It’s the last week in 2010, and this is the week when New Year’s resolutions and goals are on many people’s minds. My style the past few years has been to figure out what specific things I want to accomplish in the coming year and then do everything I can to make them happen. I hadn’t actually put goals on paper (or in digital form) until I started at Identity. Was that wrong or irresponsible of me? I don’t think so. Everyone operates differently.
It’s important to set goals for things you know you want to change/accomplish/work on the following year. But, sometimes the need for change pops up at a different point in the year – not in the beginning. This happened to me this year. One of my 2010 goals that I set at the end of 2009 was to revamp this blog – and I did by February 2010 (largely thanks to Hubert Sawyers). However, I decided I was ready for a job change after the new year, so I didn’t plan for one of my 2010 goals to be securing a new job. I set that goal in February, and I achieved it by the end of March.
I share these personal examples to make two points:
- Do what works for you when it comes to setting goals.
- Don’t become so fixated on the goals you set at the beginning of the year that you ignore the need for change/growth throughout the year.
To build off the first point, take a strategy Chris Brogan has openly shared, and one I’m trying out in 2011. Chris suggests picking three words to use as guidance for what you do in the coming year. This strategy still includes goal setting, but in a different manner. I like this idea, and I’ve picked the words I want to guide me to success in 2011 (also saved as an Evernote note so I can frequently access them and add to them).
I’m also a fan of what Amber Naslund wrote about goals and resolutions in her Brass Tack Thinking post today. All too often, we break New Year’s resolutions because we don’t hold ourselves accountable for those goals that we set. Similar to the second point above, Amber prefers a daily resolution that encourages her to constantly make great things happen. This way, growth and action happen all year long.
A third and final point on goals: If you prefer to go the traditional route and set a certain number of resolutions/goals that you plan to concentrate on in 2011, then do it the right way. Borrowing from something that’s drilled into our heads in the PR world, make sure your goals are SMART. Specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely.
It’s simple. Don’t choose flaky goals to accomplish in the new year, or you’re setting yourself up to break them.
What are your thoughts on New Year’s goals/resolutions? Do you set specific ones, or do you have your own style?
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