I’m not an accountability coach or business guru who’s going to teach you how to set goals and make them work. In fact, for a long time I had a very bad relationship with goals, using them to beat myself up for not being a better person. 2005 will be the year I become perfect, and all of that.
I’ve got a pretty good set up now. And it seems to work because it makes goal setting managable, fun, and motivating.
At the end of the year I start to think about how the last 12 months have gone. Usually in the pub with a glass of wine. What did I enjoy? What did I learn? What was a challenge – and how did I move through it? This helps set the context for the next year, and reminds me of what has actually been either achieved or experienced – both of which are valid. Because the new year isn’t a fresh start – you’ve lived a life and that will have a bearing on where you are now. And it helps look at things holistically. So in 2023 I didn’t earn as much as the previous year, which taken in isolation might look like a failure, but I did get married, have an amazing holiday, partied hard at festivals, set up a book club and more, so in the scheme of things it was pretty decent.
This holistic view is something I then take to goal setting. I get a piece of A4 paper and divide it into themes. So for 2024 I did health and fitness, work and career, social and fun, culture and creativity, and relationship. In each one I write 3-4 small goals or actions I commit to for 2024.
Meaning along with the sub 50 min 10k and album club, there’s some careers stuff in there. Here are some of my work related goals.
⏱ Spend first 15-30 mins of my day working on my business.
🍷 Go to some kind of networking event once a month.
📚 Do more CPD – at least once a month.
✅ Make a list of 10 bucket list organisations I’d like to work with and contact them.
Easy stuff that feels managable, but could add up to big things.
The list is now stuck on the notice board in the kitchen, meaning I see it multiple times a day. There’s no point stuffing it in a drawer – you need reminders of it, keeping it current.
Finally, make it a living document. It’s fine to add things, reframe things, and get rid of stuff that isn’t serving you. This is to help you live your best life, and it’s not your best life if you’re hating it.
What are your top tips for goal setting? Would love to hear them!