Did you see that? 2018 just came and went which means it’s that goal setting time of the year again. A time to reflect on what you accomplished, where you need to improve, and begin planning for 2019. Did you accomplish your goals for 2018? I hope so, but regardless of the outcome, let’s both prepare for a productive year ahead!
2018 in Reflection
Let’s kick things off by reflecting on 2018 to see how everything turned out for the year.
Questions for reflection
- Did you set goals for yourself?
- Did you accomplish them?
- Were you motivated enough to push to your next goal?
- Can you pinpoint what’s holding you back from any particular goals?
It’s questions like these that help you celebrate your accomplishments, consider your progress, and make the necessary adjustments to see improved results. Take your time and write a list of your biggest accomplishments and note what motivated you to achieve each of them. Next, write a list of the goals you didn’t reach and how you might find better motivation or a better strategy to see them through. If you just happened to set your goals a little high, that’s good! We’ll simply roll them over into 2019.
Goal Setting for 2019
If you’ve been setting goals consistently every year, keep it up! You know the benefits and have experienced the positive results. If this happens to be your first year, here are some of the benefits you may realize.
Benefits of Goal Setting
- Clear Focus: Goals allow you to clearly outline your intentions for the year.
- Prioritization: Life is busy, but goals allow you to prioritize your activities.
- Discipline: Goals improve your ability to abide by rules you place on yourself. This type of discipline will positively affect many areas of your life.
- Productivity: Creating goals gives higher value to your time. With only 365 days to complete your intentions, every day, every hour, and every minute counts.
- Achievement: Setting goals gives you the satisfaction of overcoming a challenge in your life. It brings happiness and a reason to celebrate.
- Daily Clarity: Having defined goals allows you to ask yourself if a certain activity supports your goals. This helps with decisions that are in your best interest.
- Confidence: The process of setting goals and achieving them will build your self confidence. With every passing goal achieved, you’ll have ever-growing confidence to achieve the next.
- Taking Action: Goals solidify the process of changing thoughts into action. If you can think it, you can work to accomplish it.
- Measurement of Success: Following S.M.A.R.T. Goals give you the ability to plan and execute your goals with measurable results.
- Fulfillment: Continuously setting and achieving goals will help you live a happier, more fulfilling life as you live life on your terms.
Setting Your Own Personal Goals
Now that you have read or experienced the possible benefits, it’s time to consider your own goals for 2019. What would you like to accomplish this next year? Maybe you want to lose weight and improve your lifestyle, spend more quality time with your family, or focus on personal-development to better realize your potential. Whatever it may be, if it’s important to you and will improve your life, today’s the day to start taking action.
Start by writing a list of goals you’d like to achieve and then narrow down on your core intentions. Make these core intentions a part of your daily life by writing them down and reviewing them on a consistent basis. Now, some of these goals may seem overwhelming, which makes breaking them down a crucial part of the process. Take each goal and break them into manageable chunks. Take the following goal for example.
Example Goal: Run a 5k in 6 months
- Start walking everyday (today)
- Get a personal trainer (week 2)
- Start a regular exercise regimen (week 3)
- Start running short distances (month 2)
- Increase distance to 2k, 3 days a week. (month 3)
- Increase your speed & stamina (month 5 & 6)
This is just a simple example, but notice how the goal is broken down into manageable chunks and a timeframe has been placed on each step. This gives you a step by step game plan to achieve your goal within the given time period. Take this example and apply it towards your own goals, breaking each down into time-sensitive chunks. Once you have applied this towards your core goals, all it takes is persistence. Things may get challenging at times, but it makes achievement all the more worth it. Get yourself fired up, set your core goals, and take action by starting today! You’ll be on your way to the better, improved you.
My Accomplishments in 2018
2018 was an exciting, yet busy year. I didn’t quite accomplish everything I had set out for, but made a number of large strides I’m pleased with. Here’s my list from 2018, what was accomplished, and what’s left on the table for next year.
2018 Goals & Status
- Create at least 3 free download incentives: I successfully created three free resources including, 4 Steps to Living with Intention, Making Your Best Financial Move, and The Passive Income Starter Kit. I’ll be adding more throughout next year.
- Learn about free and paid advertising: I did learn how to advertise utilizing free and paid services, with options such as Pinterest, Facebook groups, and Facebook ads. I’ve barely scratched the surface, so this will carry over into next year.
- Grow my subscribers list to over 1,000 people: Advertising took a back seat to content creation and website optimization, so this is lower than I’d prefer. This goal will carry over into next year.
- Create an online course: This has been on my list for awhile, but I just wasn’t able to get around to it. I do have a course planned and will definitely start creating premium content next year.
- Start adding more affiliate links: I added a number of affiliate links throughout the site, mentioning products and services that I use and trust.
- Start interviewing successful people: Unfortunately, this took a back seat to content creation as well. I also didn’t set aside the time to reach out to successful entrepreneurs, so I may start doing this in the new year.
- Purchase a Multifamily Property: I didn’t purchase a multifamily property, but I did purchase a single family home as a rental property. I have tenants in place and decent cash flow, so I consider this a huge win and the beginning of my real estate portfolio.
- Building my Library: I’ve never been one for much reading, but started growing my library along with the perspective that each book brought. I can’t get enough of these books now and will continue this on into 2019.
Although I left some areas lacking, I feel content with my accomplishments in 2018. I made a number of updates and improvements to the website, to the point where I’m relatively happy with it. Of course there are areas I’d like to further improve, but can take a back seat to other objectives. I’m also happy with the purchase of my first rental property. I’m learning what it takes to be a landlord and should further refine my processes as I encounter further scenarios. Now that the year is coming to a close, I’m reflecting on what was accomplished and what I’d like to work towards in 2019.
My Goals for 2019
Although I’m content with what I accomplished in 2018, I want to push the envelope in 2019 and see what I can achieve. There were a number of distractions throughout the year which slowed my progress, but I’d like to see what I can achieve with renewed focus. With that said, here’s what I’d like to accomplish in 2019.
2019 Goals
- Gain a solid grasp of Facebook advertising. I’d like to learn Facebook advertising so well that I can set up advertising campaigns not only for myself, but other companies. This will allow me to be a more effective marketer and use those skills to gain clients.
- Gain a solid grasp of ManyChat. ManyChat is a Facebook Messenger Chatbot that interacts with your audience. I believe it to be an up and coming form of marketing communication and would like to be ahead of the curve. This will give me the opportunity to not only utilize it with my own website, but help other businesses, or teach others effective ways to use the software.
- Create online courses. Creating an online course is well overdue and will be one of the first things I complete in 2019. My first course will be free to help incentivize visitors to become community members. I’d like to create a premium course as well, details to come.
- Purchase another property. This will be a very difficult feat, but I’d like to purchase another property maybe later next year or early 2020. This may change, but it’s been on my mind ever since I purchased my first!
- Offer audio articles. I’m considering the idea of reading all my articles and posting them as a podcast so people have the option to listen instead of read.
- Consider video content. I’ve never considered myself great on camera, but I’m considering the idea of documenting my journey through video. This way, subscribers can experience my progress, frustrations, challenges, and what it’s like to work towards your goals and dreams.
- Meet and possibly collaborate with other professionals. I’ve already started meeting some amazing people these last couple months, but want to continue surrounding myself with like-minded professionals who inspire me. If given the opportunity, I would be happy to work with and collaborate with other business, marketing, and real estate professionals.
- Learn sales and provide consulting services. I’d like to improve my sales knowledge and use that to approach potential clients as a marketing and design consultant who can help grow their business.
- Continue reading/growing my knowledge base. I just started reading entrepreneurial books in 2018 and I’m fired up as ever to continue exploring the minds of the worlds greatest. I have a number of books in my queue, ready to go. Next up is, “Expert Secrets” by Russell Brunson and I can’t wait to start it!
Taking Action in 2019
Well, there’s my general list of goals for 2019. Each goal will take a number of small steps to achieve, but my overall intention is to grow my skills/knowledge, increase my viewership, and gain traction as an online business consultant. Who knows how the year will unfold, but I’ll be hard at work providing you with everything I know, learn, and experience. I hope you’ll join me and strive for success in your own life because there’s nothing worse than wasted potential and asking yourself, “what if?” later on in life. Cheers to 2019, let’s crush it!
Tell me your plans for 2019. What do you find most important and plan to achieve in the new year? Leave a comment below!
*Some of the links above are affiliate links, which means that if you choose to make a purchase, I will earn a commission. This commission comes at no additional cost to you. Please understand that I have experience with all of these companies, and I recommend them because they are helpful and useful, not because of the small commissions I make if you decide to buy something.
