Make 2018 Your Best Year Yet

Beginning of the new year is always a good time to stop and think about your life and business.

If you take some time off to consider what you achieved or didn’t achieve in 2017 and what you want to accomplish in 2018, you will have a good chance to get where you want to get in the new year. However, to accomplish goals, we need to know how to set them.

We can’t just say “I want” and expect it to happen.

Setting goals gives us clarity, focus and direction. It allows us to take control of our life and business.

Let’s take some time off together to set our goals for 2018:

1- Decide exactly what you want to achieve:

Make sure these are what “you” want. Especially with family and peer pressure, people tend to set goals are not theirs. Result of that they don’t achieve them.

Think about below:

Income: How much do you want to earn in the new year?

Family: What kind of life style do you want to create for you and your family?

Health: How would your health look like if it was perfect in every way?

Net worth: How much do you want to save and accumulate by end of 2018?

2- Write it Down:

Writing the goals down, make them happen, make them real and tangible.

Just grab a pen and paper and write at least 10 goals you would like to achieve in the next year.

Goals must be clear, specific and measurable.

Rather than saying “I want to make more profit”,  write down exactly how much you want to make.

And write your goals in present tense;

“ I earn xxx pounds by the end of this year”

Don’t say the goal is to reduce expenses – say by how much, what percentage?

Be as specific, as detailed as possible.

3- Identify the problem:

Think about why you are not already at your goal?

Is it lack of skills, a quality, belief or body of knowledge?

Only small percentage of the reasons you are not achieving your goal would be on the outside so start with yourself.

4- What skill would have the greatest impact?

Identify the skills and knowledge that you will have to develop to be the top in your field.

Ask yourself:

“What one skill, if I developed and did it very well, would have the greatest impact on my business?”

and write it down!

5- Think about your network

Whose help and cooperation you will need to achieve your goal?

Make a list of key people you will have to work with to achieve your goals.

Family, co-workers, customers etc.

And think about what is in it for them?

6- List everything!

Make a list of everything you will have to do to achieve your goal.

Just write everything comes to your mind.

Then put your list into an order and prioritise them.

7- Make an action plan:

Create steps from the beginning – all the way to the end.

Break the year down to months and then to weeks.

Small steps, smaller goals will keep you motivated when you complete them. And they will make you realise you are making progress.

8- Stick with it:

Goal setting is an ongoing activity.

Put reminders for yourself to review your goals once a week or at very least once a month.

The plan might need adjusting on the way – hence the need to regular review.

When you come across with problems or obstacles, don’t give up. Find another way to get there.

For example; if your goal is to get to your job, and there is a traffic or accident, you would not say, I won’t go as there is traffic. You would just change your route.

Same with any goal. Just change the route.

Make 2018 your best year yet and achieve your goals!