The mid-year goal review has flown by and year end is quickly approaching. Looking back over your goals for 2013, it is important to check-in with yourself now to mark both your progress and steps needed to achieve them by the end of the year. We have one more quarter left this year. How are you doing? Finish strong.

How to go about achieving your goals by year end

October already!

The mid-year goal review has flown by and year end is quickly approaching. Looking back over your goals for 2013, it is important to check-in with yourself now to mark both your progress and steps needed to achieve them by the end of the year.

We have one more quarter left this year. How are you doing? Finish strong.

Start by asking yourself some questions:

(A) What goals did you set for the year?

Remind yourself. If you have them written down, reread them, maybe even post on a wall near your desk or in your calendar. Try to keep them actively engaged in your mind throughout your daily activities.

It helps to examine your motivation. Why do you want to accomplish this goal? What are the deeper reasons it matters to you? Understanding why will help you recognize your real desire and reason for working to achieve the outcome.

(B) How do you evaluate if you are on track to accomplish your goals?

Hold yourself accountable. If this proves hard to do on your own, it helps to have support. Who can be your ‘accountability partner’ to keep you on target? Share your goals. Schedule a meeting to report your progress to each other. Accountability helps. No one wants to report failure or inactivity, even to themselves.

Mark your progress. Keep track of the steps you’ve made towards achieving your goals. Following your progress is a great way to evaluate if you’re using your energy effectively and productively. It also gives you an opportunity to see obstacles holding you back.

(C) How do you know when to discard old goals and add new ones?

Priorities change. Acknowledge when you’ve accomplished a goal and refresh it. Admit when you’re avoiding working toward a targeted outcome. Understand why. If it’s still important, try rephrasing the goal and drill down to understand why you want to accomplish it. If you have not established a clear enough reason why it’s important or it seems too big to achieve, it may be causing procrastination. Be realistic and set your sights on achievable targets.

3 steps to achieving success:

1. Set goals.
2. Write them down with deadline(s)
3. Enlist accountability partners to help you stay on track.

Keys to achieving your goals by year-end:

• Simplify: Choose a specific goal and break it down into smaller tasks that can be done on a daily or weekly basis.
• Prioritize: Schedule time in your day to actively work on them.
• Manage Distractions: There are countless distractions in life, especially technology. Emails, television, phone calls, internet, social media, and texting are all potential sources of distraction. Keep them to a minimum and work first and foremost toward making your goals happen.
• Be Serious, but Flexible: To achieve your goals, you have to be serious.

You have to plan, prioritize, and hold yourself to deadlines and commitments. Individuals who are confident they will succeed put in more effort, plan how to deal with problems before they occur, and persist longer despite difficulties.

Click here to see an Action Planning Worksheet that provides specific, structured steps in goal-achieving

Most importantly, get excited about your goals for 2013 again! Remind yourself why you got all excited about them in the first place. What made you want to pursue that goal? Why were you passionate about it? Remember the reasons, refocus, and get energized.

Finish the year strong. Never forget: Every step counts!