Kathy’s Home & Garden Tips – New Year’s Goals

It’s that time of year again: the time to plan out the coming year. Unfortunately, only a small percentage of people set goals for their business and personal life.  We can all asses our weaknesses and think about what we can do to better ourselves. There are a few things to consider when formulating your goals for the year. Think of where you want to be in 5 and 10 years, this will help you form your goals for this year.

First, don’t overreach. Many people go overboard and set goals that are unrealistic. For business, look at your achievements from this past year. Where can you improve? Know your numbers. If you need to find new business, how will you do that? Keeping old clients to obtain referrals is important too. In your personal life, weight loss is a popular goal but it’s one of the most dropped resolutions in the new year.  If you need to lose 50 pounds, don’t say “I’m going to lose 50 pounds in 2018”. That’s unrealistic, sets you up for failure, and makes it easy to quit. Think in smaller steps. Plan, schedule exercise, and make food decisions.  Are you going to cut down on carbs and eat more lean protein and vegetables?

The key is to plan for your first quarter goals first. What can I realistically accomplish in the next 12 weeks? Plan for business and personal goals. You can use this plan of attack for any goal, whether it’s losing weight or getting more sales at work.

Question every goal. What do I need to do first? What are the benefits? What am I willing to sacrifice? What is the downside if I fail? Then think about who in your life can and will hold you accountable. We all need support in our life, but unfortunately, sometimes we are surrounded by negativity. Look around, with the explosion of social media, there are hundreds of groups to join that can provide encouragement and tips.

Remember, start with small achievable goals, make a plan of action, track your progress, and find some support.

KATHLEEN WEAVER-ZECH & DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO