If you didn't get around to making resolutions in January, or if you have already forgotten them...you have a second chance. The Chinese New Year starts on Feb 14th, and it just happens to be the Year of the Tiger...let's make that the Year of the Paper Tiger.

What: Maybe your resolutions have always fallen flat, and like me you just stopped making them. You do, however, need to set goals in order to know where you are heading and how you are going to get there. You can’t just punch this in your GPS and expect to get directions, so you’ll have to do a little work.

So What: Once again, get a piece of paper, we are going to write this down. When we are working with a client on organizing, we first start with what we call the Productive Environment Process™. I made a few modifications to the regular steps in the process  to make it work for my goal setting.

1. Design Your Vision: Where would you like to be by the end of the year, or whatever your time frame may be?
Be as broad or specific as you like, because you can break it down later.

2. Identify Your Obstacles/Excuses: What are the things that will trip you up or get in the way of your success.
How can you prevent these from happening? By identifying them now, you will be able to recognize them and
try to prevent them later.

3. Commit Your Resources: Who will help you? This is important to have others on board as accountability
partners. How much time do you have to devote? How much money? What tools do you already have in place
to help you?

4. Momentum Activity: Identify the actions that will move you toward your vision(s). What can you do within the
next 48 hours to start momentum? What can you do daily and weekly to continue the momentum?

Now What:

5.  Act…Be conscious of your actions that are moving you toward your vision. Make every effort to do something to move you toward your vision each day. Don’t try to do everything at once. Remember this is a vision of where you want to be within a year or your specified time frame. Just as I tell people to break their organizing projects into small, manageable projects, do the same with your goals…break them into smaller chunks (short-term goals). Re-evaluate the process and don’t hesitate to modify when you see things are not working as you originally planned. Celebrate your successes.

For your Goal Setting Process Worksheet click here.