First post of 2025, here we go.
New year’s resolutions are old and outdated. Talk about resolutions usually starts before the holidays. Then right after the new year resolutions are determined. Come February, resolutions are usually already broken and are completely forgotten by March. Go to any gym in January and see how many people are still with it by March.
How about trying something different this year? Set goals and a plan to accomplish them. Goals have more structure which makes them more attractive than resolutions. Some common resolutions that can probably be traced back to the beginning of resolutions.
- Diet or eat healthier
- Exercise more
- Lose weight
All crap! These are vague, ambiguous, terrible resolutions. Here is what a goal would look like.
Goal – This year my goal is to eat healthier by tracking my eating habits, making better food choices, and maintaining my current weight and reducing body fat.
Much better. More specific, more content, and some measurable items.
Goals – Specific, Actionable, and Measurable
Now let’s go a step further by utilizing a couple of goal setting and accomplishing methods. Two of my favorites are SMART goals and V2MOMs.
SMART stands for
- Specific – Be as specific as you can. Vague generalizations never work out
- Measurable – Measurable goals force you to track progress
- Achievable – Achievable means that you can actually meet the goal
- Realistic/Relevant – Be real to what you can accomplish. Make sure it is relevant to your life
- Time-bound – Give yourself a due date
YouTube has an awesome video that explains SMART goals
V2MOM – Marc Benioff of Salesforce uses this method to align his company. Why not use it to align your life? As Marc explains in his post, V2MOM stands for:
- Vision – Define what you want to do. What is your vision of the future?
- Values – What is most important about the vision?
- Methods – What actions are you going to take to implement the vision?
- Obstacles – What are the barriers that will get in your way?
- Measures – What will you measure to reach your vision?
If you have worked in a large company with a good employee performance program you have probably set some SMART goals. V2MOM has been around a while but is not as common as SMART goals. Pick one method and set some goals for yourself.
If you already use CHAMP life priorities, set one goal for Career, Health, Adventure, Money, and People and 2025 is set. Here is one of my goals for Adventure this year.
By July 2025, refresh all content on this BLOG with updated material.
This may not be a life changing goal but its about progress. I started this blog almost 10 years ago and I have not dedicated the time and effort to make more progress. This year, I have determined to put more effort into the Nerd Zest and make this site helpful to anyone wanting to create more success and happiness in their own life.
Resolutions are out, setting goals is better. Make 2025 the year to set some goals and start achieving.