Research shows fewer than 10% of U.S. adults stick with their New Year’s resolutions for more than a few months.
As we head into the second month of 2021, it’s a great time to check in with yourself to see if you’re making progress on your goals for this year.
Members of YWA are all ambitious people. That’s why we’re here.
Most of us have gone through the process of setting and achieving goals, whether professionally or personally, plenty of times. But, many of us have also found ourselves falling behind goals that were too ambitious, maybe misguided, or just downright ill-planned.
Not this year!
We’re going to dig into some goal-setting and goal-meeting best practices to help you set the right goals, plan how to make them happen, then jump into action. Let’s dive in.
Step 1: Set the Right Goal(s) for You
When it comes to how big you can dream or how high you can go, remember how much you can achieve in a long period of time, like 10 years, and allow yourself to dream big. Just make sure you know what success looks like. Being able to clearly identify what success looks like when your goal is achieved is how you gain clarity.
“We overestimate what we can do in one year, and we underestimate what we can do in 10 years.” – Carly Pollack, YWA Connect Mentor, AU40 Finalist, Author, Owner of Nutritional Wisdom
1. Gain clarity.
First, you need clarity on what it is you want. If you’re not crystal-clear on what your goal should be, start by brainstorming all the things you want out of life. Think about all the potential areas of your life where you may have goals — for example, career, family, relationships, fitness, financial, etc. From there, you can pinpoint specific goals to pursue.
2. Find your why.
Get a clear understanding of why a goal is important to you. Your “why” is your purpose, your calling, your beliefs about how you will impact the world. For example, you might have a goal to write a book, but the motivation to do so comes from your why.
Step 2: Develop Your Plan for Success
Goals aren’t just set-it-and-forget-it. Without a concrete plan of how you’ll get there, you may find yourself off track.
1. Document milestones and deadlines.
What’s the time frame in which you want to achieve your goal? Compare where you want to be with where you are, and work backwards. Then break the goal up into more easily achievable milestones along the way so you can keep up your momentum.
2. Track your progress.
There are so many tools available to help you plan and track your success, like:
- Digital to-do apps to manage your day-to-day
- Programs like Notion, Trello, or even just a spreadsheet for long-term tracking
- Physical planners, journals, or just a regular piece of paper for a to-do list
3. Get an accountability buddy.
Having an accountability partner can be just the push you need, especially if you’re someone who is more extrinsically motivated. YWA can be a great place to find an accountability partner — some YWA Connect mentees are leveraging their mentors this way.
Step 3: From Plan to Action!
I recently read Stephen King’s memoir On Writing. In it, he says you should plan to spend only three months writing a book, including editing and re-write time. I’m not a professional writer, but that just doesn’t seem like enough. That said, his rationale makes sense — get it done quickly so you don’t have time for the goal or idea to become stale or boring to you.
Don’t underestimate the power of momentum. It can actually propel you forward.
1. Prototype and experiment.
See what you can do to prototype your goal. For example, if you have a dream to become a writer. Take a week off work and spend that time the same way a professional writer would. See if it is a life you would enjoy before you quit your job!
Once you’ve learned from your experiment, it is easier to pivot if you need to, or continue on the same path.
2. Prepare for disruption.
COVID-19 disrupted all our lives, to varying degrees. It may continue to do so. Whether it’s COVID or not, something is guaranteed to try to get in the way of your goals. So, what can you do about it? Here’s my advice:
- Know what you can and can’t control.
- Decide what actions you can take RIGHT NOW.
- Align with your “why.”
- Pivot in a way that still aligns with your why — even if the “how” looks a little different.
3. Celebrate your wins.
As you go through your action plan and you begin to reach certain milestones, make sure to celebrate that! You might not be at the end, but it’s important to recognize and appreciate the journey. All along the way you are learning and growing.
How Can YWA Help You Achieve Your Goals?
Think about how your membership in YWA can help you achieve your goals. Whether that means attending specific events, leveraging our network, applying for a chair position, or getting more involved in the community, YWA is here to support you so keep that in mind. (Not a member yet? Learn more here!)
Here are a few of the opportunities through YWA that could help you achieve your various goals.
1. Board or chair service
Serving on the Board or as a chair on a committee can have so many benefits, like meeting new people, giving back to the community, and gaining leadership skills. If one of your goals has to do with learning to lead a team or acquire a new skill, consider joining a committee or applying for the Board. (Pro Tip: Board applications are open!)
2. YWA Connect
Talking about goals and accountability has a natural place in our members’ relationships with their mentors through the YWA Connect program. Particularly if your goal(s) are professionally oriented, your mentor can be a great resource.
3. Professional development
YWA professional development workshops cover a wide range of topics. Keep an eye on the schedule for workshops relevant to your goals.
4. Networking
YWA membership is 350+ members strong, from diverse industries and backgrounds.
Wrapping Up
As you go through the process of achieving your goals, understand that you are inherently telling yourself, “I am here now, and I want to be here in 10 years.” It’s not that you’re unhappy where you are. You simply see a path ahead with signs and guideposts showing you the way to achieving your dreams. And sure, sometimes you might circle back if a path didn’t work out.
Celebrate every small victory. You are learning and growing as part of this process. Be proud of yourself when you see that something isn’t working out and you have the courage to step back and try a different route. And remember — have fun and allow yourself to truly enjoy the journey!
