At the start of this month, I took some time to reassess some of the goals I set at the start of the year for my business and for my family. Some really important points came up for me and I want to share them with you so you can make the best out of the second half of 2024.
Reflecting on Our Yearly Goals
At the start of the year, on January 1st, while everyone else was celebrating, I had a meeting with several other ladies. We discussed what we wanted to achieve in 2024 in our businesses, personal lives, and relationships. We planned each quarter and outlined our weekly goals. You probably did a version of that. Maybe you planned out your year and set some goals but as the year progressed, things may not have gone as planned for many of us. It’s common to encounter unexpected responsibilities and opportunities that can derail our initial plans.
Learning to Pivot
I’ve noticed that even some of the coaches and mentors I look up to have had to pivot their plans. Whether they stopped regular events or took a step back to reassess their strategies, it showed me that our plans don’t have to be set in stone. Life happens, and it’s okay to reassess, revisit, and make new plans.
As a paediatrician, during ward rounds – especially for preterm babies – we constantly reassess and optimize their nutrition and medication based on their changing weights because even the littlest adjustments can make a huge difference. We can apply the same concept to our lives and goals. It’s mid-year; so let’s take some time to optimize our plans for the rest of 2024.
6 Steps to Reassess and Optimize Your Goals
- Review Your Goals: Bring out your journal and review the goals you set for the year. What were your goals in your relationships, business, and personal development? If you don’t have anything written, now would be a great time to write it all down so you can come back to review it at the end of the year. There’s a scripture that I love – “Write my answer plainly on tablets, so that a runner can carry the correct message to others” Habakkuk 2:2 NLT. There’s something powerful about writing your vision down, so that you or any partners can work towards it.
- Evaluate Your Progress: Take a look at the goals you set. Are you still on track to hit these goals? Do you even still want to achieve them, or have your priorities changed? It’s okay to not want the same things. But if you do and you’ve not made much progress, ask yourself why? Do you need some help or support or accountability? Do you need to break those big goals into smaller, more achievable steps? Do you need to do more research on the best ways to hit these goals? Maybe listening to some podcasts on the topic will get you inspired? Or getting some training or reading some books. Or getting in a community of like-minded people. These are some of the things I’ve found really helpful in helping me achieve my goals.
- Rearrange and Shuffle: Some great opportunities came up for me and music this year that I couldn’t say no to. But that means I may not be able to do some of the other things that I had planned to do. So It’s absolutely fine to rearrange your goals in order of what’s most important to you now and prioritise those ones for this year. You may then need to table some of the initial goals for next year. It’s okay to rearrange and shuffle your plans.
- Pivot if Necessary: Sometimes, you might find a better way to achieve your goals. Don’t be afraid to pivot and try a new approach if it feels more aligned with your current situation. You made those plans initially. Even if you announced it and committed to it publicly, if it doesn’t feel aligned for you anymore, or new information has come to light, it’s okay to change your mind and explain why. It’s your life, and with God’s help, you are the architect of it.
- Identify What’s Working: Assess what is working and what isn’t. If something isn’t working, ask yourself why. If you’ve done all you can and it’s still not working, it might be time to let it go or seek help to make it work. It’s also really important to note what’s working so you can do more of it. Celebrating what’s going well can be a huge motivator to keep working on the other things that may not be going as well.
- Put Things In Place To Help: If you find yourself struggling to meet your goals, consider getting help. Whether it’s finding a mentor, hiring a coach, or leveraging resources like books and podcasts, there are multiple ways to get the support you need.
Taking Action
Now is the time to take action. Reassessing your goals and optimising your plans can help you avoid missing opportunities and ensure your growth isn’t stunted. If you don’t reassess and optimise your goals now, you might miss out on opportunities to improve your business and personal growth. Don’t wait until the end of the year to realize you could have done things differently.
Conclusion
I hope this guide has been helpful. Please share it with others if you find it valuable. I also love feedback because it brings me joy, and lets me plan more content that would be helpful for you. So tell me, what has been the most helpful step for you? What will you commit to doing after reading this? Let me know in the comments below.
Author- Ebi Oginni, artist, music business coach
