From one year to the other we cannot just drift from one calendar to the other. Do we just celebrate the arrival of a new year or do we take time to reflect? Business organisations do their year end audits and come up with the budget and projects for the new year.
But what about individuals? 2024 is a leap year and so it provides us with one more day in February. No matter what, some individuals plan what they want to achieve each year. If one has achieved the previous goals then they set more.
For others, it might be difficult to narrow down to how they want to grow. Basically setting goals to them is looking forward to further growth.
Hatim al Abdulsalam is a life coach, and this is how he sets his goals. “At the end of each year, I base my goals on three principles — Every goal I set has to get me closer to God, help me build relationships with others, develop me to become the best version of myself.”
“So based on these three I start breaking them down to small tangible goals. For example, pray more, support the poor and needy, watch what I say and do so that my faith becomes stronger,” he added.
Writer, Shahad al Wahaibi, also believes in setting goals. “Goal setting is important to eliminate distractions and set habits that help achieve them, many do not reach their goal not because it is impossible to do but do not turn the goal into actions,” she said. “I like to reset from time to time and not necessary new year but hearing people speaking about it encourages me to reflect,” she added.
If one has not succeeded yet, Shahad gives hope. “Write it down, there is power in writing. Make it simple and with a time line, be your biggest cheerleader and celebrate every milestone incremental growth is what will take you far not the one big leap,” she explained.
A business strategist Heba Zitouni gave the next step of having goals. She said the starting point is setting of the goals. “Because without a goal there is no plan,” she said adding that the ‘plan’ is the key word.
“Goal without a plan is just a dream. If the road map is messy, then there is no destination to move forward to. By having achievable big goals that are broken down into small goals with milestones. By this, your focus will be narrowed into small goals that make the big one,” Heba explained.
If a person is new at setting goals there is no need to be overwhelmed as one can focus on small attainable goals such as new habits and routines. For Hatim becoming a better version of himself meant getting his Masters degree. For another person it could be attaining driving license. For business people it could be a new market or product. The objective is to grow.
“Every sunshine brings new opportunities. Those who are smart enough are the ones who wake early and grab it. It is the negativity that control other people’s life,” Heba reflected.
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