We’re three weeks from the new year! Wow, where did the year go? Now is the perfect time to reflect on the past year and appreciate everything that you have accomplished. It’s time to rejuvenate, refocus, and start planning for next year. Taking inventory is a great place to start. Write down the changes that took place and things that you accomplished in the past year. It’s fun to go through this exercise—often, you don’t realize all the things that you achieved in the past year until you see it in list form.
How many seeds did you plant throughout the year? This is a marathon and it’s important to pat yourself on the back, not just for the big goals, but for the groundwork that you’ve put in place for the future.
Now, turn to 2014 and think about what you want to accomplish in the coming year. It’s estimated that only about three percent of the people in the world actually plan and write goals. With those numbers, it’s no wonder so many flounder and drift through life. I’ve written about goal setting in the past and you can find some nuggets for helping you through the goal process here.
Today I want you to ask yourself some general questions that will help you define your specific goals.
1. What do you want to create in both your personal and professional life in 2014?
2. Ask yourself why you want the things you listed in #1 and how would it change your life?
3. What have you learned about yourself over that past year? List three things that you will do differently in 2014.
4. List three things that you need to STOP doing in 2014.
5. What relationships do you need to work on? Who might help you reach your goals? Martin Crosbie does a great job talking about this in his book, How I Sold 30,000 eBooks on Amazon’s Kindle. You might want to put “read Martin’s book” in your goals if you haven’t already.
Finally, you can write thousands of goals, but if you don’t want it bad enough, you might as well expect mediocrity. It’s time to change. WANT it enough to take massive and decisive action in 2014. Treat your writing career with the attention it deserves. Take time this week to focus on your future. Don’t wait until December 31st to jot down a few goals. With these easy steps, you can guarantee yourself that 2014 will be everything you want it to be.
Awesome post! Thanks for the kick in the rear, Jim. Happy 2014 — may it be the best year yet 🙂
Thanks DV! Same to you.
Oh sure, do goal-setting this week. Spoken like a man who has no cookies to bake. 😀 No, you’re right — it’s a great idea to take stock before 2014 is upon us. Thanks, Jim!
Ha! If you only knew. I’m the baker and chef in our family. I’ve already pounded out several dozen chocolate chips, peanut butter cookies, peanut butter kisses, oatmeal, sugar cookie cutouts, greaseballs (don’t ask), alfajores and I still have more to go. Thanks for chiming in though!
I love your positive attitude. You are always holding the half full glass. Thanks for the goals, and boy do I need to concentrate on #4. I hope 2014 is the best for you, and everyone at IU.
Yep, #4 gets me every year. Good luck with everything you wish to embrace for 2014.
Sometimes goals sneak up on you and take centre stage whether you want them to or not. But I’m a firm believer in taking stock as well. Knowing what good things I’ve accomplished during the year helps ease the pain of all the things I messed up. 🙂
There sure do sneak up on you. I try to look at the yearly goals at least quarterly. Thanks for the comments.
Good questions, Jim, ones we would do well to ask ourselves, not just at this time of year.
Excellent questions, Jim. Just the boot I needed. I’m taking some time over the holidays to work toward a more effective 2014.
Adding my thanks for this post and the thought-provoking questions. I have a quiet holiday coming up so I will definitely be setting some goals. Thanks so much, Jim :))
You are so very on the button, Jim! I have allowed myself to get so far behind this year I might just as well not have had 2013 at all.
Ack! I’m not ready for this yet! But an excellent post and a timely reminder that now is the time to start fresh and get serious. Thanks, Jim.
You are right about that! Thanks.