ADVICE: 5 Reasons you should put together a list of goals for the upcoming year
Make that list, check it twice and then go for it! Image from Photodisc/Thinkstock.
Most people have a “bucket list”.
You know, things you want to do before you die, like skydiving, driving a sports car and climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. Quite honestly, most people have these lists but seldom do they actually finish anything that is on that list.
In our opinion, much better than a bucket list is a list of goals you want to accomplish in a year.
Since the end of 2011 is coming up, this is a perfect time to put one together. Here are 5 reasons why:
Reason #5 you should create a list of goals for the year: Focus
Ever wonder what they hell you are doing with your life or where it is going? It’s probably because you didn’t have a roadmap to begin with.
By creating a list of goals (both personal and professional), you can have a target to reach for. It will help you make decisions on what to do.
Want to buy a house this year? Take less trips to Vegas. Want to get yourself a girlfriend? Start showering. Want to get yourself a sports car? Get a better job and start making more money.
Nice goals for next year! Image from iStockphoto/Thinkstock.
Reason #4 you should create a list of goals for the year: A sense of accomplishment
To be honest I occassionally forget about the goal list I created at the beginning of the year.
When I do remember about it throughout the year, I open up that Word file and see what I wrote. Every year I get surprised about the things I accomplished without even thinking about it.
I cross out goals as I achieve them in the middle of the year and then tally it up at the end of the year. It’s always nice to see I got most of the list done.
Except, of course, for the conversational Spanish goal I put down every year. Maybe this year will be different.
Reason #3 you should create a list of goals for the year: It’s better than a New Year’s Resolution
New Year’s Resolutions are weak.
You typically won’t stick to them and they will barely last a month. For something that works, write down a list of goals that you can do over the year.
Want to lose weight? Plan to lose that 10 lbs. in 6 months. Want to save some money? If you put away $100 a month, you will have $1,200 at the end of the year. Want to start that business? Make the business plan in Q1, get a business loan in Q2 and start the business in Q3.
Our advice – list out short term, mid-term and long term goals so you can cross them off as you get them finished. It will help you stay on track.
Reason #2 you should create a list of goals for the year: It will help you dream big
We here at ESM are huge fans of dreaming big.
The first time I ever started writing a list of goals for the upcoming year, I had these goals as part of the list:
- Get an S4
- Go to Europe
- Save $10,000
The crazy part? I was just about to graduate from college.
I knew I wasn’t going to achieve these goals, but hey, you never know. Just carry over those “dream big” items to the following year if you don’t achieve them.
Once you do, dream bigger for the following year.
Why wait for the end of your life to achieve that bucket list item? Do it next year! Image from Digital Vision/Thinkstock.
Just make sure you also add in some goals that are achievable so you’ve got some things to cross off at the end of the year, like:
- Repaint living room
- Get a dog
- Get a raise
Reason #1 you should create a list of goals for the year: You
The main reason you should make this list? For you.
You deserve it!
Happy New Year and don’t forget to make that list!
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