Are you ready for 2021?
The end of the year is coming fast. Are you ready for it? Have you set your 2021 goals? Have you created the plan to accomplish them? What’s the next step? What will help you the most to accomplish next year’s goals?
Setting your goals for the next year is very crucial to next year’s success. Yeah, I know there are a lot of people who say that setting goals is a waste of time.
I would agree with them if you’re not committed to keeping them or putting a plan in place to accomplish them.
Whether you like to use SMART goals (which is my personally preferred method) or some other method that works for you, isn’t as important as getting something written down AND writing the plan of how you plan to accomplish them.
As our gift to you this season, between now and Christmas, we will be providing you principles that will bring you greater success in the year 2021, if you choose to use them.
Energy then Direction
A few years ago, a canoeing instructor was teaching a group of us to paddle and steer a canoe. We were on the Snake River in Wyoming, just outside of Jackson Hole. It’s absolutely beautiful in that canyon between Jackson Hole and Alpine Junction.
The instructor said that to get to where we wanted to go, and to keep ourselves from getting into trouble in the current of the river, we needed to set the direction then apply energy.
Setting goals is much the same. We have to know where we’re going (set a direction) before setting goals (applying energy).
`Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?’
`That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,’ said the Cat.
`I don’t much care where–‘ said Alice.
`Then it doesn’t matter which way you go,’ said the Cat.
`–so long as I get SOMEWHERE,’ Alice added as an explanation.
`Oh, you’re sure to do that,’ said the Cat, `if you only walk long enough.’”
(Alice in Wonderland By Lewis Carol)
If you were to build a house, would you just start building without an image of what it should look like? Or, would you picture it in your mind, then put it on paper?
Creating the vision of ‘who’ you will be should be no different.
What is your vision of you? Who do you want to be? What do you want to accomplish? Who and what do you want in your life? How would you like to be remembered? When you reach the end of your career and life what would make you feel you had become who you want to be and had accomplished what you want to accomplish?
Before you start setting your goals for 2021, create a picture of you in your mind of who you want to be at least 10 years from now, longer if you can.
Write this picture of who you are in a place you can see it regularly. It will be your destination, your north star, which will help guide you in setting your goals, planning your daily activities, and making decisions.
Vacations - the Ultimate Planning Tool
Vacations are great, aren’t they? They’re fun, memorable, very fulfilling…and are the ultimate planning tool.
Each year, you plan at least one vacation. To ensure its memorable and as relaxing (relative term) as possible, you choose:
- where you will go
- when you will go
- who will go
- what you will do
- what resources do you need (equipment, vehicles, gear, food, etc.)
- how much you will spend
You do this with ease and usually enjoy it!
Planning and executing personal and professional goals is and can be as fulfilling and enjoyable as planning and experiencing successful vacations…and its the same process.
Visualize what you want to do – see yourself doing it and how it feels – (just like you do for your vacation)
Set your goals to reach the vision – make them specific – what you will do, when you will do it, how you know you have done it – (sound like what you do for your vacation?)
Create the plan to reach it – just like you do for your vacation:
- where you will go
- when you will go
- who will go
- what you will do
- what resources do you need
- how much you will spend
That’s it! That is all you have to do to create a good plan. A good plan will help you realize your vision and accomplish your goals.
Execution - The Key To Success
“For of all sad words of tongue or pen, The saddest are these: ‘It might have been!'” – John Greenleaf Whittier
We all have the opportunity to achieve whatever level of success we desire. Having a vision of what or who we want to be is the first step, putting goals and then a plan are steps 2 and 3 on the road to success and are crucial to success. What separates the highly successful is their ability to execute – to get the important things done.
Successful execution has several steps:
1- Ensure your goal is clear and congruent to your purpose – your end in mind – you must have absolute clarity about the result and how it aligns with your purpose. You must be able to share it clearly and concisely with others. If it isn’t you’ll struggle. Your purpose should be the center of everything you do. When your goals are clear and congruent to your purpose, your confidence increases, your energy and motivation to complete the goal increase dramatically, you feel a greater inner peace, decisions are easier to make, and things fall in place.
2- Remember the ‘why’ you are doing it. You must have clarity on why you are doing it and the ‘why must be big enough to get you through the obstacles and challenges that will get in the way of you completing your goal.
3- Use all the resources you need to complete your goal, including mentors, coaches, and your higher power to help get you there. Don’t forget to involve those who are interested in your success – family, friends, co-workers – who may help you or at least provide encouragement and support.
4- Identify the critical path. What activities will give you the most leverage? The 80/20 rule applies here. What 20% of activities, will give you 80% of the results you are seeking?
5- Remove obstacles before they become insurmountable. Write down what could keep you from succeeding. Then plan and put in place how you will keep them from stopping you or slowing you down. It is best to put the things that will help you succeed close to you, and things that will hinder you as far away and inaccessible as possible.
6- Keep a positive attitude. Keep from saying you can’t and won’t. Just get out there and find the way do it! “Whether you think you can, or think you can’t …you’re right.” – Henry Ford
7- Keep track of where you are. Create incremental milestones along the way. Keep the milestones small enough to complete in short time periods (weekly if possible), and evaluate where you are against the plan. Knowing where you are brings clarity. Knowing where you are and when you are, enables adjustments that might be necessary to keep on track.
Execution is key to your success!
To download a goal accomplishing checklist, click the button below.