The Christmas leftovers are well and truly gone, the alarm clock is back in use and your caffeine intake has doubled… this can only mean one thing, it’s the start of a new business year. And while your New Years Resolutions may have already been discarded, it’s time to start thinking about your goals and objectives for your company this year. So often we set ourselves a goal, only to forget about them a few days/weeks/months later and never actually achieve it. We all set goals with the very best of intentions, here are a few tips to help you achieve them this year.

1. Set SMART goals
To quickly summarise for those who may not know, SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound. When setting your goals, it is important to make sure they are not general or vague and ensure you have set yourself a time for when you would like to have achieved your goal.

2. Set realistic goals
All too often people set themselves goals that are too far stretching, either in competency and skill level, or in terms of time. When a goal is beyond reachable, this acts as a de-motivator. Negative thoughts enter the mind and disappointment kicks in. This is the opposite of what a well structured goal should do. Set small targets along the way so you can track your progress. If you feel you are falling behind, there is no shame in restructuring your goal to become more manageable.

3. Commit to your goal
Many people set certain goals in life because they feel they have to but have no real intentions of actually achieving these goals. Make a point to set goals about things you are truly passionate about. If your goals are not aligned with your values, you may find you lack the motivation or desire to achieve the goal. Decide what is most important to you in your life. These are things that you will be excited and energized by and you will find more motivation to achieve these goals.

4. Make a plan to achieve your goal

‘If you fail to plan then you plan to fail’, it’s a cliché for a reason. Setting out a plan to achieve your goals is almost as important as setting the goals themselves. Look at it as a map to guide your towards your goal with as much clarity as you can. Breaking your goals into smaller steps is essential for tracking your progress but it also makes achieving your goal feel more manageable. By taking on and achieving smaller goals you gain motivation to achieve your final goal.

5. Take action… right now! 
If you don’t start working towards your goals now, no one else is going to do it for you. Taking action is the most important part of any goal. Don’t get discouraged if you take action and feel you’re not getting anywhere. Learn from every experience, allow yourself to make mistakes and reflect on your goals. Persistence and perseverance are the keys to reaching your goals in 2013.