When I talk to people about goals, casually or formally, I get many mixed reactions.

Some people are ardent goal-setters. Admittedly, these are about 5% of the population, if not less.

But most people have problems with goal-setting.

1. Some say they don’t want to set goals because they’re scared of failing.
2. Others don’t think they can stick with it, so why bother starting.
3. Still others just don’t believe in setting goals. I’ve shared before how almost everything in my life is as a result of goal-setting so there is NO persuading me otherwise.
4. Some say they don’t have time to be setting goals. I say you’ll have more time once you plan and go after your goals.

I just reviewed my January goals and I did 14 out of 15.

You could see it as I didn’t do that one or, as I prefer to look at things, I accomplished 93%.

Even if I’d only managed one, 7% accomplished is better than nothing, right?

If you have one of the reasons above, or another, this is just for you.

Why don’t you give goals a chance?

Set just 3 goals.

Make them small so you’ll have victories quickly.

Do you want to…

- Organise your desk drawer
- Make and follow a menu plan for one week this month
- Go to sleep one hour earlier for a week.

etc

Write out your 3 goals and keep them visible.

Go for it! You can do it.

Your February goals form is in the welcome pack if you’re feeling more ambitious.

How many goals do you typically set every month? (big or small doesn’t matter)

After jazzing up the other notebooks with tape, I decided to go all out on these ones.

 

They are super easy.

• Decide which colours of washi tape you’d like to co-ordinate and in which order.
• The planning part for me is the most boring but I found when I started messing up the first one that it pays to plan. Who knew it works even with crafts?!
• Thankfully, washi tape is so forgiving as you can pull off the same piece and re-apply it elsewhere.
• These were jazzed up just a little more because they were gifts for friends (the orange stripey one is mine though) so I don’t have pics of the final versions with the punched circle tags

 

I am VERY happy with how these turned out.

What do you think?

Your goals form for Feb is ready over at my site. If you’re already signed up, you will have received the form this morning. Otherwise, when you sign up, it will be delivered to you in the welcome pack.

Happy planning

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On Saturday morning I tried to squeeze something into a cupboard and when it wouldn’t fit, I  just lost it.

I then chucked out stuff like crazy.

Why do I have four huge plastic salad bowls when I only ever use at most two at a time?

I use these ones for baking when it’s a 3 cups of flour or more recipe too, and of late, for my sweet and savoury snack mixes.

And that’s how it went.

I had a pile big enough for two grocery carrier bags on my table and told Nester (our cleaning lady) to please help herself to it all. Or otherwise, to toss!

I’ve been seriously decluttering and organising for just over 6 years now, as long as we’ve been in this house and it was my stinginess that started it.

I actually considered getting a kitchen cupboard built to house all my extra stuff and when they quoted me R5000-odd in those days, I nearly fainted.

But I did have an aha – those things I wanted stored weren’t nearly worth R5000 so why would I pay for storage to house rubbish that I probably wasn’t using anyway.

Let that be some inspiration for you!

What do you need to clear out this week?

PS Organise your home will help kick-start your decluttering journey.

I know it’s been more than a month since Christmas (!) but I thought I’d show you how I display and store my Christmas cards so you can pin this idea for next year

• Hang a couple of pieces of ribbon on either end of your doorway. I had two up but alas, I only filled the one. The rest of the cards arrived after I’d taken all the decorations down
• Use clothespegs to pin the card to the ribbon. I got some really cute ones last year at a local stationery store (CNA) but in previous years I used the plain wooden ones.
• I like them pinned this way rather than horizontally because you can get more on your string.

the whole string

top section – the other ribbon with an ornament added some bling

and the bottom section

more close-ups

can you see my reflection in the ornament?

here are the cute clothespegs and the grosgrain ribbon – a nice thick ribbon feels sturdier

and this was hanging at the top – I love these What are your favourite ways to display your Christmas cards?    *********************************************

Guess what?

I had three parcels waiting for me when I returned from our holiday.

1. a gift from a friend
2. some rubber stamps I’d ordered – one of them has my word of the year, create, on it
3. a book I have TWO essays in

If you buy the book, my entries are on 6 August (my birthday) and 18 October (a random second date I was allocated). Here is the link on Amazon

I also have essays in the Moms and Motherhood version released around Easter last year and the Personal Heroes version which was released on 11 Sept.

The quality of this book is beautiful.

Do you know the best thing about having two pages in this book?

I’m inspired to get my book done!

How about you?

Are you inspired by your goals?

On Monday I told you how to choose your goals.

Today let’s talk about how to go from goals to reality.

My goals audio and handbook set goes into much more detail.

I could write about goals for the whole year – there is such a lot of ground to cover but instead, I’ll share the 3 tips that I think will get you at least half way there.

1. Write them down

If you’ve never written down your goals, then they’re only in your head and they’re dreams.

When you write down your goals, you “seal” your intention by putting pen to paper, or words on the computer document.

I’ve proven this in my own life and so have many clients, current and ex, as well as workshop attendees.

I firmly believe that just writing them down gets you a good way ahead of the pack.

Are your goals written down somewhere or are they on a mental list?

2. Print them out and stick them somewhere

This goes very nicely hand-in-hand with number 1.

Once you’ve written down your goals, you can stick the paper in a drawer or file folder, never to be looked at or you can stick it up somewhere.

For the record, I still think you’re better off just having written them down but making them visible is a secret tool in your arsenal.

Last year on the blog (http://OrganisingQueen.com) I put a picture of my goals. This post still gets TONS of real-life comments from people (sadly, not on the blog!) as well as emails.

Do you know why?

Because I put my goals in a little 10 X 15 frame on my desk because I honour them.

Where are your goals?

3. Make yourself accountable to someone

Most of us would do something more if we had accountability.

E.g. There’s a weight loss programme here in South Africa that is very successful. I think only a small part of the success is the food part but a HUGE part of people’s success is the weekly accountability. You’re accountable to your group leader so you go and weigh every week.

This is the same thing that happens with coaching.

When I know I’m talking to my coach in two days time, I knuckle down and get my tasks done. It’s the accountability that motivates me to action.

How about you? Do you have someone to be accountable to?

A like-minded friend, your spouse, a coach?

If you don’t have someone, I’d love to be your cheerleader. Book your personal session now.

Start putting those 3 steps into action and I guarantee you’ll be at least halfway to your goals, if not a lot further.

Look out for the Feb goals form on Monday.

We’ve been back home from our holiday for a few days now and the house is restored to order once again.

I said to a friend recently that there really is no point to going on holiday unless it’s for at least 5 days.

You need some time to justify all the packing and unpacking

beautiful door at uShaka marine world in Durban

The holiday was better than I expected – the babies behaved themselves, the weather was “beach good” 9 out of 10 days and I relaxed a lot. I even read 4 books. I read the 4th one in the car on my way back home.

Now to start thinking about the next holiday. I’m the type of person who likes to have something to look forward to so I need to know I’ll have another mini-break in May to tide me over for the next few months.

And while we’re in forward-thinking mode, let’s talk a little bit about how to choose your goals.

Your annual goals are not just a to-do list.

Every thought that enters your head is not a goal. That’s just something to do.

A goal, on the other hand, is something that will compel, excite and motivate you on the way to your life purpose.

E.g. If you want to do this little project and that little project, ask yourself if it’s contributing to your life purpose and it’ll become very clear what stays and what goes.

Do you read Simple Mom?

She also writes at Incourage, a Christian blog I follow, and in the last couple of weeks, she wrote a post about her 4 main goals for the year.

I loved that for the simple reason (pun totally intended!) that there is no clutter in her goal-making process.

She had just one goal in each of these 4 areas of her life – fun, personal, family and professional.

I have 22 for the year

Although I do have main goals and then some “cousin” goals (got that term from Jon Acuff). A cousin goal is one on the sidelines. When you achieve the main goal, you then start working on the cousin goal.

My main business goal for the year is to get my book published in print and on Amazon’s Kindle.

That’s it. Once that’s done, I have a few smaller cousin goals

So here are just 5 guidelines when choosing your 2012 goals:

1. do they excite and motivate you?
2. are they big and juicy?
3. are they specific?
4. do they contribute to your purpose?
5. given the right support, accountability and resources, could you achieve them?

If you get to answer them all “yes” you’re doing well.

Otherwise, let’s set you up with a personal goals session on Skype.

And if you haven’t yet downloaded your Jan goals form, it’s in your Time Management Purpose Pack on my website. What I really should call it is a mini goals form because these are the mini goals that will help you get to your (big) normal goals.

How are you doing on your January goals?

As many of you know, I’m a big believer in goals.

But sometimes you just can’t be bothered to think about goals.

I get that, not really personally, but from working with all my clients, I get that everyone is not always excited by the goal-setting process.

However, I do think that if you’re going to succeed in life (and everyone’s definitions of success differ), you need to take some action and direct the course of your life.

It’s like this – you can be a passenger in life or you can be the driver.

I’m definitely a driver and I want you to be a driver of your life too.

And that’s why I strongly suggest (encourage) you have at the very least, a word or theme for the year to guide and steer your thoughts, words and actions.

I’ve shared before that my words for the last couple of years were simplify, consolidate, courage and this year my word is create.

Click here to read all about CREATE

Let’s take my word and I’ll show you how I use and will use it this year.

3 examples:

1. Last week Sunday the house was a mess but the kids were being playful so I decided to CREATE some special memories by playing with them on the bed. My instinct was to tidy up but my word steered me to CREATE.

2. In two weeks time when I’m back at work with the personal trainer, I know I’m going to be tempted to be lazy. I will ask myself, “what kind of body will I CREATE with this behaviour?” and that will prompt me to haul myself to the gym.

3. In working with my clients, I’ve thought about how I want them to feel working with me. In other words, what kind of experience do I want to CREATE? I want to CREATE a safe haven where they can be themselves 100% authentically without judgement and feel my love and care. I think I do this naturally but there’s always room. One client mentioned a birthday coming up so I sent her a book I thought she’d like. She was delighted. These moments of happiness is what I want to CREATE when people think of me.

Okay, got it?

Your turn.

If you don’t yet have your word or theme for the year, think about what you want your life to be about and go for it.

If you need help, remember to book your Personal Strategy Session with me to start 2012 on a great note.

By the way, I’ve had some very positive feedback from when I shared personally how I used the reflection questions from last week. It really created some aha moments for me and many others. If you haven’t reflected yet, it’s not too late (it’s never too late!) – do it.

Have you chosen your word yet? If yes, great! Please share how you’re using that word this year.

Otherwise, maybe your word/ theme has just become an aha for you? (I can only hope!)

PS remember you get a free goals form when you sign up to my newsletter list (as well as the Time Management Success Pack and some other intermittent goodies like product discounts, etc). The one for January will be automatically delivered and Feb’s one will be delivered in the last week of January.

I’m writing to you from Ballito, a seaside town right on the Kwa-Zulu Natal coast.

Yes, I’m on holiday at the beach!!!!!!!!!

We are right on the beach and I’m loving the sound of the waves. Bliss. I’ve even painted my toenails bright blue to celebrate the summer weather

A quick reminder that

1) My friend, Beth, has her fabulous Declutter Calendar in print now. Check it out and grab your copy.

and

2) I’m celebrating by holding a buy one, get one f.ree sale for Beth’s and my readers.

It’s really easy – buy whichever product takes your fancy (Organise your Home is really popular at this time of year) and put another product of your choice (at the same or lesser price) in the notes to seller section. And I’ll get those to you asap.

This offer is only good until midnight EST (Sat 14th 7 am South African time).

Here is the list of all the products – have at it!

I like to think that reflecting on the year past is the same as tying a nice ribbon around a package – finishing it all off nicely

It seems to me like I can’t get on with the new year properly unless I reflect on what went well, what didn’t go well and most importantly, what I want from my life for the next year.

Do you agree?

Well then, let’s get to it.

Grab a notebook and pen or simply open up a new doc on your computer (but please close all other sites – this is meant to be a time of reflection, not distraction).

What went really well for you?

Why do you think that is?

Is there anything you want to duplicate this year?

What was challenging?

What do you need to let go of to move forward?

What do you want more of in your life in 2012?

That’s enough to chew on for now.

I’ll share one answer to each question to give you an idea of how this works.

What went really well for you?
I wrote the book!

Why do you think that is?
I carved out solid blocks of time and just did it.

Is there anything you want to duplicate this year?
yes, how I created time pockets for self-care, relaxation, getting fit and creativity (self-expression)

What was challenging?
When things out of my control happened and threw me off course (gall bladder operation!)

What do you need to let go of to move forward?
Unrealistic expectations of myself – I may feel like Superwoman but I’m not

What do you want more of in your life in 2012?
Rich, meaningful relationships

Ready to have a go?

Have at it.

And remember to book your Personal Strategy Session with me to start 2012 on a great note.

Do you care to share any of your answers with me too?

PS thanks for the FABULOUS words of the year you’ve been sharing with me. If you haven’t read through the comments, please do – there’s gold over there.

PPS I have verrrry exciting news to share with you on Monday. I’m celebrating a friend’s success.

Hope you had a good New Year’s celebration but most of all, that 2012 will turn out to be awesome for you.

I’ll admit – I was not sad to see the back of 2011.

It was a very stressful year for me what with my website being hacked so many times (who does that anyway?!), my gall bladder op and then my daughter Kendra was sick for most of December and was hospitalised for 5 days.

That was not fun.

I did have some wonderful highlights like finishing writing my first book (this month I have to finish working through all the edits and then submit it) and of course working with all my wonderful clients.

But it is a new year and one thing I’m good at is putting the past behind me.

I still don’t have all my goals finalised but I do have my one word sorted out.

Read all about my one word and to let me know yours too.

During the month of January, I’m going to talk about these 4 topics:

1) reflecting on 2011 (I normally do this between Christmas and New Year but sick babies = no time to reflect much)
2) choosing your theme for 2012
3) choosing your goals (here is your January goals form) link to http://takechargesolutions.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/Jan2012.pdf
4) how to go from goals to reality

What are you most looking forward to doing this year?