Someone I know – I am not kidding – was holding off big plans for his life, just in case the world ended. I encouraged him to take action and stop procrastinating because I didn’t want him to have regrets. Well, December 21, 2012 has come and gone…and it’s January 1, 2013…and we survived. What a relief! You would be proud of me. I didn’t say, “I told you so.”
If you were in the same boat as my friend, you don’t need to admit it to anyone. But, it is time to get to work on the rest of your natural life and those goals you have been dreaming about. What better time than now, the end of 2012 and the beginning of a new year, to establish your determinations for 2013? Getting specific and clear about what you want and how you will achieve it is essential.
Use my SPORT method to help you focus. I know. The acronym is kind of hokey. But, consider it physical fitness for the brain.
Here’s the formula:
S – Specific Goal
P – Plan of Action
O – Your Objective or Observation
R – Realistic
T – Time Oriented
As an example of how to do it, let’s use one of my solid 2013 goals… and the notes I used to find the wording I posted above my computer:
S – I need to blog frequently
P – Spend a few hours each week writing a relevant article.
O – Need to write. Need to build web traffic. Need to help clients.
R – Is it realistic for me? Yes, I can spend two hours each week writing, even if I have to hide away in a closet with flashlight.
T – Two hours a week. Post a blog weekly. Or, one hour a week and post every other week. Hmmm. What should I do?
After a little contemplation, I put it all together: “Write an interesting, relevant blog every week, in order to 1) be of assistance to individuals wanting or experiencing career change, 2) build web traffic for PurposeWorks and 3) continue building my writing chops.”
Now, all I have to do is schedule the time on my calendar. Right after I get done editing and posting this blog, I am going to schedule a weekly recurring time on my phone with an alarm reminding me to write, write and write some more.
HAPPY NEW YEAR AND PEACE ON EARTH TO EVERYONE!
– Heather McBride, SPHR
Oregon Resume Writer, Oregon Career Counseling, Oregon Outplacement
“Your Career Solutions” for anywhere in the Nation
