As 2007 comes to an end, it is time to start thinking about what you would like to accomplish in 2008. The first step of creating a goal is to decide what your goal actually is.
This may sound basic, but it is important. Try to be as specific as possible. Rather than a goal to “make more money this year,” create a goal that says specifically how much extra you would like to earn per month, whether it is $100, $500, or even a $1,000.
It is also important for each goal to be measurable. In other words, you have to give yourself a timeline to complete the goal. If your goal is to start a business, do you plan on doing that in 2008? And if so, what month would you like to define as your launch month?
If your goal is open ended, you won’t be as motivated to work on it. Once you set a deadline, you will know that you need to get working on it in order to meet that deadline.
To be achieved, goals need to be realistic. If a person decides their goal is to complete a triathlon by April, yet they haven’t worked out in 10 years, the person is setting their self up for failure. The best goals require you to work a little bit harder than normal to achieve them, but remain something you can accomplish.
A great way to stay motivated is to tell others about your goal. Once you are accountable to someone else, you will not want to fail. You will want to prove to that person that you can succeed.
As you work on your goals, you may find it helpful to keep track of your progress. You can do this by writing in a journal or by creating a spreadsheet on the computer. By looking at how far you’ve come, you’ll be ready to take on the future.
To help you reach your goals, I have a New Year’s gift for you. You can get your copy of “The IndieBizChicks.com Guide To: Business Resolutions To Help You Make It Great In ’08,” plus audio interviews with a few experts, including a life coach and a doctor who specializes in stress management just by subscribing to The Weekly Biz Tips (hint: it’s the box in the top right)
