How to Set Goals to Transform Your Life

Through the years I have purposely become more disciplined in eating right, exercising daily, and working smarter. As a result, I am happier and I feel a greater sense of accomplishment and contribution in making things better. Personal development always leads to better health, greater fulfillment, and success in life. 

I started doing an annual self-assessment and goal-setting when I took my Dad’s advice that I should get my own annual tune-up. My good friend Zig Ziglar called this a “check-up from the neck-up.” I started asking myself four important questions on the same day each year and Brailling and typing down my responses. I present this concept to you in hopes that you will receive the same results I have over the past 14 years.  

1. How am I more knowledgeable today than I was one year ago? Expand this thought by asking yourself what can I do to increase my knowledge for the current year ahead.

2. How am I more capable today than I was one year ago? This can be learning another language, technology, developing a new competency, completing a course, or anything that will grow your knowledge in a productive manner.

3. How am I more confident today than I was one year ago? Am I currently doing activities and learning about things that matter? Will they make me feel more empowered to help others along with myself? Will they help me to make more good things happen at home, in the workplace, or in my community?

4. How am I more influential today than I was one year ago? I follow up with what I am doing currently to improve my example so that I can be a better role model who encourages others.

No matter what your age is, my challenge for you today is to become the leader you desire to see in the world. I believe that if you engage in the passionate pursuit of the four following goals, you will notice an annual transformation that you will be pleased with. As they say, we can move from good to great. Outstanding service to many leads to greatness in your various life roles. Use the following four questions to set some new goals. Goal achievement enables you to accomplish more for your family, workplace, church, and community.

1. Set a goal and action plan to become more knowledgeable by one year from now.

2. Set a goal and action plan to become more capable by one year from now.

3. Set a goal and action plan to become more confident by one year from now.

4. Set a goal and action plan to become more influential by one year from now.

It doesn’t matter when you begin your mission, so you might as well start today. As Zig Ziglar would say, “It is not where you start but how you finish that makes the difference.”