For many of us the New Year marks a time to pause and reflect on what we have achieved in the prior year and to set goals for what we want to achieve in the coming year.  Of course all of us are familiar with those New Years resolutions and most of us have the experience of having good intentions, but finding many of those goals slipping off the radar in the face of other life issues.  This month I want to focus on how we can set meaningful, achievable goals for 2010.

A formula that I have found very helpful when thinking about goal setting is

Excellence + Consistency

______________________                      =   Success

Time

Let’s break this formula down and see if we can come up with a strategy for effective goal setting.

The point of the formula is Success.  Knowing what we want to achieve, having a clear picture of the outcome we desire, is critical to the process.  As you’ve probably heard said, “If you don’t know where you’re going, you’ll probably get there!”  As you begin your goal setting process, follow Stephen Covey’s advice — “Begin with the end in mind.”  What do you want to achieve?  Maybe you want to start a new business, run a marathon, spend more time with your family, write a novel, learn a new skill, lower your golf score, increase your revenue.  Whatever the outcome, take time to imagine not only the quantitative aspect of your goal, but also what your achievement looks like and how it feels.  Write out a list, tell a story, draw a picture — whatever helps you flesh out this future achievement. (more…)