Goals vs Resolutions

I've decided to review my short term, mid range and long term goals instead of coming up with new year's resolutions. I find that this lends focus to what I'm doing and it feels better to accomplish a goal than it is to stick to a resolution. :-)

When reviewing my goals, I usually dig out my copy of Steven Covey's First Things First as I appreciate this way of thinking. I'd rather be living and working in Quadrant II than anywhere else, that is, doing what is important vs doing what is emergent or wasting time. I also go back to an old Guidance Book entitled, Holistic Learning: Success in the Classroom and in Life. It has a section on goal setting that employs a technique whereby a person uses three sheets of paper, brainstorming short term, mid-range, and long term goals, leaving them for a day or two, going back and short-listing the goals to three each. After that, you short list your goals to three. Once you arrive at your final three goals, you do something each day that will advance you towards your goals. Now these goals can be reviewed and changed periodically as goals are met and/or things change, but it is important to remain focused on what is important to you.

Steven Covey also cautions us that we need to meet our physical, social, mental and spiritual needs, not forgetting our mission as human beings: to live, to love, to learn, and to leave a legacy. I think I need to go back and add a few goals to my lists before doing any short listing. :-)