Ever since High School, December has been an introspective month where I usually spend most of my time reflecting on the past 11 months. I look at my work, family, relationships, community, faith, decisions/choices made, etc. Yet most of my time investment goes into taking a sincere look at myself. I revisit personal goals to see what worked and what did not. I take notes. Lots of them.

I don’t know about you, but 2009 has been unlike previous years. It’s one of those years that I’ll probably draw wisdom for the rest of my life.

In the weeks leading to New Year’s Eve, I start preparing for the new year in anticipation. I throw away paper, optimize my computers, donate old clothes, start setting the tax docs aside, clean the fridge, etc. I like to be ready for that 1st day of the year.

While going through this process, I obtain the clarity and certainty of the goals I want to tackle in 2010. I don’t cut corners here. I take the time I need to set the the goals I need.

Allow me to share some thoughts of why I think goals are important to success, in life as well as in business. Perhaps these characteristics will inspire you (or others) to write your own list of goals.

• Goals are the road-map of life and business. Without goals it is almost impossible to make plans and strategies. Needless to say, achieve anything.
• Goals are not just for you and about you. Your goals are most likely going to affect others along the way. That can be very useful when deciding what goals to include.
• Goals are proactive measures for success. Goals get you where you want and need to go. They are very useful, especially when the going gets rough. And it will.
• Goals separate the achievers from the wanderers. People who set goals accomplish more. Organizations with goals have a competitive advantage and a strategy to support the goals.
• Goals can serve as milestones to determine progress along the way. Humans and organizations need check points and rewards. Milestones are great incentives to keep going.
• Goals are like cheerleaders. Once achieved, they keep cheering us on to tackle the next one.
• Goals are not just for leaders. They are for everybody: parents, leaders, businesses, markets, community groups, entrepreneurs, churches, teams, countries, etc. Any individual or group of people seeking to go somewhere, must take adequate time to set goals.
• Goals are our friends. They keep us accountable with a clear purpose and sense of direction.
• Goals help us choose our peers. It is a natural thing to find like-minded people with a similar set of goals. This is easier than ever with social networking sites.
• Goals serve as the common language in organizations. Employees should believe in the goals, and be able to list and talk about them.

After many years, I’ve learned that goals can be a bit sneaky and play hard to get; or take a different form or stop making sense along the way. That is why I find it useful to write them down and look at them as much as I need to. Feel free to make edits along the way if you need to. You have to flexible in this day and age of rapid change.

We are entering a new decade. We can create anything in a ten-year span. We just need to set our hearts and minds in motion.

Are you ready?
Do you know what you want in 2010?
What are your goals?

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