Effective Goal Planning After a Rough Year
I almost didn’t write this post. The truth is, whether we are ready or not, we are in a whole new year, faced with the question: What is it going to look like?
Maybe you are skeptical or scared. Maybe last year’s goals are almost laughable – (I know ours were!) – and you don’t even want to think about it this year.
BUT – What if we were a little easier on ourselves as we set goals this time around? Small little attainable achievements that you can check off your list. What if we celebrated the baby steps, found accountability, and didn’t lose hope? That’s my wish for you as you read this, friends – that you would press on to practice effective goal planning, even after a rough year.
Recently, I met with a group of women, fellow real estate investors in a local Raleigh chapter I help lead. This mentorship and accountability focused setting was foundational to establishing each person’s goals. In this meeting, we discussed several tips that I’ll share now with you:
Effective Goal Planning Is Setting Goals That Are:
- Measurable
- Attainable
- Creates Tasks
- Has a Deadline
- Includes Accountability
Goal Timeframes to Set:
- 10-year goals
- 5-year goals
- 1-year goals
- 12-week goals
Top Tips for Effective Goal Planning:
- Keep them top of mind
- Break them up into 12-week increments (a cue from the 12 Week Year)
- Write them on your mirror
- Create a TO-DO List and Schedule r/t Each Goal
- Hold regular meetings with your spouse or accountability partner
- Celebrate and reassess after each 12 weeks
- Consider a Mentor
Goal Planning Ideas for Newbie Real Estate Investors
- Read x amount of books, keep a notebook of takeaways
- Attend x amount of networking events per year or month (have a purpose for being there)
- Schedule regular “down-time” for purposeful self-reflection
- Grow your database – lenders, buyers, sellers
- Establish a system for following up with leads
Our Personal & Business Goals
Sometimes it’s helpful to hear the goals others are setting for themselves, so it’s with that heart that I share my and Uriah’s personal and business goals. We will take these 12 weeks at a time, then re-evaluate.
Business Goals (First 12 weeks)
- Buy five lots to build new construction & buy five flips (within first 12 weeks)
- Analyze one Multifamily Deal per week – practice makes perfect (ultimate goal is to invest passively in one Multifamily Deal this year)
- Take on leadership/teaching opportunities – InvestHER, BiggerPockets, Clubhouse(?)
- Establish a more robust editorial calendar
- Delegate where possible – Design & Staging, Re-open Internships, some Content Creation
- Publish one value-driven blog post per month, minimum
Personal Goals (First 12 Weeks)
- Each morning, spend 15 -30 minutes in prayer
- Less than 3-4 hours social media consumption, using screen time tracker
- A one-on-one “date” with each kid each month
- WOD (workout of the day) or walk three times per week
- Organize Media/Video Content
- Wrap up the camper renovation & go on one family camping trip
It’s a Broken World Out There …
If there’s anything that most people can affirm after the year we all had, it is this: the world is a broken place filled with broken people. I say this recognizing that I am included and have much to learn. As an advocate of starting over, I’d like to conclude by sharing two things I learned from the year 2020.
- I am ultimately NOT in control – I don’t have all the answers and that’s okay.
- Asking God for wisdom, daily, is a non-negotiable.
We usually name a word or phrase over the year ahead, but haven’t been able to come up with the right one quite yet. This passage, however, has encouraged me through our goal-planning process:
“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.” – 2 Corinthians 9:8
Wishing you lasting joy that surpasses any earthly blessing or hardship.
Happy (belated) New Year, friends <3
