It’s August and 2010 is nearly over! My thoughts have been centering on my goals for the year,what I have achieved thus far and what I would like to achieve in the next 5 months. I typically segment my goals into professional versus personal, though sometimes there is overlap. And while I know that goals should be measurable and have deadlines, some of my goals are simply one-off things I would like to do. While I don’t follow traditional advice on achieving goals (S.M.A.R.T.) here are a few tactics that I do use to hold myself responsible and be successful.
Make a List, Keep it in Sight, Check it Twice
I am a huge list maker. I once wrote a syllabus of my life for the next year (obsessive I know). While I don’t advocate writing an entire curriculum of your life, keeping ordered lists of your goals allows you to have all your thoughts out in the open. Keep this list somewhere where you will see it each and every day and will be able to make changes to it as you accomplish goals.
Make yourself Accountable
In achieving goals, one tactic I use to keep myself accountable is to tell people about my plans. This is not to brag or gloat but I find that once I tell someone (it can be one person or 10) about my goals, I feel more pressure to succeed in completing them. It’s like a personal watchdog system and keeps me honest that I not only do what I set out to but also to not let others down (or myself).
Take Baby Steps
Sometimes our goals seem larger than life and can be overwhelming. I find that when I imagine completing my goals it often times feels impossible. To combat these feelings, I break my goals into smaller goals or milestones. Each milestone contributes to the larger goal and acts as a quick win that can keep the momentum going to completing the larger task.
Push Yourself and Sacrifice
Nobody said living your dreams would be easy and at times it can seem like the hardest thing. I find that when I’m feeling like nothing is being accomplished that means I need to push myself harder. Whether that means waking up an hour earlier to write in the morning or working through lunch, sacrificing for your goals shows that you’re committed to them. That commitment will be returned with success.
Celebrate Big and Small Wins
Why wait until the end point is reached to celebrate? Celebrating small wins is equally important and will keep you fired up to continue down the path. All work and no play is not a recipe I follow. I believe in “work hard, play hard” and when you accomplish one of your goals, no matter how small, you deserve to be rewarded. Sometimes that reward is simply self-satisfaction.
Here is an abbreviated list of my goals. Some are career related, others purely personal and some a bit silly, but they are mine. Remember: Don’t apologize for your goals!
Professional Goals
- Apply to 1 freelance writing job a week
- Do a guest post once a month
- Sell 10 items from Missfit Vintage
- Earn at least my current yearly salary from my freelance endeavors
- Leave cubicle life and freelance full-time
- Write a book
Personal Goals
- Read one book a month for personal pleasure
- Take a solo vacation; just don’t get kidnapped
- Buy a Round the World ticket and go ’round the world
- Cultivate new relationships
- Prepare a home cooked meal once a week
- Have a themed birthday party
- Get a pug and love him like my unborn children
- Build a wardrobe full of clothing I love
I can’t believe it’s already August as well. Where did this year go?
I’m also with you on making lists, although I am terrible with keeping up with them. Good luck on keeping up with your goals for the rest of the year!
Thanks
I’m a serial list maker too. If I could keep them all in one place, I think I would fare better. LOL.
Girl, I have like 3 notebooks, plus my blackberry full of lists.
[...] Earlier this week, I saw a great post by Fajr on the subject of goals with some great tips & ideas for maintaining them. I’ve been [...]