Your 2018 Goals
I read an alarming statistic today. The article I read said 80% of New Year's resolutions made fail by FEBRUARY! That is absolutely amazing to me.
Maybe that's why I never made New Year's resolutions. Instead, I always liked to make goals. I like the thought process around making goals - especially when they are S.M.A.R.T.* :
S = Specific
M = Measurable
A = Attainable
R = Realistic
T = Time-based
(*November 1981, Management Review - George Doran, Arthur Miller, and James Cunningham.)
As a college instructor, I taught a section of my class about the importance of written goals because 97% of adults had no written goals. It was so gratifying to receive emails from students about how much that portion of the class really helped them. I even got emails from students after I no longer had them in class stating they had finished their goals and were so very proud of their accomplishments. How rewarding (for them, but for me as well)!
In my class exercise, I gave students a sheet and had them not only write their main goal, but three sub-goals of how they were going to get to their goal. For example:
1. I will make the Dean’s List this semester
a) Find a tutor to assist me with my hardest classes.
b) Spend an hour more per day studying for my most difficult class(es).
c) Join a study group.
When we first joined WA, one of our first tasks was to indicate our financial goals. Writing our goals was a great exercise and an awesome habit to form.
As this new year begins, what goals have you set for WA? What steps will you take to reach each goal?
In addition to writing your goals, there are other aspects to keep in mind to become successful in reaching your goals:
1. Are your goals S.M.A.R.T.?
2. Have you placed your goals in an area you can see them everyday for motivation?
3. Have you shared your goals with someone who will encourage you and shares your vision?
I hope each and every one of you achieve your goals. I wish you the best in 2018 and beyond.
~ Yvette ~
Recent Comments
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My goal is to get to first base where I actually start making some money. When that happens I'll assess how I can make the income grow.
I have made many goals but where I fail is I don't take them in on a daily bases in other words make them a habit. I need to post them where I can see them each day and your post is a timely reminder to do just that.
Thanks for the prompt
Geoff
Thank you for your kind words. I am so happy it was helpful to you.
All the best to you here in WA.
Hi Yvette
Happy New Year! A nice post again, thanks!
Goals are important and direction is important, knowing when to change is important. As we read so often, taking ACTION is also so important. Setting your GOAL is the first step to living your DREAM.
Wayne
Yvette, I love your article. I actually did one of the exercises for my goals. I love the acronym for Smart. Definitely worth reading. Thank you.
Dear Yclaton, thank you so much for this post. I have set the goals, now I need to put them somewhere I can see them. 1st I need to check the smart chart to find out if they measure they measure up. They may need some fine-tuning. I appreciate you sharing this message with us all and since I am not good at resolutions this is the way I plan to go this year. May it be a happy and prosperous year for us all.
Thank you for the kind words. I appreciate it and glad to be helpful. Fine-tuning your goals is quite alright. Also, when this goal list is complete, start another one :)
Wishing you all the best.
Having goals is very important, as is having the subgoals for reaching the main goal. Thanks for the reminder to plan for success. There is no other way, unless of course one has the good fortune to succeed with them.
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I read a couple of books on goal setting and it really helps when you understand how to set your goals and follow them where we fell at goals is when we do not finish our goals and start new ones and that is why so many of us fell at goals.
I agree. Finish your first list before starting another. Great point!