A New View of Goal-Setting (for Me)

I have never been one to make resolutions. I do love fresh starts, new beginnings. So January 1 is a good time to start toward new goals.

Dan Miller of 48 Days to the Work You Love begins to work on his goals for the coming year in November (at least). Listening to his podcasts is inspiring for many areas of life. I have heard and read how important it is to write down your goals. And I have done that before, but I am beginning to get a better grasp on it. Key for me is to understand that I won’t be able to get everything done that needs to be done. However, I can certainly set goals that are realistic yet challenging. Dan suggests that you have our goals in place for the coming year by the middle of November. Well, I’m still working on mine. It may be the first time I have put this much effort in to setting goals that make a difference for me throughout the year. Dan has a Goals Sheet  (an 11-page PDF, mind you) to help you set goals in seven areas:

• Financial
• Physical
• Personal Development
• Family
• Spiritual
• Social
• Career

When I started this post last week, these are areas that had come to mind for me from looking at “Life Wheels” online.  So how do my areas match to Dan’s areas?

Fitness/Health/Exercise/Weight Loss
Under Physical

Spiritual Growth/Quiet Time/Prayer
This, under Spiritual.

Personal Growth/Self-Talk/Reading
Clearly under Personal Development

Entrepreneurial Efforts/Blogs/Home Business/eBay
Career

Relationships/Family/Extended Family
Uses two categories: Family and Social

Home/Cooking/Organizing/Decorating
Clearly, he has missed the goals for wife and mom. Right?

Until I did this categorizing, I didn’t realize he has missed the wife/mom area. But it is indeed not seen in the seven areas he identifies. So I still might work on my own guide.

For what areas are you thinking of setting goals?