Redefining Resolutions: My Goalsetting Journey
Happy New Year, CommStar Reader.
I hope you had a warm and revitalizing holiday season. As we step into 2024, I want to continue the discussion from my last post and talk about something we often approach with a mix of hope and skepticism: New Year's Resolutions and goalsetting.
In the past, you may have made and forgotten resolutions by February, or given up on them entirely. But if you lean toward being an ambitious achiever who wants more out of life you haven’t given up, you just haven’t found your success formula yet.
My journey with goalsetting started in elementary school when I set out to win the school spelling bee – and did.
It wasn't until the early '90s that I revisited goalsetting more formally and have improved my process every year since. And, I’m very proud of the results so far. While I don’t accomplish everything I set out to, I have no doubt that I’m way further along – in terms of both success and fulfillment – than I would be without goalsetting. And, progress feels great!
My process involves not only being intentional and “living lucky,” but specifically categorizing life into slices of a pie. I call it the "Pie of Progress." Why? Because I love pie. And this year, I included my virtual personal assistant, ChatGPT, which made it even more fun and interesting.
The pie slices include Wellness, Relationships, Career, Wealth, Fun, Growth & Contribution. I brainstorm dozens of potential goals for each area, prioritize them, and integrate them into my daily and weekly routines throughout the year, instead of forgetting about them in a journal or in the cloud somewhere until the end of the year.
To help others, I've been leading goalsetting sessions for coworkers and family for years, and recently held my first Facebook Live for my friends on there, which was good practice for the valuable digital courses I have planned this year for you and other communication professionals and aspiring leaders.
But here's what puzzles me: We often know how to achieve our goals, yet we don't.
Take weight loss, for instance – the formula is simple: Eat less, move more... Eat less processed food, more fruits and veggies. Drink less pop, more water. Sit around and doomscroll on social media less, and get up and exercise more. It’s no secret and it’s not rocket science.
Yet, the challenge is in choosing long-term gain over short-term pleasure. We need to decide to take smarter actions (starting today, not tomorrow) and rewire our brains to find joy in healthier choices and view indulgences in a less favorable light. Picture the result in the mirror. Think about how much better you’ll look and how much better you’ll feel – if you start doing what you know you need to do.
Reflecting on the past year's progress also helps. What made you smile? What achievements are you proud of? What lessons did you learn, and how did you contribute to others’ lives? This self-reflection helps build momentum.
And as we gear up for 2024, I encourage you to write down your goals. Keep them where you can see them. Dedicate time in your calendar. Prioritize them. And most importantly, connect with your why. Your reasons will fuel your how, because if you want something badly enough, you will find a way.
It’s impossible to lose if you don’t quit. We either win or we learn. And, if you’re trying to quit, don’t quit quitting. Got all that?
Here's to making 2024 not just another year, but a stepping stone to greater heights. Let's do this together..
Stick with me. You’re going to get good at making things better.
