You can just taste success: Setting Goals for 2011

By Sara Wells

The act of setting goals for the year ahead can be daunting to say the least. Being a type A, I have the tendency to overload my list or set lofty goals without making the time to break those goals into the actionable steps required to achieve them. So, in truth I begin my new year setting myself up for disappointment. Last year I avoided this vicious cycle by developing a plan to put my goals into terms that I could implement and enjoy along the way. One of my hobbies is cooking. I love the feeling of exploring the uncharted territory of a new recipe. The adventure of tasting a new type of cuisine and the steadfast reassurance that comes with following the recipe step by step. I realized I could apply this to my goal setting; making it fun and tantalizing to my brains tastebuds.  So that’s how we arrive at food. I love food! I love to smell it, talk about it, read about it, try new and exciting types of it.  So, in that vein, here is my foolproof recipe for successful execution of your goals for 2011 and beyond.

How to begin:

Preheat your mental oven.

Sit down, curled up on the couch with your Journal or sheet of  blank paper with a glass of wine or cup of tea and ponder your life. Sounds silly I know, but if you can come up with the things that are most important to you, the goals around these important things flow freely.

Select your choice ingredients.

Now take those important ingredients and put them into writing. Type them up on your laptop, write them in a special journal; committing them to paper gives them importance and turns them into something tangible.  Now you can post them up where you can see them everyday and begin baking them into a plan. Either on the mirror, on your vanity, in the bathroom, on your front door, or, my favorite spot: the fridge.

Plan your meal accordingly.

We all want peace in the Middle East and the dismantling of all nuclear weapons, but this probably isn’t going to happen in the short time span of 365 days. If your goals are too lofty, you’ll end up over-promising, under-delivering, and setting yourself up for disappointment. To quote an entrepreneur friend of mine, who has run a very successful PR firm for 12 years, “How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.” This of course appeals to me, because again it deals with food. I wonder…can it be a tofu elephant? Hmm... I digress. 

Follow your recipe step by step.

Maybe your goal is getting into shape. What does that mean for you? Losing inches? Losing pounds. Get really specific, then set up the action you want to take.  For example, does that mean joining a gym, working out 4 days a week, creating healthier eating habits? The clearer you are with yourself the higher likelihood for your 2011 soufflé to be light and fluffy and delicious, and by delicious I mean successful. Break it down to goals for the year, the month, and then the week. For example, your goal for the year is to get into shape. Actionable steps towards that: for the month join a gym and for the week take 3 exercise classes. You wouldn’t mix flour without water and eggs. Sometimes following step by step makes the most sense. Remember “one bite at a time.” 

Don’t forget to set your timer.

How long do you cook a soufflé? You don’t want it to burn or fall. Timing is everything. Keep yourself accountable by breaking your goals into bite-sized pieces that can be accomplished quarterly, monthly and weekly. Remember not to get stressed—the purpose of a schedule or timeframe is not to apply pressure, but rather to maximize your time and the amount of things you can in fact accomplish this year. This also ensures you avoid the scramble in November of frantically trying to check things off your list. 

Savor the flavors along the way.

Measure your success. How is it all going? Check off accomplishments and congratulate yourself on your victories! No matter how small you may think they are—you did it and that is wildly important.

Serve your dish immediately.

I think you’ll find this dish extremely satisfying without the pesky calories. Savor every bite of your Goals dish.  You’ve earned it!

So, there you have it! I hope this trusted recipe brings you success and accomplishment in 2011. Bon appétit!

Sara Wells is an actress and a business owner living in Los Angeles. You can follow Sara on Twitter @saracwells

Please note that not all experiences, beliefs and ideas are shared by each member of the “The New Hollywood.”  We are a group of shepherds, not sheep.