5 Steps for Goal-Setting Success

By Aimee Cohen, Owner, Success Coaching for Women and
CWCC Member

Aimee Cohen Logo 2013

Now is the time to reflect on the past year and start planning for next year…out with the old and in with the New Year. The New Year is all about starting off with a clean slate, building new dreams, and establishing new goals. The year is full of possibility and potential. However, it’s one thing to set new goals, and it’s quite another to achieve them.

Everyone beings the new year with the best of intentions…losing weight, getting a new job, or finding a significant other. But how many people actually achieve or exceed those goals? That’s the question. The answer is very few. The reason is they lack an action plan that produces results.

A goal without a plan is all bluster without benefit.

Here are the 5 Steps for Goal-Setting Success…

1.       Set Measureable Goals
A goal is simply an allusive idea until you give it some metrics. Instead of saying you want to lose weight next year, give it an actual number. How much weight do you want to lose? Ten pounds? Twenty?

2.       Write Them Down
A goal kept as an idea in your head doesn’t do you any good. A goal should be seen, not kept a secret. By writing it down it not only keeps the goals visible, but it creates a contract and a commitment to achieving that goal. It’s also much harder to forget or abandon the goal if you see the vision everywhere you look.

3.       Establish Milestones
Rome wasn’t built in a day, and goals aren’t achieved overnight. Pace yourself. Figure out the baby steps and milestones along the way you need to achieve in order to cross the finish line. If you want to lose 20 pounds next year, then establishing a milestone of 1-2 pounds per week is reasonable, doable and sets you up for the ultimate success.

4.       Get an Accountability Buddy
Achieving a goal isn’t easy, and sometimes it’s easier to give up on the goal all together. However, if you have a friend, spouse, professional coach or mentor giving you ongoing support, your chances of achieving the goal skyrocket. They’re there to hold you accountable and keep you on track. There’s a reason why the Weight Watchers and Jenny Craig programs work…they provide that critical accountability everyone needs to get through the tough times and celebrate the successes.

5.       Reward Yourself
A goal worth setting is a goal worth celebrating. Big or small, every goal should be celebrated with some kind of reward. Plan the reward ahead of time. If you lose 20 pounds, then buy that dress you’ve always wanted. If you increase your business by 20%, then plan a party for the whole team. Take a moment to appreciate your efforts, the struggles and the triumphs that contributed to the success. That way next year you can set your sights, and goals, even higher.

Aimee Cohen
o 303.221.0888 | m 303.601.6759
aimeecohen@comcast.net
aimeecohensuccesscoaching.com

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