As the new year kicks off, it’s a great time to set new goals. If you’re hoping to lose weight, work out, learn more, get a promotion, be more confident, and finally organize your sock drawer, maybe you should just pick one or two at first.
As business site Harvard Business Review explains, we often fail our goals when we don’t have enough investment in achieving them. It’s not that we don’t want to learn a new language or take a pottery class. It’s just that we have other things we care about more. When you divide your focus over a large number of goals, you can’t devote your focus or attention to any of them. Instead, focus on the goals that you’re most passionate about and worry about the rest later:
If you want to succeed with your professional growth goals, choose one or two key areas of focus that align with what really matters to you.
For example, this year, I decided to make writing a book proposal for a new book my primary professional development goal. I knew this was the right direction because I felt a lasting surge of energy behind the idea. It had been on my mind since September 2015, and I couldn’t wait to get started at the beginning of 2016.
Capitalizing on the enthusiasm and energy you have for a goal will give you the drive to accomplish that goal. It’s okay to leave some other ambitions on the table and come back to them later when you have more space in your life to pursue it.
Stop Setting Goals You Don’t Actually Care About | Harvard Business Review
Photo by Sam JR.