I know, I know, everyone and their dog are setting new goals to start the new year off right. However, I would like to put a little different spin on the process of goal setting and how it just might pay off to sit down and focus on what you really want to accomplish in 2008. New Year’s resolutions and goals for the year are perfectly good places to start, but I’m suggesting you go much further than just long range goal setting. It is kind of like a business plan, it is not something you do once and then set it on the shelf and forget about. Goals need to be reviewed, focused on and updated constantly. It does not do you any good to set long term goals with no specific date or plan in mind on how you are going to achieve them.

My suggestion is start big and work backwards. Set the big crazy goal, but set a time frame in which you want to accomplish it. Then set 30, 60 and 90 day progress goals based on your final goal. By setting the small goals as well, this gives you more attainable targets that ultimately are reinforcing your big goal in the end.

I also want to stress that goal setting should not just be just a personal thing. Your businesses, families, employees and loved ones should also try and start looking at the power of setting a goal and working toward it every day. Also, if you get others involved in your quest, it makes it even harder to sabetoge yourself and go in a different direction that does not support of your original mission. The more you focus on what you want, the more often you are going to actually receive it. Some of the most successful people in business today, had a dream, set a goal and then worked their tails off to try and obtain it.

2008 is going to be a great year, I hope you all set some crazy big goals for your businesses, your projects and yourself. Goals bring us closer to our vision. Good luck and can’t wait to hear all about your fabulous success this time next year.