New Year’s Resolutions v. New Year’s Goals

A few years ago I stopped making New Year’s Resolutions and instead started setting New Year’s Goals. In a Fast Company article (Feb 2008) Dan and Chip Heath make the distinction. Resolutions feel good when you make them. The good feeling comes in the declaration. It’s probably the feeling of a fresh start. Goal (time-bound, measurable statements of accomplishment) don’t necessarily feel good when you make them but feel exceptionally good when you achieve them–or are hitting the milestones on the way to achieving them. The best part of resolutions are spent after declaring them but the best part of goals will come after they are achieved.

I just looked over my 2009 goals–something I call Strategic Objectives–subsets of my Strategic Engagements–areas where I give my best time and energy. I had fourteen big specific goals I set for 2009, the majority of which I feel good about. They were challenging when I put them to paper but now that the year is over…it feels pretty good to have to accomplished some pretty good stuff.

In the next week or so I’ll write down my 2010 Strategic Objectives, which flow from my 2010P ersonal Mission–which is unchanged from 2008: “To change the world by engaging the church worldwide in the needs and dreams of their communities towards the end of spiritual and societal transformation.” I’ll try to set goals that actually move me towards fulfilling that mission. Should be a good 2010…..

If you would like to a copy one-page template that I use to capture my goals, send me an email at eric@tangogroup.com