How to be sure you’ll celebrate at the end of 2008

January 7, 2008 by Janet Beckers
Filed under: About WWW, Business Skills, Personal Development, Where to Start, Women and Marketing

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Last week I shared with you an activity that I did with my family to celebrate all we had achieved in 2007. I loved this activity so much that we called our creation a “celebration board” and encouraged you to do the same? Have you had an opportunity to stop yet and really take the time to acknowledge all you have achieved?

If you need a refresher on how to create your own celebration board, you can read all about it here:

http://wonderfulwebwomen.com/blog/2007/what-have-you-got-to-celebrate/

We have had some lovely discussions in the forum, and others have sent me emails. I can see that this activity has really been a positive step for a lot of people. I took some photos of the “celebration board” my family created to share with you. As you can see in the photo below, the result is colourful and busy. Come to think of it, so is my family that created it!

Groover Gran and Setting Goals For 2008

I have spent the last week or so visiting family for Christmas and spent a lot of that time staying with my mum Bev (I always seem to sleep a lot when I stay with my mum. Do you do the same thing?). Mum is 73 years old and a wonderful inspiration who always seems to look for new and exciting ways to push herself out of her comfort zone.

This Christmas she decided to relearn how to ride a bike. It would have been 40 years I think since she really rode a bike but she was determined. So myself, Douglas, the 2 kids on their new Christmas bikes and “Groover Gran” headed down to the cycle track near the lake to give it a go. The first few goes were a bit scarey (for me!) but then for the next hour she powered along the track, even cutting across the grass when the walkers were too slow.

What Is Your Comfort Zone?

I share this story with you because it demonstrates the most important thing I want to pass on to you about setting goals for 2008. You need to push yourself out of your comfort zone. I’m not suggesting you be unrealistic (after all Bev didn’t set herself a goal to ride the Tour de France), but I do encourage you to set yourself a goal that will require you to learn or master a new skill. The confidence you get just by working towards that goal will flow on to other things in your life.

Create A 2008 Goal Board

The activity I share with you today flows on from the “Celebration Board” from last week. It is important to take the time to acknowledge and celebrate what you achieved in the last 12 months as it really gives you the confidence to set positive goals for the next 12 months.

Use another piece of art paper and a supply of coloured pencils and imagination. The board you will be working on should not be as busy as your celebration board – life will fill in all the extra achievements without you needing to plan in detail.

Draw a picture of the main thing that you are working for, or glue in a picture if you have one. For me, I drew my dream home. Around this focus, write 3 or 4 specific goals that push you out of your comfort zone but are realistic. You can see the goals I set myself in the picture below. Some of them really push me out of my comfort zone but I know I can do them if I stay focused. Even if I don’t achieve them this year, simply acknowledging them and focusing on them will bring me closer to the confidence to do them.

All Work And No Play?

Also look at other parts of your life – not just business/financial / work. If you can see in the photo below, one of my goals is to look good in a bikini! But I have also included goals around travel, music and sport. You don’t want life to be boring even if you do love your work like I do.

Here’s what my finished board looks like. I will hang this near where I work to remind myself of the direction I am heading – this should stop me being distracted with “busy work” and focus on the main game plan. I do encourage you to do the same as it is a very powerful visual motivator.

Make Yourself Accountable

Here’s the tough part. It can be challenging to set yourself goals that push you out of your comfort zone – but even tougher to tell someone else and make yourself accountable. That is why I have shared my goals and achievements with you (and thousands of others who will be reading this!). Does being so open with my dreams make me nervous? ABSOLUTELY! But you know what – I’m determined to do them now because I expect you to hold me accountable.

Don’t Sweat The Small Stuff

You’ll notice that I have not been super specific on when, during the year, the goals will be achieved. I have made this mistake before and felt like an absolute failure when I didn’t achieve the exact thing by the exact date. But you know what? When I lightened up – I actually got to where I wanted to go, in the right time – but not in the linear fashion I had planned.

Now It’s Your Turn

I’d love to hear your dreams for 2008. There is a place where you can share your goals and make yourself accountable and feel safe around other entrepreneurial women (and enlightened men). Simply visit your forum at http://www.WonderfulWebForum.com and leave your comments in the Balancing Life and Business section. If you haven’t joined the forum yet simply click on the register link at the top. This is separate to Wonderful Web Women so you can use any username and password you like to join (it’s free).

See you there

Janet

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Comments

2 Responses to “How to be sure you’ll celebrate at the end of 2008”

Lynne says:

March 26, 2008 at 10:00 pm

Hi Janet,
I’ve been on your website for hours now, I’ve just set up a new business called Borrow Embellish.com.au, it’s a homewares hire business. Because it’s a new concept it’s a real challenge in learning how to best get my name and the idea out there, so I guess for 2008… this is my goal! Getting Borrow Embellish up and running.