Culture Corner: Manifesting Your Future
Starting with S.M.A.R.T. Goals
What do you want to accomplish in 2023? Personal and professional development is an important part of our individual growth, but if we’re not intentional about making it happen, opportunities (big and small) might pass us by. It’s okay if you don’t have goals or a plan in place today, but take the action needed so you start building that plan for tomorrow.
Personal development starts with setting goals and before you say, you aren’t a goal setter, remember this – NOW is the time to seriously consider investing in your future. Think seriously about what things you want to work on personally or professionally, as well as what dreams you want to make a reality, nothing is off limits if you have the desire to succeed. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
- Write them down. You are already a step in the right direction toward achieving your goals simply by writing them down. Your goals can be short term or long term, small goals to a BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal).
- Be Specific.
SMART goals are what a lot of people use to help them think through this process. SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Timely. Here is a link that will help you utilize SMART goals:
https://www.ahealthiermichigan.org/2011/01/12/how-to-get-smart-about-goal-setting/
- Be Accountable. Certainly, you need to hold yourself accountable, but finding a friend, a coworker, a family member or a coach who will help hold you accountable increases your chances of success. Check in with your progress each week, tell your accountability partner what you accomplished, what road blocks you hit, ask them for advice and celebrate your successes! This helps you stay focused on moving forward with your goals.
- Work your plan. It’s not about the act of setting goals but the EFFORT taken to achieve each goal. Life, like goals, is not a sprint, it’s a marathon. If you make significant or simple small gains one week, celebrate, if you don’t accomplish what you want in a week, don’t give up, figure out why, then stay motivated and focus on moving forward.
Research shows 76% of the people who go through the process of writing their goals down, take the action needed to pull those goals through, and provide weekly progress to a friend or leader, SUCCESSFULLY ACHIEVED THOSE GOALS! What are you waiting for? Let’s get SMART about our future.
