Moving Forward with Purpose and Not Fear 2020
Article 1: Stepping into 2020
Author: Naj Johnson
I have already started to reflect on 2019, as I begin to revise some of my goals from 2019 and set a few new short and long-term goals for 2020. 2020 is the beginning of a new decade and while many of us will make resolutions, it’s important to note, that resolutions are not the same as goals. Resolutions are not goals and cannot be measured, unless we turn them into goals. Goals are specific and can be measured over a period.
Research states that 80% of people who set resolutions will fail by the end of the year. Within 30 days, 80% will fail at their resolution (Prosaack., 2018) and 8% will follow through with their resolution (Prosaack., 2018). By February, 80% of persons who set New Year’s resolution, fall back by February (Luciani, 2015). For 2020, we shouldn’t want to be included in the 80% that falls back by February. Instead let’s focus on writing our goals, following through with each one, step-by-step, being patient as we go through the process, delayed gratification. Even when challenges arise in 2020, it is important that we try and remain focused and continue to move forward despite the challenges we will encounter.
As we remain optimistic and many of us will pray and fast in 2020, let’s be mindful that even with prayer and fasting, we still need to set goals. One mistake that many of us make, is that we don’t make goals. We cannot build a house without a plan, so why would we expect to achieve without setting goals, without a plan and outlined steps of how we will achieve that goal? As we continue to move forward in 2020, it is important that we set SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Timely) goals. Better yet, set SMARTER goals (quantumworkplace.com). In SMARTER goals, the E stands for Evaluation and the R stands for Revise. Therefore, the goals that we do set, we can evaluate and revise these goals. Goals help us to be accountable to others and most importantly ourselves. Here are some guided questions to get you started:
- What do you want to achieve in 2020?
- What will you continue to work towards in 2020, that you started in 2019?
- How will you better your skills, knowledge and further develop professionally and personally in 2020?
- Are there any habits that you need to change in 2020? If so, how will you change those habits?
- What short and long-term goals will you set for yourself or continue to work towards in 2020?
The year 2020 is no longer about winging-it. It’s about being strategic and setting goals because there are things we should all want to achieve by the end of the decade or by the end of 2020. Goals provide a sense of direction. And when we have a sense of direction, we gain a better understanding of where we are going and how we will get there. Goals are like road maps that guide us. Goals help us to be proactive. There’s a terminology that is used in education, “the-end-in-mind” we plan backwards. By starting with the end-in-mind, we look at what we want to achieve, the product and go through the steps starting from backwards as to how we will achieve that goal. We start with the end-in-mind and work backwards, going through the steps strategically and intentionally. For 2020, let’s apply the-end-in-mind approach as we write at least one goal we want to achieve.
As we step into 2020, let’s make at least one goal that we want to achieve. For example the goal can be in one of the following categories below:
- Family goals
- Financial goal
- Professional/Career goals
- Spiritual goal
- Physical goal
Here are some tips to help with writing your SMARTER Goals:
- Understand what SMART and SMARTER Goals are
- Write your vision
- Write your short and long-term goals with objectives
- Evaluate and revise your goals where needed
- Attend workshops in the community that will help you develop your skills, knowledge and talents
- Commit to your goal
- Post your goals somewhere you can see them (e.g., visual reminder)
- Create a vision board (e.g., remember you should be able to add to your vision board over the year)
- Be accountable to yourself or someone else
- Take note of your habits and be willing to change bad habits
- Set a budget (e.g., bi-weekly, monthly, six-month or yearly budget, you can use an app to help with budget)
- Stay focused, be consistent and be clear
Quote by Denzel Washington: “Goals on the road to achievement cannot be achieved without discipline and consistency.” Denzel Washington
References:
Khalil., S. (2018). New Year’s Resolution Last Exactly This Long. New York News. Retrieved from: https://nypost.com/2018/12/21/new-years-resolutions-last-exactly-this-long/
Luciani., J. (2015). Why 80 Percent of New Year’s Resolutions Fail. US News. Retrieved from: https://health.usnews.com/health-news/blogs/eat-run/articles/2015-12-29/why-80-percent-of-new-years-resolutions-fail
Prosaack., A. (2018). This Year Don’t Set New Year’s Resolutions. Forbes. Retrieved from: https://www.forbes.com/sites/ashiraprossack1/2018/12/31/goals-not-resolutions/#33df48ef3879
Quantum Workplace (2020). How to Make SMART Goals even SMARTER. Retrieved from: https://www.quantumworkplace.com/podcast/how-to-make-your-smart-goals-even-smarter
Solan., M. (2017). Get SMART about your goals to stay focused and on track at any age. Harvard Health Education. Retrieved from: https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/get-smart-about-your-goals-this-strategy-can-help-you-stay-focused-and-on-track-at-any-age-2017090112113
Tabaka., M. (2019). Most People Fail to Achieve Their New Year’s Resolution. For Success, Choose a Word of the Year Instead. Inc.com. Retrieved from: https://www.inc.com/marla-tabaka/why-set-yourself-up-for-failure-ditch-new-years-resolution-do-this-instead.html
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