Welcome to now. A new year, a new decade, a new chance to (really) achieve your goals. Forget empty resolutions and meaningless promises — it’s time to grab the bull by the horns and make 2020 your year.
Start the year off right by asking yourself the right questions. Do I deserve a pay rise this year? Have I hit a ceiling in my current role? What one thing can I do this month that will add the most value to my career? By harnessing the positivity that a new year brings, you can work effectively towards achieving your New Year goals.
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1. Set SMART goals
You’ve likely heard of these. You may have even set them at some point. It’s time to revisit and reset your SMART goals and work towards achieving them this year. SMART is a criterion for goal-setting which make goals “specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound.”
Start by writing down your five-year goals. Then, set the one-year goals you need to do to achieve the five-year goal. After that, set the one-month goal you need to do to achieve your one-year goal. Can you see the pattern? By stepping back and looking at the big picture first, you’re able to set measurable and achievable short-term goals to help you achieve the big one.
2. Find meaning in your goals
At the risk of sounding esoteric and self-helpy, finding meaning in our goals has proven benefits. Simon Sinek talks about the power of “why”, and for good reason. Attaching a “why” to each of our goals helps us tap into our core motivation, which makes us more likely to achieve them. Write down your “why” for each goal and revisit it throughout the year. That core motivation will act as your secret weapon when times get hard and you feel like giving up.
3. Channel your inner athlete
Working towards big, longterm goals takes stamina and peak performance. Taking care of your mind and body is the first step towards the long game. By thinking like an athlete, we’re able to pay attention to our stress levels and nutrition, ultimately ensuring our brain and body are working to their full potential. By practising mindfulness and engaging in regular exercise, we’re able to increase our overall wellbeing, giving us the greatest opportunity for success.
4. Harness the power of networking
While it might seem time-consuming and downright awkward, no person is an island. No matter what your professional goals are, experts agree that investing in both professional and personal relationships can pay you back in spades throughout your career. Networking will not only improve your skillset, but it will also help you get a new job faster, allow you to keep your finger on the pulse in the market, and give you access to prospective mentors, partners and clients.
5. Practice saying “no”
Warren Buffet said ‘the difference between successful people and really successful people is that really successful people say no to almost everything’.
Setting boundaries is a non-negotiable when it comes to achieving your goals. Your time and energy are limited, so choose how you use them wisely. Without boundaries, you’ll likely be pulled in every other direction and end up further away from your goal. While it’s not always possible, practice saying “no” in situations that don’t align with your professional and personal goals.
Related: Time for a career change in 2020? Top 10 careers in high demand in NZ
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