It’s that time of year again to think about what you’d like to accomplish in the next year.

Take some time to create a Master Goal list for 2010.  This is a place to dump all of your big ideas and lofty goals. It gets them out of your head and on paper (or the computer), and you can choose among them as you narrow your focus and set shorter term goals for the weeks, months or quarters ahead. It’s fine to keep a list of all of your goals but be sure to pick one or two to work on at a time.  Think about shorter-term goals.  For many people, making a resolution for a whole year is too difficult.  We prefer goals over resolutions, especially when they are written effectively and coupled with an action plan! Focus on re-wording your really big goals so that you can accomplish (and celebrate) them in more manageable parts.

Make your goals SMART – Specific, Measureable, Attainable, Really Wanted and Time Sensitive.

• Specific:  Your goals should be as specific and detailed as possible. Include numbers, quantities, qualities, detailed description. All make the goal more “real”.
• Measurable:  Write down your goal so it can be measured and tracked. Again, including quantites, percentages, or other units of measure will help you monitor your progress, track your results and know if you’ve really acheived your desired results.
• Attainable:  If you set a challenging goal, break it down into smaller pieces to realize and celebrate success more often. Make sure its attainable for you, not for anyone else in your life.
• Really desired:  We’re more likely to be motivated to take action on goals when we’re really invested in the end result. Make sure you’re working towards something you really want, not just something you think you “should” do or want.
• Time Sensitive:  Give yourself a deadline…don’t fall prey to “I’d like to do this someday.”  Use start and end dates.

Now, take a few minutes to come up with two SMART Goals for 2010.  Be sure to share them with someone else so they can help keep you accountable and help you celebrate your accomplishments.  We would love to hear what your goals are to provide you with some encouragement. Let us know how we can support you and you’ll have us in your corner every step of the way.

Here’s to your success in 2010!