April 16, 2024 • 18 mins
Please download the Goal Setting Workbook that follows this episode: here
Imagine seizing opportunities as they arise, armed with a growth mindset that turns challenges into stepping stones for success. That's what we're unpacking today—how to nurture the mindset and habits that will steer us toward our most ambitious goals for the year. We'll revisit the SMART method, aligning our career and personal aspirations, even as life’s curveballs come our way. By maintaining focus and staying accountable, we're setting the stage for a year of unparalleled achievements. So, subscribe, share, and join our brigade of excellence; together, we're not just planning goals—we're setting the foundations for a legacy of leadership in finance.
Episode outline:
- Why we set goals and not new years’ resolutions,
- Our mindset is our greatest asset,
- What is your big goal for 2024?
- Use the SMART method for goal planning.
Please connect with me on:
1. Instagram: stephen.mclain
2. Twitter: smclainiii
3. Facebook: stephenmclainconsultant
4. LinkedIn: stephenjmclainiii
For more resources, please visit Finance Leader Academy: financeleaderacademy.com.
- On the website, you can download the Become a Finance Leader Guide. You can use this guide to build your Finance Leadership skills so you can help senior leaders develop and execute the strategy.
- I also offer a course, Advance Your Finance and Accounting Career: Developing a Promotion Strategy that Sets You Apart.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Stephen McLain (00:00):
Hi, this is Stephen McLain of the Finance
Leader Podcast.
This is bonus episode number 76.
Goal setting and achievementare at the heart of who I am.
If we don't know where we aregoing, how can we be effective,
how can we improve, how can webecome better tomorrow, how can
we lead and how can we helpelevate the people around us?
(00:22):
Finance leaders set goals andthen they achieve them.
This week, I am sharing anEncore episode of my goal
setting episode from earlierthis year episode 115, smart
Goal Setting for 2024.
Here is the episode outline 1.
Why we set goals and not NewYear's resolutions.
(00:43):
2.
Our mindset is our greatestasset.
3.
What is your big goal for 2024?
4.
Use the SMART method for goalplanning.
Now, please enjoy this Encoreepisode, episode 115, setting
SMART goals for 2024.
I have a new interview episodeset to be released soon with an
(01:05):
amazing finance leader.
I can't wait to share thedetails.
Now go, have a great rest ofyour week.
Thank you for choosing theFinance Leader Podcast.
Until next time.
Thank you for listening.
Take care.
Happy New Year again.
It's time to set a plan forwhat you want to accomplish in
(01:28):
2024.
This is an amazing time of year.
The possibilities are endlessand the dreams are big.
I hope your new year hasstarted off well.
I want to remind you that NewYear's resolutions often don't
get you to where you want to be,but a purposeful goal planning
(01:50):
and goal setting process willUse the SMART method for goal
setting so you check off yourgoals throughout the year.
I love this time of year.
Let's get started.
Please enjoy the episode.
Welcome to the Finance LeaderPodcast, where leadership is
bigger than the numbers.
I am your host, stephen McLean.
This is the podcast fordeveloping leaders in finance
(02:13):
and accounting.
Please consider following me onTwitter, facebook, instagram
and LinkedIn.
My usernames and the links arein this episode's show notes.
Thank you, and the links are inthis episode's show notes,
thank you.
This is episode number 115, andI'll be talking about goal
(02:34):
planning and goal setting for2024.
And I will highlight thefollowing topics Number one, why
we set goals and not new year'sresolutions.
Number two our mindset is ourgreatest asset.
Number three what is your biggoal for 2024?
And number four use the SMARTmethod for goal planning.
Motivational speaker TonyRobbins said setting goals is
(02:56):
the first step into turning theinvisible into the visible.
Happy New Year.
This is an amazing time of yearwe get to have a fresh start
and a fresh approach to ourrelationships, to work, to our
career and to life.
It's a mark on the calendar fornew beginnings and endless
(03:17):
possibilities.
Oh, this is such a great timeof year.
I dream and think endlessly onwhat I want to get done and how
I want to do it.
But it takes a plan and ittakes planning and assessing
plus updating that plancontinuously.
It takes coordination, itrequires establishing your
priorities and it takescommitment plus accountability.
(03:40):
What do you want to achieve in2024?
Most of you know how I feelabout New Year's resolutions.
New Year's resolutions arefrivolous, often unachievable,
unrealistic aspirations with nobasis and no plan.
They are made by people who doknow they need to make a change
(04:01):
or need a big accomplishment,but don't use a proven process
to plan their goal intoachievable pieces.
This is why I focus so much ona formal goal-setting process,
because when you think throughand make a plan, you will have a
better chance of success.
Please download the show notesthat follow along with this
episode so you can capture keythoughts as we build on a
(04:25):
goal-setting plan together.
In this discussion, ourgoal-setting always begins with
our mindset.
What is your current mindset?
Are you ready to tackle 2024with its challenges and its
opportunities?
I want you to adopt a growthmindset.
Always.
You must believe in yourself,that you can overcome any
(04:46):
obstacle and that you possessnear unlimited potential, that
you decide how far and how muchyou can achieve, that nothing
can stop you except you, and Iwant you to believe that you can
achieve and win, and that youcan believe in yourself and that
you can advocate for yourselfon how much you can bring to the
(05:08):
organization that you areworking with right now.
So, after we have addressed ourmindset, where, then, should we
focus when it comes to goalsetting?
Please review and update yourlong-term goal.
After that, I would recommendreviewing your professional
foundation, which I cover in myAdvance your Career course on
Finance Leader Academy.
(05:29):
Your professional foundation ismindset, becoming a
professional, critical softskills, your technical skills,
business acumen and yourcredentials, which includes your
advanced degree and aprofessional certification.
Please ensure your professionalfoundation is secured.
Other skills I suggestdeveloping always would be
(05:49):
leadership and your executivepresence, and ensure you include
earning continuing professionaleducation or CPE credits.
If you currently hold aprofessional certification,
don't wait until the end of theyear to try to get all your CPEs
completed and turned in on time.
It often doesn't work that well.
(06:10):
This year, I want you to becomea more confident finance leader
who takes more control of yourcareer and your actions.
Leadership is never a title ora role.
It's about positive influence.
It's about making a differenceon your team and in your
organization.
It's about doing a little bitmore to partner and collaborate
with others to bridge gaps inunderstanding and communication.
(06:33):
Strive to grow your financeleadership in 2024.
I want you to be more confident, more ahead of others, ready to
make a difference on your workprojects and ready to go to the
next level in your career.
What will it take for you tobecome more confident and more
in charge of your career and inyour life?
I want you to review your longterm goal, which is what you
(06:56):
want to accomplish in the next10 to 15 years.
Write a statement outliningwhere you want to be, which
includes both in your personallife and in your career.
You don't have to be superspecific, but in a general sense
, where are you going?
What do you want to do?
What drives you?
What is your passion?
Where do you want to pour yourenergy in to see the results you
(07:18):
want in the next 10 years or so.
Also, we want to make sure yourpersonal life is aligned with
your career goal, and I alwaysadvocate talking this over with
your family and your significantother.
You want to be aligned with thespecial people in your life.
Family and personalconsiderations are important due
to planning around importantmilestones.
(07:40):
For example, maybe you areplanning to get married this
year.
That may be the big goal of theyear and everything else is
placed on hold for next year.
Getting married, along with allthe other big tasks in your
life, is a huge undertaking andfocusing on that is just perfect
for this year and that's okay.
Please make sure you havealigned your personal and
(08:02):
professional goals with yourfamily.
It's very important.
Goal setting requires athoughtful, purposeful plan.
Planning never ends.
We don't set a goal and thenforget it.
We set our big goal for theyear and then we break it down
into small pieces that we caneasily achieve.
I want to encourage you to usethe SMART method for your goal
(08:23):
setting.
I talked about this last yearin episode number 102.
Smart stands for Specific,measurable, achievable,
realistic and Time-Based.
More on this later.
Measurable, achievable,realistic and time-based.
More on this later.
I want to briefly share what Iwant to do in Finance Leader
Academy this year.
I have three objectives thisyear.
The first, and this is alwaysthe case continue to build more
(08:47):
confident finance leaders.
This is my passion.
I want to help finance andaccounting professionals to
achieve their professional goalsand their career potential.
I want to see you achieve yourlong-term goals.
Number two, if you did not knowalready, I have partnered with
an Army colleague of mine, markMcMillian, to bring an amazing
(09:07):
resource to organizations thatcan help with conflict
management.
Mark is a retired Army officerlike me with conflict management
.
Mark is a retired army officerlike me.
He is a speaker and author whotravels to organizations to talk
and train about a range ofissues.
On Finance Leader Academy, youwill find his on-demand course
available on conflict management.
(09:28):
And three, finally I want tohelp small business owners and
how they align their strategy toan effective accounting and
finance system.
Small business owners oftenhave a limited staff helping
them with accounting and finance, so they need to learn a lot on
their own until they can growtheir business and finally
afford a larger accounting staff.
(09:50):
I have a free small businessguide available to help with
aligning the strategy with aneffective finance system.
So we stay on progress with ourgoal setting.
This year I will be conductinga mid-year goal review challenge
in June.
This year I will share morethroughout the year.
You can put your name on a listso you can be reminded.
(10:10):
You can either go tofinanceleaderacademycom to sign
up or you can go to the link inthis episode's description.
More on this challenge later.
I am very excited about this,so please join me in reviewing
our goals at mid-year, thank you.
Now let's talk about goalplanning and goal setting in
(10:31):
2024.
Number one why we set goals andnot New Year's resolutions.
I don't have much belief in NewYear's resolutions because they
often have no plan behind them.
They are often declarationswithout a plan and without a
commitment.
As soon as they are declared,they are often just as quickly
abandoned.
A resolution is something wewant to do, but don't commit our
(10:53):
entire selves to achieving it.
They are dreams withoutsubstance, a whim without a plan
.
I want you to set up and planwritten goals instead of
resolutions.
I want you to have a planinstead of an impulse that has
no chance of success.
Let's thoughtfully write outrealistic but achievable goals
and objectives.
Let's begin this year with aplan for what we want to do and
(11:16):
a coordinated support structurethat can help us in completing
them.
Number two our mindset is ourbiggest asset.
Our mindset determineseverything.
It determines how we seeourselves, how we conduct
ourselves in a project, how muchwe advocate for ourselves, our
level of confidence and how muchwe believe in ourselves.
Our mindset is confidence andhow much we believe in ourselves
.
Our mindset is powerful, sothat is why it's our biggest
(11:39):
asset and could be our biggestliability.
In the worksheet for thisepisode, I want you to write
down a statement regarding yourmindset.
What is your current mindset?
Are you ready to take on thenew year?
Are you worried about something?
Will anything stop you fromaccomplishing your goals this
year?
We need to get our mindsetright before we get anything
else done.
(12:00):
Do you believe in yourself?
Do you believe that you canmake a difference?
Do you see yourself as a leader?
What do you think will try tostop you from accomplishing your
goals?
What do you plan to do toovercome those obstacles?
If you change your mindset, youwill change your outcome.
Number three what is your biggoal for 2024?
(12:21):
What is your big goal for theyear.
You have set a long-term goaland this year you probably have
one goal in mind that you reallywant to accomplish.
Write it down and break it upinto small, achievable pieces.
Coordinate and plan it out overthe year.
How will you accomplish thisgoal?
What resources do you need?
Do you need help from anyone?
Can your organization help youwith the resources or with
(12:43):
mentoring?
And don't forget to plan outyour CPEs for this year.
Don't be short when you have torecertify.
Number four use the SMART methodfor goal setting.
I shared the SMART goal settingmethod last year in episode
number 102, and I wanted toshare it again here in this
episode.
Make sure you download theworksheet that goes along with
(13:04):
this episode so you can fill inyour thoughts.
Smart goal setting is a methodof setting goals that is widely
used in business andorganizations.
The acronym SMART stands forSpecific, measurable, achievable
, relevant and Time-bound.
These five criteria are used toensure that goals are
well-defined and achievable.
(13:26):
A specific goal has a cleartarget or outcome that is
well-defined.
It should answer the questionof what, why and how Measurable
A measurable goal can bequantified or tracked in some
way.
This allows for progress to bemonitored and the goal's
achievement to be evaluated.
Achievable the goal should berealistic and attainable.
(13:49):
It should be something that canbe achieved with the resources
and capabilities available.
Relevant, a relevant goal isone that aligns with the overall
objectives and mission of theorganization or individual.
Time-bound A goal should have aspecific deadline for
completion.
This creates a sense of urgencyand helps to focus efforts
(14:10):
towards achieving the goal.
Using the SMART criteria whensetting goals can help to ensure
that they are clear, achievableand align with the overall
objectives of the organizationor the individual.
It can also help to increasemotivation and focus, making it
more likely that the goal willbe achieved.
(14:30):
Goal achievement requires awell-thought out and coordinated
plan to map out our approach.
It requires a growth-focusedmindset and it requires
commitment.
If you use the SMART method andupdate your progress throughout
the year, you can accomplishanything, even if obstacles try
to get in your way, because yourmindset will be strong and your
(14:52):
plan will be solid For action.
Today, let's start planning andsetting our 2024 goals if you
have not done so already and ifyou have, you are never quite
done let's continue to refineand reformat using the SMART
method.
Please make sure you downloadthe free goal setting guide on
financeleaderacademycom, and thelink is in this episode's
(15:15):
description.
First, write out a statementjust for you on your mindset for
this year.
Get your mindset right beforeyou do anything else.
Is there anything you need toaddress with your mindset?
Next is to write out, or refineyour long-term goal.
I want you to look out 10 to 15years and what you really want
to accomplish.
This is a big one.
(15:35):
Then write out your big goalfor 2024.
After that, break down that biggoal into smaller, achievable
pieces using the SMART method.
Plan out your other goals usingthe same method.
Please consider your personalgoals along with your career
goals and finally, ensure youalign with your family and your
(15:57):
significant other.
After you have a written plan,make sure you find a way to hold
yourself accountable and pleasejoin me for the Mid-Year Goal
Review Challenge.
More information on that willbe released as we go through
this first part of this year.
Today, I talked about goalplanning and goal setting for
2024, and I highlighted thefollowing points.
(16:18):
Number one, why we set goalsand not New Year's resolutions.
Number two our mindset is ourgreatest asset.
Number three what is your biggoal for 2024?
And four, use the SMART methodfor goal planning.
Goal setting is important, sowe have a plan and we have to
stay on track.
It's critical to accomplishingwhat you really want to do.
(16:42):
When it comes to goal setting,begin with your mindset and your
long-term goal.
Consult with your family andyour significant other to align
the timing of your goals so youconsider family milestones and
events that may alter how youview your career and
professional goal setting.
Next, we break down our goalsinto smaller, achievable and
(17:03):
realistic pieces and we find away to hold ourselves
accountable.
And don't forget to review yourhabits so you can stay focused
and accomplish what you want toget done in this year and beyond
.
I believe in you and I believein this community of finance and
accounting professionals.
Now good luck and write outyour plan starting now.
(17:24):
Next episode I will be talkingabout getting focused so we can
accomplish what we want thisyear.
I hope you enjoyed the FinanceLeader Podcast.
I am focused on helping thiscommunity to become more
confident finance leaderscapable of transforming
organizations.
You can find this episodewherever you listen to podcasts.
If this episode helped youtoday, please share with a
(17:48):
colleague and leave a quickreview Until next time.
You can check out moreresources at
financeleaderacademycom and signup for my weekly updates so you
don't miss an episode of thepodcast.
And now go lead your team andI'll see you next time.
Thank you.
Hi, this is Stephen McLain of the Finance
Leader Podcast.
This is bonus episode number 76.
Goal setting and achievementare at the heart of who I am.
If we don't know where we aregoing, how can we be effective,
how can we improve, how can webecome better tomorrow, how can
we lead and how can we helpelevate the people around us?
(00:22):
Finance leaders set goals andthen they achieve them.
This week, I am sharing anEncore episode of my goal
setting episode from earlierthis year episode 115, smart
Goal Setting for 2024.
Here is the episode outline 1.
Why we set goals and not NewYear's resolutions.
(00:43):
2.
Our mindset is our greatestasset.
3.
What is your big goal for 2024?
4.
Use the SMART method for goalplanning.
Now, please enjoy this Encoreepisode, episode 115, setting
SMART goals for 2024.
I have a new interview episodeset to be released soon with an
(01:05):
amazing finance leader.
I can't wait to share thedetails.
Now go, have a great rest ofyour week.
Thank you for choosing theFinance Leader Podcast.
Until next time.
Thank you for listening.
Take care.
Happy New Year again.
It's time to set a plan forwhat you want to accomplish in
(01:28):
2024.
This is an amazing time of year.
The possibilities are endlessand the dreams are big.
I hope your new year hasstarted off well.
I want to remind you that NewYear's resolutions often don't
get you to where you want to be,but a purposeful goal planning
(01:50):
and goal setting process willUse the SMART method for goal
setting so you check off yourgoals throughout the year.
I love this time of year.
Let's get started.
Please enjoy the episode.
Welcome to the Finance LeaderPodcast, where leadership is
bigger than the numbers.
I am your host, stephen McLean.
This is the podcast fordeveloping leaders in finance
(02:13):
and accounting.
Please consider following me onTwitter, facebook, instagram
and LinkedIn.
My usernames and the links arein this episode's show notes.
Thank you, and the links are inthis episode's show notes,
thank you.
This is episode number 115, andI'll be talking about goal
(02:34):
planning and goal setting for2024.
And I will highlight thefollowing topics Number one, why
we set goals and not new year'sresolutions.
Number two our mindset is ourgreatest asset.
Number three what is your biggoal for 2024?
And number four use the SMARTmethod for goal planning.
Motivational speaker TonyRobbins said setting goals is
(02:56):
the first step into turning theinvisible into the visible.
Happy New Year.
This is an amazing time of yearwe get to have a fresh start
and a fresh approach to ourrelationships, to work, to our
career and to life.
It's a mark on the calendar fornew beginnings and endless
(03:17):
possibilities.
Oh, this is such a great timeof year.
I dream and think endlessly onwhat I want to get done and how
I want to do it.
But it takes a plan and ittakes planning and assessing
plus updating that plancontinuously.
It takes coordination, itrequires establishing your
priorities and it takescommitment plus accountability.
(03:40):
What do you want to achieve in2024?
Most of you know how I feelabout New Year's resolutions.
New Year's resolutions arefrivolous, often unachievable,
unrealistic aspirations with nobasis and no plan.
They are made by people who doknow they need to make a change
(04:01):
or need a big accomplishment,but don't use a proven process
to plan their goal intoachievable pieces.
This is why I focus so much ona formal goal-setting process,
because when you think throughand make a plan, you will have a
better chance of success.
Please download the show notesthat follow along with this
episode so you can capture keythoughts as we build on a
(04:25):
goal-setting plan together.
In this discussion, ourgoal-setting always begins with
our mindset.
What is your current mindset?
Are you ready to tackle 2024with its challenges and its
opportunities?
I want you to adopt a growthmindset.
Always.
You must believe in yourself,that you can overcome any
(04:46):
obstacle and that you possessnear unlimited potential, that
you decide how far and how muchyou can achieve, that nothing
can stop you except you, and Iwant you to believe that you can
achieve and win, and that youcan believe in yourself and that
you can advocate for yourselfon how much you can bring to the
(05:08):
organization that you areworking with right now.
So, after we have addressed ourmindset, where, then, should we
focus when it comes to goalsetting?
Please review and update yourlong-term goal.
After that, I would recommendreviewing your professional
foundation, which I cover in myAdvance your Career course on
Finance Leader Academy.
(05:29):
Your professional foundation ismindset, becoming a
professional, critical softskills, your technical skills,
business acumen and yourcredentials, which includes your
advanced degree and aprofessional certification.
Please ensure your professionalfoundation is secured.
Other skills I suggestdeveloping always would be
(05:49):
leadership and your executivepresence, and ensure you include
earning continuing professionaleducation or CPE credits.
If you currently hold aprofessional certification,
don't wait until the end of theyear to try to get all your CPEs
completed and turned in on time.
It often doesn't work that well.
(06:10):
This year, I want you to becomea more confident finance leader
who takes more control of yourcareer and your actions.
Leadership is never a title ora role.
It's about positive influence.
It's about making a differenceon your team and in your
organization.
It's about doing a little bitmore to partner and collaborate
with others to bridge gaps inunderstanding and communication.
(06:33):
Strive to grow your financeleadership in 2024.
I want you to be more confident, more ahead of others, ready to
make a difference on your workprojects and ready to go to the
next level in your career.
What will it take for you tobecome more confident and more
in charge of your career and inyour life?
I want you to review your longterm goal, which is what you
(06:56):
want to accomplish in the next10 to 15 years.
Write a statement outliningwhere you want to be, which
includes both in your personallife and in your career.
You don't have to be superspecific, but in a general sense
, where are you going?
What do you want to do?
What drives you?
What is your passion?
Where do you want to pour yourenergy in to see the results you
(07:18):
want in the next 10 years or so.
Also, we want to make sure yourpersonal life is aligned with
your career goal, and I alwaysadvocate talking this over with
your family and your significantother.
You want to be aligned with thespecial people in your life.
Family and personalconsiderations are important due
to planning around importantmilestones.
(07:40):
For example, maybe you areplanning to get married this
year.
That may be the big goal of theyear and everything else is
placed on hold for next year.
Getting married, along with allthe other big tasks in your
life, is a huge undertaking andfocusing on that is just perfect
for this year and that's okay.
Please make sure you havealigned your personal and
(08:02):
professional goals with yourfamily.
It's very important.
Goal setting requires athoughtful, purposeful plan.
Planning never ends.
We don't set a goal and thenforget it.
We set our big goal for theyear and then we break it down
into small pieces that we caneasily achieve.
I want to encourage you to usethe SMART method for your goal
(08:23):
setting.
I talked about this last yearin episode number 102.
Smart stands for Specific,measurable, achievable,
realistic and Time-Based.
Measurable, achievable,realistic and time-based.
I want to briefly share what Iwant to do in Finance Leader
Academy this year.
I have three objectives thisyear.
The first, and this is alwaysthe case continue to build more
(08:47):
confident finance leaders.
This is my passion.
I want to help finance andaccounting professionals to
achieve their professional goalsand their career potential.
I want to see you achieve yourlong-term goals.
Number two, if you did not knowalready, I have partnered with
an Army colleague of mine, markMcMillian, to bring an amazing
(09:07):
resource to organizations thatcan help with conflict
management.
Mark is a retired Army officerlike me with conflict management
.
Mark is a retired army officerlike me.
He is a speaker and author whotravels to organizations to talk
and train about a range ofissues.
On Finance Leader Academy, youwill find his on-demand course
available on conflict management.
(09:28):
And three, finally I want tohelp small business owners and
how they align their strategy toan effective accounting and
finance system.
Small business owners oftenhave a limited staff helping
them with accounting and finance, so they need to learn a lot on
their own until they can growtheir business and finally
afford a larger accounting staff.
(09:50):
I have a free small businessguide available to help with
aligning the strategy with aneffective finance system.
So we stay on progress with ourgoal setting.
This year I will be conductinga mid-year goal review challenge
in June.
This year I will share morethroughout the year.
You can put your name on a listso you can be reminded.
(10:10):
You can either go tofinanceleaderacademycom to sign
up or you can go to the link inthis episode's description.
More on this challenge later.
I am very excited about this,so please join me in reviewing
our goals at mid-year, thank you.
Now let's talk about goalplanning and goal setting in
(10:31):
2024.
Number one why we set goals andnot New Year's resolutions.
I don't have much belief in NewYear's resolutions because they
often have no plan behind them.
They are often declarationswithout a plan and without a
commitment.
As soon as they are declared,they are often just as quickly
abandoned.
A resolution is something wewant to do, but don't commit our
(10:53):
entire selves to achieving it.
They are dreams withoutsubstance, a whim without a plan
.
I want you to set up and planwritten goals instead of
resolutions.
I want you to have a planinstead of an impulse that has
no chance of success.
Let's thoughtfully write outrealistic but achievable goals
and objectives.
Let's begin this year with aplan for what we want to do and
(11:16):
a coordinated support structurethat can help us in completing
them.
Number two our mindset is ourbiggest asset.
Our mindset determineseverything.
It determines how we seeourselves, how we conduct
ourselves in a project, how muchwe advocate for ourselves, our
level of confidence and how muchwe believe in ourselves.
Our mindset is confidence andhow much we believe in ourselves
.
Our mindset is powerful, sothat is why it's our biggest
(11:39):
asset and could be our biggestliability.
In the worksheet for thisepisode, I want you to write
down a statement regarding yourmindset.
What is your current mindset?
Are you ready to take on thenew year?
Are you worried about something?
Will anything stop you fromaccomplishing your goals this
year?
We need to get our mindsetright before we get anything
else done.
(12:00):
Do you believe in yourself?
Do you believe that you canmake a difference?
Do you see yourself as a leader?
What do you think will try tostop you from accomplishing your
goals?
What do you plan to do toovercome those obstacles?
If you change your mindset, youwill change your outcome.
Number three what is your biggoal for 2024?
(12:21):
What is your big goal for theyear.
You have set a long-term goaland this year you probably have
one goal in mind that you reallywant to accomplish.
Write it down and break it upinto small, achievable pieces.
Coordinate and plan it out overthe year.
How will you accomplish thisgoal?
What resources do you need?
Do you need help from anyone?
Can your organization help youwith the resources or with
(12:43):
mentoring?
And don't forget to plan outyour CPEs for this year.
Don't be short when you have torecertify.
Number four use the SMART methodfor goal setting.
I shared the SMART goal settingmethod last year in episode
number 102, and I wanted toshare it again here in this
episode.
Make sure you download theworksheet that goes along with
(13:04):
this episode so you can fill inyour thoughts.
Smart goal setting is a methodof setting goals that is widely
used in business andorganizations.
The acronym SMART stands forSpecific, measurable, achievable
, relevant and Time-bound.
These five criteria are used toensure that goals are
well-defined and achievable.
(13:26):
A specific goal has a cleartarget or outcome that is
well-defined.
It should answer the questionof what, why and how Measurable
A measurable goal can bequantified or tracked in some
way.
This allows for progress to bemonitored and the goal's
achievement to be evaluated.
Achievable the goal should berealistic and attainable.
(13:49):
It should be something that canbe achieved with the resources
and capabilities available.
Relevant, a relevant goal isone that aligns with the overall
objectives and mission of theorganization or individual.
Time-bound A goal should have aspecific deadline for
completion.
This creates a sense of urgencyand helps to focus efforts
(14:10):
towards achieving the goal.
Using the SMART criteria whensetting goals can help to ensure
that they are clear, achievableand align with the overall
objectives of the organizationor the individual.
It can also help to increasemotivation and focus, making it
more likely that the goal willbe achieved.
(14:30):
Goal achievement requires awell-thought out and coordinated
plan to map out our approach.
It requires a growth-focusedmindset and it requires
commitment.
If you use the SMART method andupdate your progress throughout
the year, you can accomplishanything, even if obstacles try
to get in your way, because yourmindset will be strong and your
(14:52):
plan will be solid For action.
Today, let's start planning andsetting our 2024 goals if you
have not done so already and ifyou have, you are never quite
done let's continue to refineand reformat using the SMART
method.
Please make sure you downloadthe free goal setting guide on
financeleaderacademycom, and thelink is in this episode's
(15:15):
description.
First, write out a statementjust for you on your mindset for
this year.
Get your mindset right beforeyou do anything else.
Is there anything you need toaddress with your mindset?
Next is to write out, or refineyour long-term goal.
I want you to look out 10 to 15years and what you really want
to accomplish.
This is a big one.
(15:35):
Then write out your big goalfor 2024.
After that, break down that biggoal into smaller, achievable
pieces using the SMART method.
Plan out your other goals usingthe same method.
Please consider your personalgoals along with your career
goals and finally, ensure youalign with your family and your
(15:57):
significant other.
After you have a written plan,make sure you find a way to hold
yourself accountable and pleasejoin me for the Mid-Year Goal
Review Challenge.
More information on that willbe released as we go through
this first part of this year.
Today, I talked about goalplanning and goal setting for
2024, and I highlighted thefollowing points.
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Number one, why we set goalsand not New Year's resolutions.
Number two our mindset is ourgreatest asset.
Number three what is your biggoal for 2024?
And four, use the SMART methodfor goal planning.
Goal setting is important, sowe have a plan and we have to
stay on track.
It's critical to accomplishingwhat you really want to do.
(16:42):
When it comes to goal setting,begin with your mindset and your
long-term goal.
Consult with your family andyour significant other to align
the timing of your goals so youconsider family milestones and
events that may alter how youview your career and
professional goal setting.
Next, we break down our goalsinto smaller, achievable and
(17:03):
realistic pieces and we find away to hold ourselves
accountable.
And don't forget to review yourhabits so you can stay focused
and accomplish what you want toget done in this year and beyond
.
I believe in you and I believein this community of finance and
accounting professionals.
Now good luck and write outyour plan starting now.
(17:24):
Next episode I will be talkingabout getting focused so we can
accomplish what we want thisyear.
I hope you enjoyed the FinanceLeader Podcast.
I am focused on helping thiscommunity to become more
confident finance leaderscapable of transforming
organizations.
You can find this episodewherever you listen to podcasts.
If this episode helped youtoday, please share with a
(17:48):
colleague and leave a quickreview Until next time.
You can check out moreresources at
financeleaderacademycom and signup for my weekly updates so you
don't miss an episode of thepodcast.
And now go lead your team andI'll see you next time.
Thank you.
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