, successes and challenges in the next 12-months?

How are you prepared to perform your goals “check-up” every 3-months?

What will you do to push yourself outside your comfort zone and put a little “life” back into your life in the coming year?

People say some fabulous things and make some great promises each year about what they’re going to accomplish.  With these questions, I’m challenging you to step back and see if you’ve really got the foundation in place to make your goals come true.  You can be your greatest motivator and teacher – or your best “excuse maker.”  I’m inviting you to learn from your own life’s lessons and take that knowledge and experience with you as you begin your journey to the new you.

Need more help?  Let’s talk.  I help people – just like you, work toward finding and achieving their true life goals every day.