I am sharing the process I use for my annual goals. Hopefully, it helps you make 2022 a better year than in 2021. If you are like me, it is only March and I am already behind on a few of my goals. Today I am sharing three ideas to jumpstart making progress on your annual goals.
Making progress requires effort
Let’s start with a hard truth – making progress requires effort from you if you are going to achieve your goals. I love the quote from Frederick Douglass below. He highlights that it will take more than mere effort. It is going to be hard. Keep his words of wisdom in mind. Sometimes the right mindset will make the difference between success and failure when it comes to your annual goals.
Idea #1 – Get going to jumpstart your annual goals
For some people, this is the biggest struggle, especially if you have a big goal. At times it is for me. Your goals are not going to happen until you make them happen. It is better to get going and take small steps than it is to stand around at the start line, overthinking everything. At least you are one step closer to your goal. The mantra I tell myself is to move out and draw fire. It comes from my military days.
Idea #2 – Get help to jumpstart your goals
On more than one occasion I was not making progress against a goal because I did not know what I was doing. I needed to conduct research, take a training class, or talk with an expert. I recommend you do the same, especially when you set an aggressive goal and do not make any tangible progress. You may need someone else like a buddy who is also pursuing the same goal. It is amazing all the experience you can tap nowadays. Take full advantage of these resources like books, podcasts, videos, etc. Don’t go it alone.
Idea #3 – Quit a goal if it makes no sense to continue
If a goal is no longer relevant – quit it. Don’t waste your time working on goals that no longer matter to you. This option sounds harder than it is because we are told by many to never quit. That mantra is bad advice when it comes to annual goals. Now I am not saying to throw in the towel on all your annual goals when things get tough. Rather I am saying that it is okay to quit a goal if it does not make sense to continue pursuing it.
What is the key takeaway?
If you are not making progress on your annual goals – give these three ideas a try. Get going, get help, and quit a goal that no longer matters to you. Remember slow progress is better than no progress.
I am Doug Keating and this is my letter to sons.