Achieving Your Goals

Acknowledge Your Failures

Even though this review is a little late, I love the accountability of writing this post each month. In some ways writing it isn’t something I necessarily relish, as I may have to acknowledge I have failed to meet my goals.

But while it doesn’t make me happy to acknowledge this, acknowledging it makes me also think about why I haven’t. Sometimes there are valid reason, sometimes it is because new opportunities have come along, other times it is simply because I haven’t prioritised these goals appropriately.

It is through admitting I missed the mark, failed to meet the goal that I can also learn and apply myself differently next time.

I no longer see failure as something to fear. I see it as an opportunity to learn and progress, albeit maybe slowly and in a zig zag fashion.

I have been working on my goals for 2014 and being braver to try  is going be an overarching theme for me.

And as I do so many times, I use a quote from Seth Godin for inspiration:

Seth Godin on faliure pwk

 

My November goal review

Goals

Progress

Me - I am less rushed and healthier.

Continue to improve my diet: one meat free meal a week, reduce consumption of sugar and carbs.I made few new snacks this month No Bake Macadamia Nut Biscuits and Easy Protein Balls. I loved them and so did readers who made them too.

Need to build up my repertoire of snacks more again over the next couple of months.

I will however eat all sorts of things on Christmas day that I no longer eat.
Read six books by the end of the year.I am half way through my 5th book - not sure I will make it to 6 for the year, but I have come much closer than I thought I would - I gave up on this goal half way through the year.
Add variety to my exercise regime.I sustained another injury in November, not too bad but enough to make me not run for over 10 days.
Sleep at least 6 hours a night on a regular basis.Some very good nights and some very bad nights. Work required.

Family - We spend more time doing things together.

Monthly family meetings.We missed November for some reason 🙁 . Will make sure we have one before the school holidays start.
Eat out together on a quarterly basis.Not applicable this month.
Have an active family holiday.Thanks to Jetstar this goal is now completed. We had the most amazing holiday in Japan.

You can read about our adventures here - Japan With Kids.
Two big bush walks throughout the year.Not exactly the wilderness but we have been taking the dog and the kids for a walk on a local trail. The kids love it and are always wanting to do it more often.

Relationship - We have more time together on our own and support each others interests.

A weekend away in 2013.Goal met.
Attend an event in the Comedy Festival, see 1 play, see 1 live music gig and a attend one event at the Melbourne Festival.Goal met.
Mr I will play football, cricket and cycle.Tricky times fitting in both our schedules at the moment as Mr I ramps up his training. School holidays should make this a little easier for us with no weekend sporting commitments.
I will continue exercising 5 - 6 times a week.Goal met!

Work - Improved usability and resources on the blog and improved blogging skills.

Analyse PWK survey and implement changes to the blog by quarter one.Completed.
Develop the calendar to the next stage by quarter two.No longer proceeding with this.
Take course at Australian Writers Centre by quarter three.Goal not met. Do I get half points as I am now teaching a blogging course at the Australian Writers Centre??
Release new product by quarter four.Goal not met. Sometimes opportunities present themselves that you could not have imagined at the start of the year.

I now have two consistent freelance writing commitments and a short term one starting early in the new year. I am getting better at realising I cannot do everything, so opted to focus on these paid writing ventures instead of creating a new product.

With less than a month left of 2013, do you think you will achieve your goals for the year?