By Charlie Arnot, CMA

Charlie Arnot

“If you don’t know where you are going, any road will take you there.” -Cheshire Cat

One of the things I like best about the New Year is the opportunity to set goals. Early in my career I placed little stock in the value of goals. I didn’t understand how I could possibly set a goal if I didn’t know how it was to be accomplished. Before I was willing to set a goal I wanted to know the process we would use and what resources were available to achieve success. I had it completely backward.

I failed to understand the amazing power that goals can unleash. If you set a goal and focus your attention, it’s amazing how the resources and process seem to appear. For generations successful people have touted the power of goals and it is the topic of hundreds of business books and articles. I can’t offer any revolutionary insight on what I think is an important pursuit, but I can share what works for me.

It starts by focusing on the destination. At the end of the year, where do I want to be personally and professionally? It’s a bit like picking a location for vacation. Do I want to go to the beach or mountains, with the family or a golf outing with the guys? This is the most important part of the process. Be intentional about knowing where you want to be at the end of the year. That vision creates the foundation for building your goals. Like Alice in Wonderland, if you don’t know where you are going, any road will take you there. Once I determine a destination I can begin to plan my journey. Will I fly or drive? How long will I stay? What will I do when we get there? What time of year do I want to go? The questions begin to chart my course; much like goal setting can chart your success.

Good goals are written down and SMART. Unless you write it down, it’s an aspiration, not a goal. Put it on paper and share it with others to build support and accountability for achieving your goals. SMART is an acronym for the attributes of meaningful goals. They should be:

Specific – What exactly do you want to achieve?

Measurable – What is the quantifiable measure of success?

Achievable – With adequate focus can you make this happen?

Relevant – Why is this goal important to you now? How will it make a difference?

Timely – When will you accomplish the goal?

Once you have your SMART goals on paper share them with someone and schedule time on your calendar each week to review them. Ask yourself what you are going to do this week to achieve your goals?

Goal setting is one of the most powerful things you can do. Setting SMART goals, reviewing them regularly and sharing them with others will create a focus that will lead to personal and professional success. I think that’s a great way to start the New Year!