Several days into the New Year, it's important to make sure we have the proper planning in place to set ourselves up for a great 2020. Planning should precede execution! With this in mind, I want to once again encourage some goal setting.

Recently, a friend shared that she would be hiking to Everest Base Camp in April. This got me thinking and searching. In 1953, the first climbers reached the top of famed Mt. Everest (the highest mountain on Earth) and the first woman summited the mountain in 1975. In 2010, a young man named Jordan Romero climbed Mt. Everest at the age of 13. 2017 saw Spanish ultra runner Kilian Jornet set a "fastest known time (FKT)" record on Mt. Everest. And just last summer, Kami Rita Sherpa summited Mt. Everest for the 24th time. WOW!!! 

My question to you (and to myself)...If these people can succeed in climbing the world's tallest mountain and setting records in the process, what can I set my sights on and accomplish in 2020 (or the next 3-5 years)?

What's your Focal Point?

What's your Everest? That is, what GOALS will you achieve to make it a great 2020? In his book, Focal Point, Brian Tracy writes about the power of FOCUS + GOALS or your Focal Point. Here's a brief excerpt: "This simple story illustrates and summarizes the most important single principle of success, achievement and happiness in life. Your ability to determine where you put the "X" in each part of your life is the critical determinant of everything that you accomplish, or fail to accomplish. This "X" is your focal point. This is the one thing that you can do, at any given moment, to get the very best result possible for you in that area. Your ability to choose the correct time, place and activity to place your "X" has more of an impact on your life than any other factor."

We all share some common goals:

We want to be healthy and fit, full of energy and free of pain or illness; to enjoy excellent relationships (psychologists estimate that 85% of our happiness is due to the quality of our relationships); to do work we enjoy, do it well and be well paid for it; and to achieve financial independence, meaning not have to worry about money. Where are you with regards to your life plan...those plans, goals and dreams you had when you exited school, got your first job, got married, had your first child, etc.?

Diamond Mapping

A powerful exercise to help you determine your satisfaction with these key areas in life is called "Diamond Mapping.” It's a simple gut check on a scale of 1-10 to determine our satisfaction in each of these important areas. First, determine what a "10" means for you and then mark your current position relative to a "10". For example, in "Health and Fitness", a "10" might be a combination of eating a whole foods plant based diet and running 3-4 times each week. If you are currently transitioning to a better diet and only exercising 1-2 times each week, then you might circle a 3-4. Repeat this process for each of the areas. (Note: You can also add "Spiritual and Personal Growth" as a category although I tend to include related goals in each of the categories listed. To me, "Spiritual and Personal Growth" goals are essential to my happiness and success in the other four areas!).

So that's where you are currently. What will you do in 2020 to move from where you are today on your diamond map to where you want to be? Take 30 seconds to answer the following 4 questions. Often, our gut reaction is just as accurate as if we had spent hours pondering a question.

1. What are your 3 most important business or career goals in 2020?
2. What are your 3 most important financial goals in 2020?
3. What are your 3 most important family or relationship goals in 2020?
4. What are your 3 most important health and fitness goals in 2020?

SMART Goals

In writing your goals, remember to make them SMART:

• S = Specific. Make your goals as specific as possible.
• M = Measurable. Make your goals measurable so you can tell if you are moving toward your goal or away from it.
• A = Aligned with Your Values. Your goals will be meaningless and temporary unless they are aligned with your values.
• R = Realistic. Set stretch goals, but set goals that are realistically attainable.
• T = Time-Bounded. Always set a deadline for goal accomplishment.

What "one action" will you take TODAY as a result of reading this? Remember, the longer the period between the decision and the action, the less likely you are to get into action. In 2020, do something every day that moves you toward accomplishing your most important goals!