The MOST Important (and forgotten) Element of Goal Setting
We’ve all heard of Christmas in July, but what about “January in July”?
When we think back to the first month of the year, we think how great a time it is for setting new goals and taking serious action.
We set personal goals for health, finances, and family. We set business goals for productivity, profitability, and continued growth.
We hope the changes we make are sustainable and lead to real shifts that add value and positivity to our lives and our work.
But how often are we reflecting and checking in to make sure that the action we’re taking is in fact, sustainable and leading us on a path to greater success?
So right now, stop and think for a minute if you’re where you had hoped to be personally, or professionally back in January.
Cue the Jeopardy Music…
Are you happy and excited about your progress? Or are you thinking, “Oh man, I have no idea what happened…again?”
If you’re happy with where you’re at, that’s awesome! Keep it up.
But if you’re NOT (like the majority of people)… it’s definitely NOT too late to get back on track.
Question #1: Ask yourself: What happened? These are examples for both personal and organizational goals….
Did you lose steam because you weren’t getting results fast enough?
Did it take too much time?
Did you lose interest?
Did you not have enough support around you?
Did you not know where to start or plan HOW to achieve the goals you set?
If you think about this the right way, it’s an opportunity in disguise. This is because reflection gives you the chance to get to the ROOT of an issue.
When you practice reflection, make sure it’s honest reflection without any judgment.
This way you can pick up on triggers or tendencies that derail progress so you can make different decisions next time around.
Which leads me to:
Question #2: What can I/we do to overcome _____ (whatever your answer was in question 1)? (And then DO it.)
This is why so many successful people decide to hire a COACH to help them reach their goals – even coaches (like me!) work with coaches.
Some of the most valuable things a coach can bring to the table is proper planning and accountability…so July looks as close to the way you envisioned it back in January.
Coaching is a big part of our wellness programs for businesses and organizations because a toolbox loaded with tools for better health, productivity, teamwork, and success mean nothing if people don’t understand HOW to use those tools.
Personally, I don’t think there’s a bad month for setting new goals or making progress on something important to you or your business.
While the summer months can seem “slow” due to vacations and limited team members availability, it’s a great time to reflect, evaluate, and make a plan for the fall.
We have some exciting themes planned for Q4 and we’d love to tell you more about them. If wellness is part of your personal or professional goals for this year, book a call or email us so we can discuss the best path towards success.