“Obstacles are the things we see when we take our eyes off our goals” Zig Ziglar
What are your goals? Have you set them for 2014? How will you achieve them? How will you know that you have been successful?
Go beyond listing goals, ensure you think about the work that needs to happen behind the goal. Think about what needs to happen for that goal to be achieved. Sometimes it helps to set up a little reward for yourself upon achievement, it give us a little extra “push” to work hard.
Follow the SMART criteria when setting your goals. Ensure each goal is Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Timely.
Specific – when you read the goal you have set out – is it specific enough or is it too broad?
Measurable – How can you measure the goal? I.e. is it by a grade of 80% or higher? Is it an employee turnover rate of X etc.
Attainable – Is the goal truly attainable? You want it to be a bit of a stretch, but you don’t want something that it nearly impossible for you to achieve.
Realistic – Is the goal truly a realistic goal? Is it something that will help you? Becoming a Rocket Scientist when you are in a different profession might not be a realistic goal for you to set for yourself this year…
Timely – Set a time frame for achievement – this will help you keep on track and let you know if you have indeed achieved your goal.