Have you set meaningful goals for this year? Do your goals reflect your genuine interest? Do they compel you? Are you strongly committed to achieving your goals? To improve the quality of your work life—changing careers, excelling in your current work or managing a successful work search—set goals based on what really matters to you. The secret is to establish quality goals and put your plan in motion.

Although some people think that setting goals restricts creativity, I like goals. If you build in some flexibility, establishing goals actually helps you channel your creativity. You’ll produce tangible and satisfying results through your efforts. To avoid rigidity, leave room for self-discovery and unforeseen opportunity.

5 key benefits of goal setting:

1. Smart goal setting starts by asking and answering this—what do I really want? What is your real intent? As you consider what you would like to accomplish this year, goal setting will help you sharply focus on what you want.

2. Decide on quality goals. Not all goals need to be momentous, but they need to be significant enough for you to make the commitment. Empty goals or those held with lukewarm value will never hold your interest or inspire effort.

3. Goals are freely chosen. Did you select your goals? Or were they somehow imposed on you by others? Whose expectations do you accept? Your current goals will lead you in a direction that you would honestly like to follow.

4. Goals motivate and energize you, giving a sense of purpose. At the very least, they give you a reason to get up in the morning. On a grander scale, they will help you realize your dreams.

5. Setting goals organizes your efforts and keeps you on track. They focus your attention, inform your actions and save you time. Goalless can be akin to aimless.

In an important sense—thoughtful goals, sound action plans and targeted effort will move you along significantly. You’ll be very surprised with how far you go.

And if you don’t know where you’re going, any road will take you there. George Harrison, “Any Road,” Brainwashed, 2002.

Before you start setting goals, please see our post on the value of doing a personal Year in Review. Planning for the New Year? For Greater Success, Start with This.

Next time - how to set goals that lead to achievement

Today’s question

Have you set meaningful goals for this year? If yes, how did you focus clearly on what you wanted to accomplish? If not, do you plan to set goals for yourself? Your comments welcome.