Are you back to work after the yearly New Years break? Maybe you only took a few days off, or maybe a few weeks. I enjoyed a mostly quiet time with family and friends. I hope whatever time you had was enjoyable, relaxing and refreshing. And now that the New Year is already in full swing, it’s time to examine our goals for the coming year.

Most people already know about SMART goals: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Timely.

Though while SMART goals are great, I have a few additional questions I add when helping people set out and achieve their goals. These questions help to direct your thinking in specific ways and gathers a little more detail. Some of these questions may save you months of wasted effort and frustration, others might help you redirect from failure.

So think of your goals going forward this year and answer these questions:

1. What is your desired outcome, stated in positive terms?
2. How do you know when you have reached your desired outcome?
2.a. How do you prove to someone else that you achieved your goal? (Hint: your feelings are not a valid answer.)
2.b. Is the outcome initiated and controlled by you? If not, how can you bring it under your control?
3. In what context do you want it? When, where, with whom?
4. How will the achieving this outcome affect your life?
4.a. Will you, or anyone you know object to the results this goal achieves?
4.b. What will be added?
4.c. What will be removed?
5. What stops you from having your desired outcome already?
6. What resources do you need?

So if you have not already written down some goals to increase your health, wealth and enjoyment then now is a good time. If you already have, pull them out and answer the questions to make achieving those goals much easier.

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