How to get smart around goal setting

For so many people, 'get organized' is on their resolutions or goals or intentions list. As you'd expect, I'm all for that.

However, 'get organized' is the gateway to frustration and failure.

Why?

The goal is way too vague.

We go into January all excited about what we are going to accomplish in the new year. But instead of sketching out a gradual approach to goal achievement that takes the entire year into account, we go gangbusters in the first month or two, then fizzle out and resolve to do better next time.

Great goals or resolutions follow the SMART principles that I'm almost positive you've heard of by now. If not, check out this article. In addition, it's important to remember

• Getting organized is great, but how do you define finished? Is it when all your documents are in their folders?

• How do you measure what you've accomplished? Is it in the way you feel when you can find the most recent draft of your article - and know it's the current version?

• And more importantly, how are you going to accomplish your goal? Is there a breakdown of what you're tackling this month, this quarter, and today?

Although there are dozens of articles on goal setting you can read, maybe what you need is someone to talk to and help you verbalize the hows and whys of what you want to accomplish. That could be an accountability partner or colleague, or even a sympathetic friend.

Even if you've already got your goal for this year, find a moment to assess it from all angles to check on the possibility of success.  Like I always say, the best day to start is today!

And if you need someone to help you fine-tune the goal of 'get my computer organized', I'm your girl! Drop me a message and let’s get started!