Five Tips to Achieving Your 2009 Goals

It is that time of the year: lot of people are setting goals. Many of these individuals will never achieve what they set out to do. Here are five tips to help you attain your 2009 goals:

1. Write it down - you're much more likely to accomplish your goals, if you have them clearly articulated. Post the goals in a location where you'll see them often.

2. Create SMART goals - specific (what is it you're going to accomplish?), measurable (how will you know when you got there?), attainable (be realistic - with a reaching or stretching toward your goal, not an entirely different league - use your strengths, versus trying to change yourself entirely), relevant (a part of your overall character and values - part of the bigger picture) and time-based (break larger goals into pieces and determine when the milestones along the way will be completed)

3. Make room - think about what you won't do (carve out the time to accomplish what you're setting out to do) and designate time to think (some of our greatest leaders have done this with great results)

4. Organize your milestones - Use a system that fits your style and strengths to track your progress toward your goals. I use a varation on the techniques described in
   David Allen's Getting Things Done, along with a web-based, mobile/iPhone-based task management system called Remember the Milk. I also post a calendar on my wall (to suit my visual preference) where I post various stickers when I perform actions that will bring me closer to my goals. Worked out? Post a green (health-related) sticker on for that day. Spent time meditating / praying? Post a purple (spiritual-related) sticker on for that day.

5. Celebrate small successes - Take the time to recognize yourself for intermediate achievements. Just be sure your celebrations don't work against what you're trying to achieve (for example, don't take yourself out for dinner and dessert once you've hit a new weight goal).

What techniques do you use to achieve your goals? Our readers want to hear from you in the comments section.

Comments

[Ann]

Thanks for the reminder Bonni! One of the hardest things to do is remember the steps that you have taken towards achieving goals. I just started an accomplishment journal (probably b/c I am a mom too) and I want to know that I made my day count. Every day I write down things I feel like are accomplishments - "I survived a two hour bedtime tantrum" or "I finished a chapter in a book I am trying to write." I hope at the end of this year I can feel good about the baby steps towards my goals and "not sweat the small stuff."