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Companies know that going into a year with a plan sets you up for meeting targets.
Revenue. Awareness. Customer Sentiment.
Once targets are set the strategic planning begins.
Looking back on the successes and failures of the past year, defining the core strategies to meet the targets, creating detailed plans that align with those strategies, and ensuring a “Plan B”.
What baffles me is that individuals don’t regularly use this approach to their career and life.
I’m guessing everyone’s household has a “revenue” need to keep everything running.
Your career might have goals like “awareness” – raising your profile inside & outside the company.
At home, there are all kinds of goals that could be attached to your personal life.
Improving your health, learning a new hobby, starting a side business, a project with a family member, more intentional social time, decorating, running a marathon…
The opportunities are endless.
Over the last 15 years, I’ve refined a process for planning your year like a business.
The process is reflective and intentional. A concrete plan with a clear vision for staying on track.
Here’s an overview of the process.
5 Steps to Goals for 2025
1. Look Back
Instead of jumping right into plans, start by reviewing how this year went. Most think about the year in two buckets – “Professional” and “Personal”. I encourage you to think broader across the 8 dimensions of wellbeing. For each dimension, you can dig in and consider what went well and what you wish would have gone differently.
To learn more about the 8 dimensions of wellbeing you can see individual posts on each at these links: Physical. Occupational. Financial. Social. Intellectual. Environmental. Emotional. Spiritual.
2. Consider Change
With the foundation of reflection, we can now consider changes we might want to make.
Go back to each of the 8 dimensions of wellbeing and dream about what you want for the year ahead. Consider if there is an important goal you have in mind or a milestone you want to achieve. This process may uncover an important goal or dream that wouldn’t have been considered in a less prominent area of your life.
After a bit of dreaming, land on one goal for each of the 8 areas.
3. Narrow the List
At this point, you will have at least 8 goals – one for every dimension of wellbeing.
We all know that if we try to do everything, we will accomplish nothing. Take your list of goals and determine the top 2-3. You can always pull others from the list as the year progresses, but this will keep you focused.
If the 2-3 are too big, narrow down again to your #1.
Having clarity on the most important goal will help keep you focused through the year.
4. Look for a Theme
When you consider your top ideas in all the categories, is there a theme?
A word that could guide you for the year ahead.
I’ve selected a word of the year for more than 10 years now and I’ve been amazed at how a simple word has shaped my year. The word keeps me grounded and guided on my personal journey.
My personal words have ranged from focus, to joyful, mindful, celebrate, stabilize, and many more.
Each word has a different feel and inspires completely different approaches.
This post has a list of 100 words to inspire your word of the year.
5. Apply the Hope Equation
The final step is the one that many often skip.
We need to create a plan to achieve the things we hope for.
The hope equation is: Hope = goals + willpower + waypower.
You can learn more here.
Take each goal and break it down into the steps and habits needed to achieve it.
Those habits and routines are the structure of your willpower.
Then, ensure you have alternative paths when plans go off track (because they will).
The alternative paths are the waypower.
Your Turn
Have you started thinking about goals for the year ahead?
Are you focused on one area of your life or across the dimensions of wellbeing?
How can these 5 steps help guide you through the process?
Last Week to Sign Up! If you are interested in joining me on the journey described below, sign up for the standard program or the VIP personalized program at the links provided. For additional information click here.