It’s January! It’s a time for self-reflection and self-improvement. Over the next few weeks, GD Commerce will be examining ways you can improve your chances for success in the coming year. It all starts with setting goals…
Setting New Year’s Resolutions for 2020? A new year brings a clean slate and an awesome opportunity for self-improvement. Maybe you want to get fitter, eat healthier, or start your own business – whatever your plan the most realistic way to achieve it is to set goals.
Goal Setting
Far too many of us make a resolution and fail. In most cases the failure isn’t down to a lack of enthusiasm or effort. Instead, it’s because the goal itself proved too large. Goal setting is a way to break these resolutions down into more manageable chunks. Let’s take a look at the SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Timely) principle, which breaks goals down into simple tasks and ideas that clarify what steps need to be taken.
Specific
A goal can’t be a vague thought, it needs to be specific. That’s why we’re getting straight down to business with concrete details. A specific goal should answer the following questions:
- What are you looking to accomplish?
- What action will be needed to accomplish it?
- How will it impact on other aspects of your life?
Not only will this firm up the goal, it will also give context to how it will impact on your life.
Measurable
The ability to quantify your goals makes it easier to check progress and gauge whether you need to ramp up your efforts. This aspect can trip a lot of people up and cause failure. Say you want to jog five days a week in 2020, a fitness app like Nike+ on smartphones will help track your progress and give you data to analyze.
Achievable
Your goals should empower you to success. If you set them unrealistically high, they are likely to result in failure. Ensure the goal you are setting is reasonable. To return to our jogging example, if you want to run five days per week, but you’re starting from zero, don’t jump straight to five. Instead, slowly build up progress, adding additional days as you feel your fitness improving. Use achievable goals to set yourself up for success.
Relevant
What’s the point of the goal you’re setting? What will it help you to achieve? Once you identify the key benefit, write it down so it acts as motivation to keep you pushing forward. Understanding the benefit of the goal is key to ensuring the goal is a success. If you jog five days a week, it will have a massive benefit to your fitness, as well as your view of yourself. This acts as a motivational tool to push through the tough days.
Timely
Goals can’t be put on the long-term to-do list. They need to be actioned promptly. There’s no time like the present to make a change, and January is a powerful impetus. SMART goals should have a deadline attached as it creates urgency to make a change.
Celebrate Your Wins
Now that you understand how the SMART process works, it’s important to schedule time in to celebrate the wins you achieve. Reward yourself for making progress and create a positive reinforcement loop that will make you want to set more goals. It’s a powerful habit to pick up, and one that will empower your success in 2020.
Ready to Help
If one of your goals involves starting, or growing, a business in 2020, GD Commerce is here to help. Contact Us and find out how we can lessen the load.
Thank you to our GD Commerce Partners:
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- Harness the Power of Drip CRM Software
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