Did you watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade this year?  Like many, my family has enjoyed the sights and sounds of the TV broadcast of this parade each and every Thanksgiving morning.  But, this year was different – we did not tune into NBC to watch the parade…

This year, my wife checked another item off her “bucket-list” when we traveled to New York City to see the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.  Seeing the parade live and in person has been a dream of hers for about 30 years. The weather was perfect and we enjoyed a once-in-a-lifetime parade experience.

We had several “must-see” landmarks and events on our agenda. And it took some forethought and planning in order for us to get the most out of our trip to “the Big Apple”.

Planning for 2016 is a bit like planning for a big trip.  To get the maximum experience out of your trip (or your year), you need to do some advance planning.

The process of setting goals is a proven way to plan your “trip” through 2016. And I have some tips that will help you accomplish more than you ever thought possible!

Please download my newly redesigned and popular, personal Goal Setting Workbook FREE by <clicking here>.

In a previous two blog posts I suggested you…

• Pause and reflect{target=“_blank”} by asking, “Where have I been? and “Where am I now?”

• Then start dreaming{target=“_blank”} and thinking by asking yourself “Where am I going?”

Effective goal setting requires that we know where we’ve been, where we are, and where we’re going. Without this process, you may find yourself off course – or worse, going nowhere.

Every person** can get more done in 2016 by applying the following five practical goal-setting tips.**

Stagger Start vs. All at Once

Our tendency is to start ALL of our plans and goals on January 1. But when we start all of our plans and goals simultaneously, we quickly become overwhelmed. Then we’re likely to quit pursuing ALL of our plans and goals.

Change your thinking and stagger the start dates for your goals over the course of the year. This allows you to focus on one or two important goals at a time.

“Vital Few” vs. the “Trivial Many”

Managing priorities are having control over what you do. Your ability to choose between the important and the unimportant (or urgent) is the key determinant of your success in life and work.

Effective, productive people discipline themselves to focus on the most important task that is before them. As a result, they accomplish vastly more than the average person and are much happier.

Adjust vs. Fixed

As you implement and execute your 2016 plans and goals, expect to adjust them as the year goes by.

When you move forward, you will learn something new that you had not considered before that would lead you to an even better path. Be willing to adjust your plans and goals accordingly.

Stop to Start

Once you determine what you want to accomplish for the year, it’s important to count the cost of your goals.

Often, we’ll need to stop doing certain things so we can start new routines that will get us where we want to go.

Consider making a “Stop Doing” list that contains the activities and behaviors that you need to remove from your life to make time for your newly identified goals.

Progress vs. Perfection

We are looking for progress, NOT perfection as we think through our 2016 plans and goals.

Your goals must be challenging but realistic. Reaching for perfectionism will only frustrate you, your friends, your family and your co-workers. You’ll give-up before you reach perfection.

Following these five practical tips will help you plan your personal goals and get more done in 2016!

Want an easy way to get started on your goals for 2016? Simply download my Goal Setting Workbook! Get yours FREE by <clicking here>.

Could you share *your experiences when you staggered your start dates?  What happened when you got really focused on the most important goal?  Have you ever prepared a “Stop Doing” list?  How successful were you?  * Click <here> *to share your thoughts.  *

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