Goal Setting

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It’s “that” time again.  We’re all winding down this year and at the same time trying to finalize our goals, plans, and metrics for the new year.  I actually enjoy this set of activities and find the process refreshing. I like to review and learn from the past year and really enjoy being able to shed the weight of all the things that tried to (or did) pull me down over the past 12 months.  Looking forward can be energizing.  Everything is new, clean, fresh.  There’s hope.  If I can work through the process and get to a clear, objective, and impactful set of goals to aim at this next year, I know I’m already off to good start to the new year.

Of course, not everyone or every company feels the same way.  One of the more frequent challenges that I’ve run into with client companies and individuals is that they start the process but don’t get through the process and land in a place where they have a clear set of goals.  They end up starting their year executing on a plan that will be finalized “soon.”  How many times do hear “our budget hasn’t been finalized so I’m not sure if that will end up on our final priorities” or “We still haven’t received our numbers for this year?” Sometimes I hear this several months into the year.  I’ve been in some of those companies and worked with others.  I understand some companies are very complex, or think they are, but seriously.  I like what Zig Ziglar used to say, “A goal properly set is halfway reached.”  I’ve found this to be a fundamental truth in my life.  When I properly establish a set of goals, build plans toward them, I am always more successful at achieving them.

If you haven’t started, now’s the time to set aside some alone time to work through the process and get to your goals for next year.  There are many systems, guides, tools and coaches that will provide different approaches to goal planning, but I tend to go back to the basics.  Zig’s system is simple, straight forward, and simple to execute.   You can find the Zig Ziglar Goal-Selling System in many of his material to include:

While you can always find some PDF cheat sheets provided by consultants through a google search, there is nothing like reading, or listening to, Zig Ziglar instruct, coach and motivate through the timeless resources he’s provided.