The Year of Execution: 5 Key Strategies to Smashing Your Goals in 2020

by Shaterica Washington

As the year 2020 approaches, we are beginning to reflect on 2019. We take the time to bask over our accomplishments, our wins, and our losses. We go back over the goals we set at the beginning of the year and see whether or not we accomplished them. For some of us, we accomplished the goals we set out towards the beginning of the year. Some of us find ourselves having the same goals we had for 2019 for 2020 because somewhere down the line we lost track. The other day, as I was scrolling through my newsfeed, I came across a meme that said ,“Your 2020 will be the same as your 2019 if you don’t get off your a** to do the things you need to do for yourself mentally, physically, and emotionally”. This quote made think about why so many of us are failing to accomplish our goals. What are we missing? Do we not have the skills, talent, and ability? The answer to this is no; you have everything you need to accomplish your goals. We just lack the steps and tools towards getting them accomplished, so I wanted to share with you guys my top 5 key strategies I used in 2019 to accomplish my goals that has also prepared my goal planning for 2020.

1.) Write down Your Goals

Writing down your goals is the first and most important step in executing your goals. I’m a firm believer in writing my goals down. I don’t care how many times I say to myself what my goal will be…. it does not mean anything if it is not written down. Writing them down allows me to get a clear a vision of what it is that I want to accomplish. I have to see it to believe it. Writing goals is also the key step in creating my plan of action. When I write them, I like to break down each goal in small steps on how to reach them. This allows me see the process from start to finish and create milestones.

By recording your dreams and goals on paper, you set in motion the process of becoming the person you most want to be. Put your future in good hands-your own.”

-Mark Victor Hansen

A tip I like to use when planning and writing down my goals is using the SMART Goals Formula:

Specific: Be specific in your goals. Your goal should be clear, otherwise you won’t be able to focus on the task to get there.

Measurable: Identify a way to measure your progress in achieving your goals.

Achievable: Are the goals you setting attainable?

Realistic: Are they realistic? Is it really possible? Think about it…

Timely: When will you reach the deadline? How long will it take for you to complete this goal?

2.) Give Yourself a Deadline

Let’s face it and be honest with ourselves. We don’t like deadlines because we don’t like to miss deadlines. In my professional job, I’m strapped with deadlines and processing times. Most of my tasks are required to be completed within 48 hours after being assigned and meeting that deadline always kicks my behind because it’s like I never have time to take a breather. I like meeting my deadlines because it makes me feel accomplished, and not like I’ve been wasting the past 8 hours of my shift. Which is why you should always give your goals a deadline. Writing down your goals is one step, but attaching a deadline is what takes it from a dream to reality. You know you need to have it completed by a certain date, so you will work towards making it happen. Every day you put in work towards meeting that deadline is the driven force behind accomplishing your goals. Before you know it, you are crossing things off of your to do list like it ain’t nothing.

A goal without a deadline is just a dream.”

3.) Time Management

Learning to effectively manage your time is another key point when executing your goals. We always say there is never enough time in the day, but maybe you aren’t managing your time and utilizing effectively. There is more than enough time if you plan your day accordingly. One thing in this world we can’t get back is our time so we shouldn’t waste any minute of it. These are some key tools for managing your time:

Know where your time is being spent. What areas are you spending your time that you can cut and use on accomplishing your goals? Social media? TV? Shopping?

Plan out your day hour by hour. When does your day start? When are you shutting down?

Plan the night before. If you already know today what you need to get done tomorrow, then you already know what’s to come.

Time is what we want most, but we spend worst.

-William Penn

4.) Focus. Focus. Focus. Focus.

I can’t stress this enough. In order to accomplish your goals, you have to focus on your goals. You can’t accomplish your goals if you are focused on everything but your goals. Clear out any distractions that you may have. Be intentional on working on your goals every day. Eliminate any issues that may cause you to lose focus. If you know watching TV will cause you to get distracted, then don’t turn on the TV; find a quiet space that you can hear yourself think and work. If social media gets you off track, put your phone on DND so you won’t have any disruptions.

Those who make the worst use of their time are the first to complain of its shortness.

-Jean de la Bruyere

5.) Celebrate

Celebrate yourself. Celebrate when you complete your goals. No matter how big or small. Every step you take accomplishing your goals deserves to be celebrated. Sometimes we are so focused on the big things that we forget to celebrate the small things, and this can make us feel like we’re not accomplishing anything. That’s one of the reasons why creating milestones are important to me. Writing down your plan of action allows you to see your progress and feel more accomplished.