“Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right.” ~ Oprah Winfrey
The year is coming to an end. Have you set for what you want to achieve next year and the years to come?
There are a lot of books written on goal setting and the importance of it (also there are some who do not really agree to goal setting… just go with the flow and come what may sort of concept).
Anyway, in my humble opinion, it is a good habit to set goals for yourself. Goals are like check points and light beacons guiding us; whether we are nearer to achieving the results that we want or getting further away, hence, we will need to do something to get back on track.
If you cannot think of any goals to set, how about issues that you would like to solve? In a way, they are like something you would like to move towards to (solving the issues).
Imagine driving on the road and looking at the milestones / signboards showing the distance to go in reaching our destination (or check points)… normally, one will be more excited when the destination is getting nearer. The same feeling when we are about to reach / achieve the results of our goals.
I have compiled some good questions to help in preparing ourselves in goal setting; the questions are as below:
1) Why am I here?
What is my purpose? What is meaningful for me? What moves me? What is my passion? What I do I really care about? What need can I serve?
Note: A good book to read will be “Start with Why” by Simon Sinek
2) Where have I been?
What does my past outcome indicate? What past experience have I got? What can I learn from my past?
3) Where am I now?
What kind of person am I? What abilities do I possess? What am I good at? What are my strengths and weaknesses? What do I love doing? What motivates me?
4) Where do I want to get to?
What kind of person do I want to become? What is my personal brand? What abilities do I want to develop? What learning goals shall I set? What are the organizational goals in which I can make a difference? Which knowledge and skills areas do I need to focus on to deliver both my personal objectives and benefits for my organization? What is my conscience directing me towards?
5) How shall I get there?
What learning and development actions do I need to undertake? What resources will I need to have? How shall I overcome obstacles to my learning?
6) How will I know if I have made it?
What is the measurable outcome? How do I measure achievement of goals? Is it money? Is it promotion? Is it another measure of success?
7) What’s stopping me?
What’s holding me back from doing what I want to do?
8) Who can help / support me?
Who can teach me? From whom can I learn? Who can be my accountability partner?
After going through the questions, the next best thing to do is to come up with your own written plan… or be more creative and come up with a mind map of the goals you want to achieve… some of the recommended areas are as below:
– Spiritual
– Family
– Health
– Personal
– Financial
– Community
– Career / Business
– Friends
– Environment
The moment you have decided on what you want, everything gets clearer. When you put them into action, you will get the results and be motivated, thus realizing your potential to achieve even more.