New Year, New Goals
by Rachel Liebergall
As we close out the first month of 2022, we must begin to look at the year ahead and figure out how to tackle it all. With such a busy month that at least for me felt like a year, it is easy to let work and shifting priorities get in the way of taking time for yourself — but the key to tackling the year will be setting attainable and motivating goals that balance your professional and personal dimensions. However, as we all know, the first part is setting the goals and the second becomes achieving the goals. How do we set meaningful goals, how do we make sure we reach our goals, and how, as consultants, do we support each other in reaching our goals? Lastly, as we look towards giving back in our communities, how do we make this a priority and not lose sight of its impact?
While we have the Checkpoint goals established in IBM, I took time to personally reflect on how my Checkpoint goals can be combined with personal priorities and an ultimate route to goal achievement. I wanted to share some goal-making strategies with all of you and hopefully they can serve as some sort of guide:
1. Dive deep — block off an hour to sit down and truly think about your year ahead past a career level
2. Break the year into smaller segments — helps it all feel less daunting and overwhelming, working off attainability
3. Trust your gut — you know yourself better than anyone, so be true to what works and what you can fit into your scheduling
4. Set target dates — be explicit in your timing to hold yourself accountable
5. Share with a friend — share your goals with a friend and/or coworker so that you can work together and positively motivate each other!
6. Accept failures as lessons — think back on times when you did not meet goals and where it went wrong
7. Stay positive — be patient with yourself and maintain positive reinforcement, giving yourself credit!
Moving into 2022, my biggest reflection and first goal is wanting to make more time for give back in my local area, and I want to encourage others to do the same. I have set volunteering metrics and have investigated numerous non-profits, surprised to find that the virtual options can go a long way. I hope that by sharing this goal with you all, you will hold me accountable — 2022 will bring us a year of more meaningful and impactful goals.
