We’re only days away from the New Year! The countdown is on, but remember don’t wait until December 31st to start mapping out your financial position for the next 365 days!
Here are 4 ideas to jumpstart goal-setting … ANYTIME!
1. LEARN
Gather as much information as possible. Nearly everything is google-able! Interested in finance? Health? Nutrition? Starting a business? Acquiring a new skillset or exploring a hobby to enhance your finances? Chances are that whatever tips and tools you are looking for are accessible and available on a platform, podcast, article, or book out there somewhere.
However, there are some limitations.
Your personal desires and goals are not found on the internet. They’re discovered as you search within.
So, as you immerse yourself in the abundance of information, remember to reclaim the time to think and assess your own objectives.
- What do you want to accomplish?
- What would make you feel fulfilled?
- What impact do you want to make?
- What legacy do you want to leave behind?
As you learn with introspection, you can unlock your deepest thoughts, aspirations, and make your wildest dreams come true.
2. PLAN
Once you have the ideas of what you’re working towards, it’s time to put those objectives out there with simple, no-way-around-it planning. Whether you strategize through voice notes, good ol’ pen and paper, or a collection of sticky notes on your bathroom mirror, this step is paramount.
In Atomic Habits, James Clear provides a powerful statement: “Goals are good for setting a direction, but systems are best for making progress.” Backwards map your goals with concrete action steps. Consider your final destination as you begin with the end in mind. Maybe you aspire to Get Good with Money or you need a Total Money Makeover? Whatever your specific case may be, making a to-do list and prioritizing your next steps intentionally won’t come through osmosis. It will take time and thoughtfulness. However, as you outline what needs to be done, you build momentum to actually execute your plans.
3. ACT
Sometimes we think that only major feats count towards reaching our goals. Truth is, even small steps forward can be significant.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. reminds us: “If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.”
You see, it is impactful when you finish the business plan, even though no one may see it. When you walk past the junk food aisle at the grocery store, there may be no applause but avoiding those temptations which have previously lured you in is a major win. Signing up for a class or a conference to network with other professionals in your industry is an investment which promises to pay dividends. So, give yourself a pat on the back for progress and keep going – albeit at a fast or slow pace.
4. CONNECT
Share your goals with a confidant you can trust. Your partner, a friend, a family member, or a colleague. You can be selective about what and how much you share. The process of articulating your plans and intentions is not always easy because it requires vulnerability. Nonetheless, when you speak with others about what you are working towards you can gain cheerleaders or even partners to support you along the way toward your goals.
In How to Win Friends and Influence People, Dale Carnegie states, “Every man I meet is my superior in some way. In that, I learn of him.” We should always approach others with humility and in the spirit of community. This human connection can also empower us to learn from successes and avoid the missteps of others.
We need each other. Community and connection are part of the (re)solutions we all need to achieve our goals.
