Wilma C. Inventor-Miranda l October 23, 2024 l Business Mirror
WE are now towards the end of the year 2024. Where are we now in the goals we set or have we set any for that matter?
Many people do not set goals because they know they cannot accomplish it anyway, don’t have time to work on them, cannot properly define what they want to achieve, feel unhappy when they are far from accomplishing their goals, etc.
According to the famous author Zig Ziglar “97 percent of people in our society do not have a clearly defined, written-down set of goals for their lives.” There are so many articles and books written on goal setting. Here’s a summary of my thoughts on this topic.
There is no arguing about the importance of setting goals. I myself have set goals that I haven’t accomplished yet. But there is one goal that is clear to me and, that is: to walk and grow more in my knowledge and relationship with God. I am still a work in progress, which we all are, until we end this pilgrimage on earth.
Having this one goal fixed in our minds, our other goals should be aligned with it. The problem is we do not even try to write down these other goals; they are just in our mind.
Oftentimes, some of the goals we set are so grandiose that achieving any one of them are impossible. For instance, after obtaining my CPA and MBA certificates, I wanted to pursue a PhD in Management, review and pass the Certified Internal Auditor and the Certified Fraud Auditor Exams. I also sought personal goals; such as physical fitness, more time with family and travel to places in my bucket list. The list can be endless so I just need to prioritize.
A famous acronym in goal setting is “SMART,” which stands for “Specific,” “Measurable,” “Actionable,” “Relatable” and “Time-bound.” Some even go as far to make “SMARTER” goals by adding “Evaluate” and “Rewards.”
We need to be specific with our goals and break them down into small steps so that along the way we will have a feeling of accomplishment just by accomplishing the small steps. According to my favorite author and speaker Jim Rohn, you should be specific in breaking down goals into different tasks; into hours, days and years to make them achievable. According to an article in Forbes last July 9, these goals should be clearly communicated to your work team and to your family and other people who are your work and emotional support.
These goals should be measurable – what do we want to achieve by the end of the month or year or with a new project. What data and methods are we going to use to measure accomplishments.
Are these achievable or actionable to maintain enthusiasm? Does your team possess the training and skills to achieve your goal of accepting another project or can you squeeze in time during the day to do your workout and meditation and play with the family?
How relevant are your goals to where you are now? You should also look into the mission, vision and values of your company and the personal goals you set for yourself. Will this benefit in the long run your organization and your family? For instance, if you set too high and lofty goals, do you still have time to spend with the family and achieve your personal goals of professional development, wellness, fitness and spiritual growth? For instance, I wanted to pursue my doctorate degree but I asked myself what for? Will this be relevant to the services we offer in our Firm and will this affect my personal goals too?
Being time-bound is essential to know if you have accomplish even just a small part of your goal. This is where the small steps toward your goal come in. Achieving these small steps will further encourage you and will boost your confidence.
Adding “Evaluate” and “Rewards” are also essential. You can change goals if you evaluate that this is not where you want to be or further evaluate if at this stage it is already enough. Rewarding yourself with the small steps you accomplished even if you have not achieved the ultimate goal will bring a sense of capability and enjoyment to the whole pursuit of goal setting. Setting goals and writing it down is important not only for a successful career but also a happy personal life.
Nonetheless, achieving your goals is not the be-all and the end-all. It is just a “secondary importance” as Rohn had said. The most important is how you become as a person as you try to achieve them – more confident, more disciplined, more resilient – growing in your character and in your emotional and spiritual development.
In the end, that is all that matters, right?
*** Wilma Miranda is the 2024 chairman of the Ethics Committee of the Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines, the managing partner of Inventor, Miranda & Associates, CPAs, and a member of the Board of Directors of KPS Outsourcing Inc. The views expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the opinion of these institutions and the BusinessMirror. Photo from Pinterest.