Set Some Great Goals This Year (That Are Actually Achievable)

Do you have things you’d like to achieve in your life, but you’re not quite sure where to start? All it takes is some thought and a plan! And with the New Year in full swing, now is the best time as any to set some goals for yourself.

Create Realistic and Achievable Career Goals This Year

Think about what you want

The first step in setting goals is knowing what you’d like to do. This only has to be a general idea, since you can adjust your goals along the way. For example, once you start working on something, you may find it’s not exactly what you want. You can refine your steps and keep yourself on course. Your goals can be related to anything, including: your career, finances, education, family, attitude, physical health, public service and more. If you can plan it, you can do it.

Make your goals SMART

This can make them easier to understand. SMART goals are specific, helping you decide what you want and how you’ll get it. SMART is an acronym that stands for: Specific (or Significant), Measurable (or Meaningful), Attainable (or Action-Oriented), Relevant (or Rewarding) and Time-Bound (or Trackable). When you have a goal in mind, keep the SMART technique in mind to help you define what it is and how you’ll get there.

Break large goals down into smaller steps

Here’s the best part: when you have a goal, even a huge one, breaking it down into smaller steps helps you in two ways. First, your goal seems much more attainable, so you won’t feel intimidated. And second, it gives you a step-by-step way to reach your goal. No step is too tiny. Choose steps that you feel comfortable doing, and plan as you go.

Check in regularly

Depending on the steps and how long it will take to reach your goal, check in every day, week, month, six months or year. How are you doing? What went well, and what didn’t go so well? What could you change to help you get to your goal? This could involve an alternate route, or getting advice from an expert.

Never give up!

You can reach your goals if you stick to them. For inspiration, check out the book The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson, which is all about daily steps toward big goals.

Looking for a new job?

Maybe one of your goals is finding a new job in the new year. If you’re in the Tristate area, Inter-Connect can help! To learn more, visit our job search page or contact us today!

We’ll work with you to understand your career goals and find a job you’ll love. To learn more about our open jobs, visit our job search page!