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As I’ve mentioned before, I’m not one to set a ‘New Year’s Resolution,’ you might be, and that is cool. As for me, I like to set small achievable goals that will ultimately lead to something amazing.
For example, I wanted to start a website. Mainly to learn about the process, which became my blog and ultimately these posts on Building Your Freedom!
So today, I want to ask a fun question, Where Will You Be In 12 Months? This could be anything from where you want to travel to, what you want to do for your own business, losing weight, starting working out, and so on.
[fun picture]
Something Fun
As you can see, I’m not just making this about work or starting your own business. The point is to begin the process. Once you do, you can build upon it.
This should be something fun to do.
We will make whatever you want to go or be into a plan.
If you cannot think of anything, here is another way of looking at it, What Do You Want To Achieve In The Next Year?
Now is the time to write them all down on a piece of paper (or even a Google Doc).
The point of writing things down is crucial. I used to come up with something and later am sad to report, totally forgot about them.
Quick Story
I recently read a study about people that wanted to start their own “side hustle.”
This is interesting because I’m sure that is all of us. The crazy part is this study said the people wanted to do it for many years (up to eight)! Guess what, and they haven’t started.
Maybe that is why I wanted to write this today. I want to help all of us start down this path, but having a destination will help us from getting lost.
It’s one thing to dream about doing something (like starting your own business, taking a month off, or getting in better health). It’s another actually to do it.
I’m sure you have heard this before, “You should be happy with having a job.” I agree with that statement, but I know we both want more.
We want more time, more family dinners, less time in traffic, less driving to work, and so on.
Remember, the one thing we cannot buy back is TIME. So let’s start NOW and get this done!
An Example For You
I recently wrote a post about this, and you should check it out here.
For now, I will give you a quick example of what I want to do. This is something that I have wanted to do for years. I mean YEARS.
Saving for retirement has been on my mind since high school. Guess what, and I haven’t done anything I should have.
So this year will be different. I will start a ROTH IRA and commit to putting money in it.
Here is where the goal-setting comes in.
Finding the account, how much I can afford to put in, and so on is overwhelming. But let’s break this goal down.
Opening an account isn’t hard. This can be done in a few hours, max. In fact, I already have two ideas of where I want to open it. So this will be completed this weekend.
The next step is financing and how much I can put into it each month.
As I’m sure you are, I am currently working and trying to start a business. This also means that I have a steady paycheck. So instead of investing $6,000 into this account, it is another overwhelming number to manage.
To help with this, and because I still have a full-time job, I will set an auto payment of $50 every month.
That might seem small to you, but if I had set this up twenty years ago, I would be super happy with it.
This smaller number, $50, is called a baby step. And guess what I’m sure will happen, if I have more money available I can add without feeling guilty.
So there is my example, and now that I have it written down, I know it’s going to happen.
Update: I’ve increased the $50 to $300. The ultimate goal is to put $500 (which will equal the total amount you can invest in a ROTH).
The main point is that I’m going to start. It’s taking the first step that allows you to get the momentum to continue.
Finding Your Motivation
I recently sat down to estimate how much money I have thrown away, developing a business. The list included training (that never helped), and the number made me sick to my stomach.
Then I started thinking if I put the money in the IRA I never set up, oh well, I guess I shouldn’t dwell in the past.
I do not want you to throw away the money you worked so hard for, and I want to help make the path a little less rocky.
Again, this is why I am building this site. I want to help you get going on your business. Together we will learn and grow.
As you know, if you read this post, you know I use my perfect day as a motivator to keep going.
Deciding to document my steps with this site has helped me realize how important building a foundation is. Then adding to that, the motivation makes you unstoppable.
Want another idea for setting a goal? How about self-development! You are already reading a fantastic blog, thank you very much, but there are other things you can do to help achieve your goals.
Buy a book and start reading.
Two years ago, I started reading every day. I have found that I am learning a ton of new stuff and even things I want to learn more about (like SEO and coding).
Another way to improve is to surround yourself with like-minded people. Such as this community!
Where Are You Going?
So there you have it, there is a lot to consider. But it all comes down to where are you going this year?
If you don’t want to set a new years resolution, that’s okay. It would be best if you still had an idea of what you wanted to achieve.
Please take what you want to achieve (your goal) and break it down into smaller steps, as I’ve written about before.
The best way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time!
You could have small goals to an extensive plan. All you have to do is break them down into smaller bites.
Yet another example for you. I want to write more, and I want to get a freelance writing gig this year. As you can see, these both are very broad and not specific enough.
My solution was to make them more specific, write them down, and break them down into small achievable goals that will make them both a reality by the end of this year.
I want to know what are you going to do this year? Let me know in the comments below!
Setting Goals. That may be one of the hardest parts of looking and finding a way to break away from the others. Setting goals will require looking at where you want to be in a year, five years and ten years. You will want to select which goals are a priority and what order to put them in. Once you have established your goals, review them often to see what needs to change in your list of priorities. Make the changes while keeping a close watch on the results you have gained so far.
Jerry
I couldn’t agree with you more. It’s really about having a plan and making small goals to achieve your larger (year, five, and ten years) goals.
I loved your post on the block editor. I haven’t upgraded yet for the very reason that has you in a tiff about the block editor, updates can come with unwanted changes. And now I have heard what you have to say about block editor, I am not interested in upgrading my word press.
That made me laugh, and thanks. I would suggest downloading the plugin I found. Oh man, I forgot how much I disliked the block editor. You should give the editor a try and then come back and let me know what you think, and I hope I’m not the only one that likes the classic style.
I have learned the hard way what happens when you don’t write down your goals 🙂 since starting my own blog a year ago I now write down my short and long-term goals, this helps to keep me accountable and to stay on track. It definitely works and will help you to celebrate small successes. Don’t dwell in the past if you start today you will be one step closer tomorrow!
Very well said, Lisa. Anything we can do to keep ourselves accountable is critical. Good luck with your continued success, and thanks for stopping by.