3 Questions to Answer to Reach Your 2021 Goals

by | Dec 22, 2020 | Leadership

Let’s face it – 2020 didn’t turn out like any of us planned.  While each of us experienced the challenges of the year in different ways and with different resources, I think it is safe to say that no one envisioned in January how the year would play out.

Now that we have some experience with a global pandemic and rapid shifting and adapting we have each done in some way this year, what can you do as we start 2021 to make the most of your experience?

While we never know what life will throw at us and what challenges may come, many of us don’t have a clear target and so it is difficult to know if we are making progress or getting blown off course.  In order to help get you to the end of 2021 with the ability to reflect on the year and see how you progressed toward your goals, handled challenge and adversity and pivoted, readjusted, took stock and carried on, ask yourself these questions:

  1. Who do I want to be at the end of the year?

This question requires you to take some stock of who you are now.  Think about your talents and how they are being used (or under-used or over-used), think about who you serve and how, think about what your ideal would be at the end of the year – how do you want to describe yourself and how do you want others to describe you?

  1. What will I need to do to be that person?

This question asks you to consider what attitude you will need, what behaviors will you need to demonstrate.  You will need to assess any gaps in skills required to be that person. You will need to assess your network – who do you need to know or meet or surround yourself with to be that person?

  1. What is the next small step I can take toward being that person today?

This question is about action.  Look at your answers to the previous questions and start mapping out the smallest steps toward that goal that you can.  You have a year to get there – what is the first small thing you can do – what will you need to do every day to make progress toward that goal, how can you set your intentions toward getting to be that person? Maybe you need to put tasks in a calendar, maybe you need to grab a friend and ask them to help you stay accountable, maybe you need to enroll in a class or volunteer for a project… what can you do to get started?  Keep asking yourself this question every day.

If we are intentional in setting a clear goal, it is possible for us to see where we are making progress and where we are lagging. If you can be intentional each day about taking one small action that will move you toward your goal, you may find that you don’t need a whole year to get where you want to go. You may find setbacks along the way, that’s ok, ask yourself what’s the one thing I need to do next and keep solving that problem and taking action.  This is one way to feel in control and like you are making progress toward something important to you, even in the face of uncertainty.  Pick a spot on the horizon and move toward it, work with the circumstances you are given, your path may not be a straight one, but keep taking steps toward your end goal and you can get there.  Happy New Year.