This is the time of year when a lot of us are setting goals for ourselves and our businesses. With that in mind, I offer my top five tips for setting goals. As with other topics I talk about, I disclaim any notion that I’m the expert. I unapologetically admit that I’ve stolen everything said here from someone else. With that disclaimer, here are my top five tips for setting goals in 2020. 1. Figure out what you want. We stumbled across the movie “Bruce Almighty” over the holidays. I had seen it before, and you’ve probably seen it. Bruce, played by Jim Carrey, is given the chance to be God by none other than God himself, played by Morgan Freeman. One of Bruce’s biggest challenges is dealing with the billions of prayer requests God fields every day. After Bruce makes the mistake of granting everyone’s prayers, havoc results. When he explains himself to God, Bruce says, “There were so many. I just gave them all what they want.” In response, God wisely asks, “Yeah, but since when does anyone have a clue about what they want?” Wow, that is so true. Honestly, asking and answering the “what do I want” question takes strength and courage because the answer is likely out of sync with your habits, not to mention what other people expect from you. If you change, it’s going to create pain. But here are the dirty little secrets about this. The pain is more imagined than real. And if you force yourself to answer this question honestly, you immediately start to strip away all the garbage that has stopped you from being your best version of you. You lay your finger on the dreams, passions, and talents that will take you there. Before you set out to create goals, I encourage you to first think long and hard about what you really want in every aspect of your life. 2. Be specific. This is a big one. “I want to lose weight” is not specific. “I want to lose 20 pounds” is specific. “I want my business to be profitable” isn’t specific. “I want my business to net $1 million this year” is specific. To achieve a goal, you need to make it specific and measurable. That enables you to measure your progress, which is another crucial step in accomplishing anything. 3. Set a deadline. Another great tool is to set deadlines for achieving your goals. This creates a sense of urgency and pushes you to act. It keeps you accountable. Will you possibly miss the deadline or not be where you want to be when it arrives? Of course. But if you’ve been working your plan, I guarantee you’ll be in a lot better shape by that date than if you set no deadline. Then you can recalibrate and set a new deadline or maybe even a new goal. 4. Expect failure, and take advantage of it. Another good quote from “Bruce Almighty” is when God observes that, “no matter how filthy something gets, you can always clean it right up.” You’re going to fail. That’s part of the process. But as you’ve often heard, great things come from failure. You learn what doesn’t work. You make some tweaks, and you attack it again. But you do not quit. 5. Revisit the goals, and be flexible. I think a lot of people believe that setting goals is something that happens in December or January. My personal philosophy is that it’s an ongoing process that is reactive to what happens to me. Sometimes, something terrific happens, and I think, “Man, I never could have planned it that way.” This in turn causes me to adjust my aim at different goals based on my unexpected experience. The same holds true with failures. Have your goals written somewhere, and revisit them periodically during the year to measure them against your experience and what’s really happened. 5 T I PS FOR SETT ING GOALS IN 2020
STAY ACTIVE DURING YOUR GOLDEN YEARS
3 PART - T IME JOBS FOR RET I REES
Whether you want to generate some extra income during your retirement or just keep yourself busy, getting a part- time job can be a great way to spend your golden years. But why settle for just any opportunity when you could stay mentally and physically active and give back to the community? If that sounds like your ideal way to spend retirement, here are a few options to consider. PASS ALONG YOUR KNOWLEDGE AS A TEACHER. Many community colleges and community centers offer part-time teaching opportunities for those who want to share their field of expertise with others. Many of these positions don’t require a teaching degree or certificate — just a wealth of knowledge from your years in the workforce. Alternatively, if you want to help younger students with their academics, you could also work as a tutor or a teacher’s assistant at a local school. SHARE YOUR PASSION FOR SPORTS AS A COACH. Coaching can be a satisfying way to spend your retirement and support younger athletes. However, there are a few things to keep in mind if you want to be a coach. You might need to pass a background check, and you’ll probably need to know first aid as well. While the pay isn’t incredible, the time you’ll spend sharing your passion for sports with young people is more than worth it. GIVE BACK AS A PERSONAL CARE AIDE. If you’re looking for an opportunity to stay active and have a more direct impact on people’s lives, you can try being a personal care aide. Personal care aides help elderly and disabled people with everyday tasks, such as shopping, doing laundry, and bathing. Many people who require this assistance prefer older aides who can empathize with their struggles, so it’s a great job for recent retirees. Just because you’ve retired doesn’t mean you can no longer bring value to your community. With all the time you have on your hands, you could become one of your town’s most valuable assets.
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