As we end 2008 and start 2009 it is natural that we should be taking time to set goals.  Last week, I shared about the concept of setting shorter goals.  In that article, I shared how you can improve your goal setting and achievement by setting goals for either three month or four month periods.

As a professor, the four month goal setting period works perfectly because of the natural flows of the school year.  The first four months include a busy semester.  This semester, I’m teaching an extra class than normal.

The second four month period is the summer months.  During this time, I do not have classes to teach.  Instead there is time for increased study, research and writing.  My wife and I are also expecting our first child near the start of this four month period, so there will be many life changes to consider when setting goals for this time period.

The third four month period is again a teaching semester, with a different course load and different set of obligations. It is because of this natural life separation that I am setting goals for a four month period (rather than quarterly goals that are common in the corporate world).

I share my goals with you for several reasons:

• public accountability is always valuable when focusing on goals
• you can see the format I use, and the types of goals that I set
• you can hold me accountable to my goals
• you can get some ideas for goals of your own
• you can get to know me a little better

Be sure to share some of your goals in the comments below.

Here are some of my goals by category.  I have been intentionally vague on a few numbers that are rather personal (particularly financial goals). I do have specific numbers for these set in my goals.

Teaching/ Professor

• finish academic article and submit to peer-reviewed journal
• develop PowerPoint presentations for Human Resource Management course
• integrate more illustrations/videos into Quantitative Methods course

Success Professor Blog

• publish 6 guest posts per month
• increase to a total of 1500 RSS subscribers (approximately double current)
• average 4000+ visitors per month during period

Home Business Affiliate Program

• accept 12 new affiliate partners to work with
• total growth of 50%

Financial Goals

• put as much as possible on to retirement plan by Feb. 28
• increase emergency fund

Fitness Goals

• get to target weight (approximately 10 lb. drop)

Personal Development

• read 6 books, including one on writing

Spiritual Growth Goals

• continue role in church leadership
• read Jesus and the Eyewitnesses by Richard Bauckham

Now that my goals are set, I incorporate them into my weekly planning process. I also review my goals frequently throughout the week, and I will have another goal setting time at the end of the four month period.

What are your goals?  Share a couple of your goals below as a way of publicly declaring what you are going to work towards.

Written by:
The Success Professor – Danny Gamache

Tags: 2009 goals, affiliate programs, Goal Setting, home business, Personal Development, success professor

This entry was posted on Tuesday, January 6th, 2009 at 7:09 am and is filed under Goal Setting. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.