As we head into Quarter 4, many of us business owners are starting to plan for the new year and what goals we want to achieve. As nurses, business owners, and just in life in general, it’s crucial to take charge of our lives, set meaningful goals, and transform our dreams into reality. Setting goals for things you want to accomplish is a way to keep yourself on track towards the life that you desire!

In this blog post, we’ll explore a step-by-step guide on how to determine your goals, find alignment with your desires, and set actionable steps to achieve them in 2024.

Note: while technology dominates our daily lives, the power of pen and paper cannot be underestimated. When working through these exercises, utilize a pen and paper. This way, you can come back to your list, cross things off, see where you’ve been and what you’ve accomplished! 

So, grab a notebook and pen, and let’s dive into this together!

STEP 1: FINDING ALIGNMENT WITH YOUR DESIRES 

To start, it’s essential to reverse-engineer your goals to identify what you truly want in life. For your goals to have meaning and power, they must align with your life desires. Research has shown that you are more likely to achieve your goals if they resonate with what you truly desire. 

For instance, making an extra $50k is great, but does it align with your life’s desires? Ensure that your goals are a reflection of your desires, and you’ll find the motivation to work towards them.

So, let’s begin by writing down your desires for the upcoming year, not just related to business, but encompassing all aspects of your life. Be specific about what you want to achieve, whether it’s more money, quality family time, pursuing hobbies, or traveling more. 

STEP 2: DETERMINING YOUR GOALS

Goals are the roadmaps that lead to your desires. We fail to meet our goals when they’re not specific enough and we’re too generalized. So let’s get specific here in this step! 

Take what you’ve written for your desires for 2024 and transform them into concrete, measurable goals. Remember- get specific! 

If you desire to travel more, your goal might be to buy an RV and plan one trip per month. If, like me, you want to live in the moment, set a goal to journal every day, detailing the moments you cherished.

Ensure that your goals are specific and align with your desires.

STEP 3: ACTION STEPS TO ACHIEVE YOUR GOALS

Now that you have your goals that align with your life’s desires, it’s time to transform them into reality through actionable steps. These action steps are your ticket to achieving what you desire. For example, if your goal is to make an extra $50k or become a Legal Nurse Consultant (LNC), list five action steps for each goal that will get you to that goal.

{BONUS EXERCISE}

A powerful technique to manifest your goals is to mentally position yourself in the future, where you have already achieved what you desire. Imagine how it feels to have that extra $50k or be a legal nurse consultant. Then, ask yourself how you got there. This exercise grants you permission to explore creative and unconventional paths to success.

Remember that taking charge of your life begins with aligning your goals with your true desires. With pen and paper, specific goals, and actionable steps, you can turn your dreams into reality. Don’t forget to dream BIG! This is where you’ll find your greatest accomplishments! Here’s to a successful 2024!