It takes as much energy to wish as it does to plan.

Eleanor Roosevelt - former First Lady of the United States

SET GOALS/INTENTIONS

What would you like to have and cross off of your to-do list this year? Do you want to pursue your studies? Get two new employees for your business? Double your income? The key here is to determine what you want to achieve and be realistic about your ability to achieve it in the time period you have set for it. It is okay to want a car in 2021, it is not okay to set it as a goal for the year when you have no finances now or in the foreseeable future that will enable you to make that purchase.

MAKE A YEAR PLAN

Now that you have your goals in place, when exactly do you plan to achieve them? It is easier to plan in chunks i.e. group goals by their similarities. Map out all your goals for the year and attach months to them for when you plan to achieve them. For example, if you would like to pursue your studies and that requires that you enroll in a school, get study materials and ask for a re-adjustment of your working hours at work, then it would be wise to act on these goals around the same months, such as January to March.

ATTACH RESOURCES TO YOUR GOALS

What will you need to reach your goals? People? Money? Materials? An office? New house? Car? Whatever it is, attach the needed resources to your goals and an action plan for how you intend to attain said resources.

DETERMINE AN ACTION PLAN

An action plan is simply what needs to be done in order to reach your goals. To determine this, ask yourself, "What do I need to see this goal to fruition?" Your answers to this question will make up your action plan.

SET DEADLINES

You have your goals in place. You know what you need to do to get those goals, and you know how you are going to attain the resources to help reach your goals. When do you need to be done with certain goals? Two weeks? Two months? Attach dates to your goals.

GET (AN) ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNER (S)

It is important to have a person or a group of people you can trust with your goals and trust you to keep you working towards those goals. This may be a spouse, family, friends, or even mentors. Having accountability partners becomes important when you become weary or discouraged along your journey, or when you are on the verge of making major decisions that affect how your goals may materialize.

MOVE WITH THE TIMES

Make room for changes both positive and negative. Don't be too invested in your goals to see other opportunities or dangers that may arise in the process. A great example of this is the COVID-19 global pandemic. How has it affected the implementation of your goals? How do you plan to work on your goals given this new reality?

INVEST IN YOURSELF

You are the biggest investment you will ever have and make. None of your goals would be achievable if you weren't in the picture. The best way to invest in yourself is to assess the areas in your life that need improvement and to find ways to work on them. Do you need to exercise? Read more books? Make new friends? Party less? Be brutally honest with yourself and make necessary changes.

INVEST IN YOUR BUSINESS

How do you want your business to grow and how can you make that possible? If your goal is to get more clients, what steps will you need to take to make this possible? Like investment in self, investment in your business requires that you assess your weak points and find ways to strengthen those areas.

ENJOY THE PROCESS

Do not be so focused on your goals that you fail to appreciate the journey that leads you to success. Celebrate your little wins. Celebrate being where you are today. Each step is important, valid and valuable. Make sure you treat it as such.