| A new year brings with it expectations, hopes and | | | | so head the third column "Timeline". Commit to a time |
| dreams. It also hopefully brings renewed commitment | | | | whereby you will aim to achieve each step. The |
| to keep in focus what is truly important to us. We | | | | fourth column is headed "Achieved" and this is where |
| also need it to bring the energy, enthusiasm and | | | | you tick or date or place a gold star when you have |
| passion to make those expectations, hopes and | | | | achieved that specific goal. Review your plan every |
| dreams reality. | | | | week. Is it taking you where you want to go? Make |
| So the beginning of a new year is a time when | | | | it a "living plan". Don't set it in concrete. Change it, |
| setting "goals" is often the topic of conversation. So | | | | add to it, but be honest about why you are changing |
| here are a few tips. | | | | it. Change it to do or be something more, not to cop |
| 1. Make sure the goals you set are YOUR goals, not | | | | out and do and be something less! |
| someone else's. If you find yourself saying: "I should...I | | | | 6. Reward yourself when you achieve a goal. |
| ought to...I have to...I must...", then it is likely that the | | | | Celebrate the achievement, giving it importance |
| goal is not yours. Ask yourself: "Who said, I should, | | | | because that motivates and empowers you to take |
| must, ought to, have to?" Whose expectations am I | | | | on your other goals with the same passion and |
| trying to meet? Saying "I want to......in 2008" is more | | | | enthusiasm. In fact, make one of your goals that you |
| likely to be what you want to achieve. | | | | will focus on your achievements, not on your failures |
| 2. Your goals need to meet the needs of the whole | | | | or inadequacies. Get yourself the type of note-book |
| YOU - the professional YOU, the family and friend | | | | that looks as if it will do justice to your achievements |
| YOU and the individual YOU. | | | | and every day - maybe it will be leather or have a |
| 3. Don't set too many goals, or ones that are too | | | | funky design or a "painting" by a famous artist, for |
| demanding or unrealistic, because that sets you up | | | | example. Write down what you achieved that day |
| for failure rather than success. Reflect on what is | | | | and what you can be grateful for that day. |
| most important for you and what will make the | | | | Consistently doing this will change your life, especially |
| biggest difference in your life, both personally and | | | | when you read back over it on the "bad" days. Don't |
| professionally. Break the big goals down into small | | | | ignore the failures and inadequacies. Reflect on them |
| steps that make them achievable before the end of | | | | but proactively move on. Make every lemon into |
| the year. | | | | lemonade, and add a dash of vodka! |
| 4. Think about the "being" and the "doing" part of the | | | | 7. Reflect on what has stopped you achieving your |
| goal. Sometimes "being" a certain way stops us | | | | goals in the past. Is it time, the inability to be |
| achieving the "doing" part. Sometimes too much | | | | consistent, the way you handle your emotions, your |
| focus on the "doing" and nothing much on the "being" | | | | lack of assertiveness in following through, or what? |
| finds satisfaction avoiding us. Maybe I need to | | | | When you've discovered that, make it one of your |
| change the way I act or behave to achieve what is | | | | goals to change that in 2008. That will need a number |
| really important to me. Sometimes we have to seem | | | | of steps! |
| to lose to actually win! | | | | At this point, you may decide that you want to |
| 5. Draw up a 3, 4 or 6 month plan for yourself. As | | | | invest in yourself in 2008 - personally and |
| well as keeping it on your computer, keep a hard | | | | professionally and get yourself a personal consultant, |
| copy on your desk. Draw a table with four columns. | | | | a mentor, coach or professional supervisor, to |
| On the top of the first column write the heading | | | | journey with you, to help you do this. That person |
| "Goal", and write your goal underneath. Be very | | | | can support, empower and challenge you, as well as |
| specific. Remember it has to be achievable. The | | | | celebrating your wins and helping you pro actively |
| second column is headed "Process". Here you write | | | | turn the lemon into lemonade! You have to add the |
| what you are going to do to achieve that goal. Make | | | | dash of vodka. |
| them achievable steps. Having a timeline is important | | | | |