We all start the New Year with the best intentions, with a majority of us slipping back into the comfortable routine of past habits.

When my daughter was younger and learning to speak, she helped change the perspective of our house and now my the way I do business. She could not properly pronounce or say Resolution and always delivered “Dad… What is your New’s Revolution?”

With that in mind, I submit for your consideration, Six Steps To Setting Your Goals.

1. Define Quantifiable Goals – The 1^st step in setting business goals is determining exactly what you want to accomplish. Make sure your goal is worth your effort. How you would design goals if you knew that they would be successful. Conversely, what would your strategy be if this was your last opportunity? Set clear goals; you should know exactly where you want to go and you should not waiver from your target regardless of failures along the way. Be as specific as possible, so you can determine when you’ve reached your goal.
2. Make Your Goals Specific – Make sure your business goals aren’t too vague. It’s critical to use a goal setting formula that gives your goal a built-in-action plan. Define your end goal and create a road map for exactly how you’re going to reach your goal. Be specific with what you want done at each check point. You’ll achieve a lot more than you would without these guidelines.
3. Commit To Your Goals – Make a commitment and stick with it. Once you’ve set your plan in motion, stay motivated to see your goals through to the end. Don’t procrastinate or second-guess your decisions, as this will only delay the process. Don’t forget to enjoy the process and reward yourself for staying focused.
4. Make Your Goals Public – An extremely effective technique for achieving business goals is making them public. Invite a team or even a single person into your plan; you’ll face accountability which can be very motivating. Once you share your goals with someone, you can determine what sort of involvement they will have with your plan. Will you ask them to check in with you every so often or not? What their role entails is up to you. You might even pick someone from your Power Team.
5. Set a Deadline – Without a deadline, your goal will fail. Goals without deadlines indicate that you are not fully committed. Determining a deadline puts your goal into context. Pick a reasonable date that isn’t too aggressive, but also not too far away.
6. Reward Yourself – In the goal-setting process, there’s one very important thing to remember: you. Once you’ve accomplished a goal or reach a milestone within your goal, make sure to mark the occasion. You’ve invested an incredible amount of time, energy and determination to reach your goal, so make sure you take a moment to celebrate your success.