By GGTW Co-founder Amanda Way
This time of year, I always think about my goals for the next year. Sometimes the process is easy, but sometimes I need more time to finalize what I really want. Whether I settle on my goals in December or February, I always set them at the turn of the year, and use them to track towards achievement as the year progresses. I’ve found that watching my progress is a great way to stay motivated and recognize my hard work.
Often times I start out by setting a big, hairy, audacious goal and then work my way backwards to figure out how to get there. For example, I shared in a previous post that I wanted to be a Director by the time I was 30. I set this goal when I was 26. So, to stay on target, I set different incremental goals for each year to help me track towards the larger goal. I knew it would take time and patience, and breaking the big goal down into a series of smaller wins really helped me appreciate my growth and progress along the way.
Other times, I decide to set a very vague goal, and then try to figure out the best way to measure it. For example, in 2018 I wanted to read more (vague). So, in order to track my progress, I modified my goal to be, “I will read one book a month.” (And I will meet my goal for this year, thank you very much!) By changing that vague goal into something more specific (or quantifiable), I knew I would be less likely to put it off, and more likely to get it done. Making it more specific also provided little milestones along the way so I could give myself a mental pat on the back for each achievement.
Last, to help me set and stay focused on my goals, I love making vision boards. Yes, Pinterest is great, but I’ve learned it’s better to have something I will see every day. I use magazines and printed pictures to create my vision board collage every year. I usually create mine in January and hang it by my vanity, so I see it every morning when I get ready for the day.
As I reflected on this subject for this week’s blog post, I realized that I’ve even improved at setting goals! (Yay for me!) So, I thought it would be beneficial to share my hints and tips to help you get ready for the new year and establish your set of hoped-for achievements.
Set a huge goal. Find someone you admire, or someone who has your dream job, and then find out how they got there. Focus on the specific steps you can replicate from their story that will eventually lead you to your big, hairy, audacious goal.
Make your goals measurable. Start with topics or categories that you want to improve and then make your goal measurable, (like I did with reading a book a month instead of simply reading more).
Plan a vacation as a reward for accomplishing your goal!
Think about what motivates you. Humans generally like to be rewarded for doing good things, so use that to your advantage. If you like going to the beach as as special treat, then plan out a beach vacation as a reward for accomplishing a certain goal.
Build in small wins along the way. I love the book Make Your Bed, because it reminds me that the first goal or task you complete sets the tone for the day. Making your bed is a quick, small win you can achieve every day and it starts you off on the right path (success!). But, if things don’t go exactly as you’d hoped…
Don’t beat yourself up. Life gets tough and takes unexpected turns; some things get in the way and are out of your control. The goals you set are yours, so you can change them, revise them, and do what you need to do. Do anything, except giving up on them or yourself. And always remember…
We’re here for you. When you’re stuck or you need some encouragement, send us an email or contact us through the contact page. Someone on our team of Go-getters has probably gone through a similar situation and can share her experience to help you get over the rough spot. If you’re too shy to do that, ask a colleague or trusted friend to support you as you navigate through the unknown.
Whatever you decide to set for goals in 2019, we wish you the best for achieving them. Now, go get the world! We’re here if you need us.
Check in again next week as we share some stories about success achieved through goal setting.
Go Get The World 
Love this post! I believe in big, hairy goals also but the devil is always in the detail so I learned over time to break them down into smaller goals.
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