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Sunday, January 3, 2016

Goals vs Resolutions

cj Sez:  If you’re thinking about making New Year’s Resolutions for 2016, my suggestion is, don’t. Set goals, instead. There is a theory which holds that writing down concrete, specific goals and developing strategies to overcome obstacles is the way to success. 

You’ll never get to where you want to go if you don’t have a plan to get there. 

Corporate environments are well aware that employees who set goals that are reachable, and measurable, are imminently more successful and productive. In fact, all the corporations I know require annual goal-setting.

As a writer, it might be just a matter of thinking about how far you’ve come in your writing and how you got there. Write down the motivations that kept you on your path. Then identify the distractions that sent you into the weeds.  If you’re prepared for a potential obstacle, you can pre-plan a way, or two, around it.

Obstacles are those things you see when you take your eyes off the path.

Here’s a simplistic example: Say the goal is to write 1000 words a day, but one of those days, inspiration escapes you (the obstacle) and you sit blankly staring at an empty screen. One way to overcome the obstacle might be step away from the computer and read a few chapters in a book by your favorite author. You may find a word, phrase, or paragraph that triggers the perfect inspiration you need to continue toward your goal.

Instead of trying to keep resolutions, set goals, identify possible obstacles—brain cramp (writer’s block), family, a need for quiet or a preference for white noise—then develop options to overcome those pesky roadblocks. When obstacles loom, and you know they will, all will not be lost, because you’ll have some kind of solution in mind. And if Plan A fails, keep on keeping on until you find the solution that works for you.

Be stubborn about your goals, but be flexible with your methods.

Okay, you-all guys keep on keeping on, and I’ll try to do the same. And if you run into trouble with your problem-solving, drop me a note. Maybe I can come up with a suggestion that acts as a springboard for you to come up with your best solution. 

cj
cjpetterson@gmail.com
Choosing Carter  -- Kindle  /  Nook  /  Kobo   /  iTunes/iBook
Deadly Star --  Kindle  / Nook  / Kobo

PS: The toons are from Facebook. “To soar on eagle’s wings” picture is by Jeff D. Johnston

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