Three Simple Goals

A very useful tip - read on

Somehow, almost without my noticing it, we've edged into October. For many of us the summer holidays are a distant memory - we're back at work and life is rushing by with its usual relentless pace allowing little time for focus and reflection. The days are getting shorter and before we know it Christmas will be here and with it the end of the year.

That's why this is an ideal time to sit back and do some planning for the last quarter of the year.

Some years ago I was a participant in a coaching Mastermind Group and I remember Pam Richarde, the leader of the group, asking us this question: "Looking forward to December - what do you need to do in the next three months to feel that you've reached the end of the year with a real sense of accomplishment?"

It was a question that really made me think - and it's clever in that it makes you think yourself forward to the end of the calendar year and to consider how it would feel - and what would be different - if you had that sense of accomplishment.

Here's a different way to think about the same question:

Step 1. Write down three goals that you feel would significantly improve your life - personally and/or professionally - in the next 90 days.

Step 2. Once you've decided on your goals, divide each one up into smaller action steps and give each step a start date and a finish date. Don't forget to leave space for a tick box so that you can tick each step as you complete it - always motivating!

By doing this simple exercise you should end up with a focus and an action plan for the next three months - taking you into December with a satisfying feeling of accomplishment.

By Annabel Sutton, BA (Hons), PCC Professional Certified CoachAuthor of '52 Ways to Change Your Life'