Two: Define Your Core Focus-Choose One or Two Primary Goals

One common issue with New Year’s resolutions is that people set too many. Instead, a game plan for success starts with choosing just one or two primary goals that are realistic and impactful. Review your core values carefully and think about what single change or focus area would create the most difference in your life or career. See the appendix in Stop Circling for a great chapter on core values. The change you define could be something related to health, career advancement, or personal growth.

Once you've identified a core focus of change, try to quantify it. For example, if your goal is career-related, define what success looks like—is it a promotion, a completed project, or a new certification? Breaking down broad aspirations into measurable objectives gives you something tangible to work toward and makes tracking your progress much easier.

Try implementing the SMART criteria: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. For each core goal, outline steps that fit these criteria. For example, if you’re looking to build professional skills, your first step might be to complete an online course within the first quarter. Gradually, you’ll work toward your larger goal through consistent, manageable tasks that build upon each other.

Four: Establish Daily and Weekly Habits

The power of consistent habits cannot be overstated in building a successful game plan. It’s the small, routine actions that lead to substantial change over time. A good goal to schedule right away would be to read or re-read a book like Tiny Habits or Atomic Habits. (links at the end of this article) Then, create a list of small daily and weekly habits that support your main goals. For instance, if you want to improve mental well-being, daily habits could include five minutes of meditation each morning or a 15-minute walk after work.

Scheduling these habits in your calendar can help you stick to them. Consider using habit-tracking apps or even a simple checklist to track your progress daily. After a certain number of repetitions a habit will become a routine. Establishing routines builds a structure around your game plan, making it easier to follow and harder to forget in the midst of life’s other demands.

Five: Set Checkpoints and Milestones

Setting regular checkpoints allows you to evaluate progress and make adjustments along the way. Design these checkpoints around specific timelines—weekly, monthly, or quarterly, depending on the goal. For instance, if your primary goal is to expand your professional network, a checkpoint could be attending a networking event or making a certain number of calls each month. Regular reviews prevent you from drifting off course and give you the flexibility to refine your approach if needed.

Milestones are slightly larger achievements that indicate significant progress. Reaching a milestone, like completing half of a certification course, gives you the chance to celebrate and renew your motivation. Another example is getting on the scale to validate the shedding of extra weight. Achieving these smaller victories provides a sense of accomplishment, reinforcing the belief that your larger goal is within reach.

Consider joining a group or community focused on your area of improvement. Many fitness, career, and self-development groups exist to provide guidance, motivation, and accountability. Some even offer coaching, which can be a valuable way to stay on track. Some of those resources are available on Halftime Success, especially for those at mid-career or halftime of life. The key is to find an external source of support that will encourage you and hold you responsible for making consistent progress.

Seven: Anticipate Obstacles and Plan Solutions

Every game plan faces obstacles. Similar to strategizing during a card game, predicting potential challenges and crafting solutions for them in advance can keep your plan from derailing. For example, if your goal is to read more books, anticipate obstacles like limited time or lack of motivation. A solution could be setting aside a specific time each day for reading or using audiobooks during commutes to stay on track.

Write down any obstacles you foresee for each goal, and then brainstorm practical strategies to overcome them. Perhaps a busy schedule is a concern—then consider blocking specific times for your habits and goals in your calendar. Anyone looking to get into shape knows the importance of creating a dedicated time for getting to the gym, taking a walk or attending a fitness class. Being prepared for setbacks enables you to face them with confidence rather than losing momentum.

Eight: Embrace Flexibility

While structure is vital, flexibility is equally important. Life rarely goes as planned, so allow room to adjust without feeling discouraged. If you fall behind or encounter unexpected changes, don’t beat yourself up. Revisit your goals and timelines and adjust where necessary. A flexible mindset helps you adapt and continue moving forward, even if it means slightly altering your approach.

Being open to flexibility means reassessing priorities based on changing circumstances. For instance, if your work suddenly demands more of your time, you may need to adjust your goal deadlines or shift focus to what’s most manageable at the moment. This also applies when you or a child becomes ill. Flexibility prevents feelings of failure and keeps you focused on progress rather than perfection.

Nine: Reflect and Reward Yourself

Reflection and rewards are crucial for maintaining motivation and acknowledging progress. At each milestone or at regular intervals, take a moment to validate what went right. Many popular diet programs encourage days off as a “cheat day.” This actually feels like a “reward day” to eat foods not on the approved list of the diet.

Taking time to write in a journal, even if it’s brief, is a great way to reflect as thoughts and feelings tend to flow more easily as they are written down. It’s also a good way to enjoy how far you’ve come as the reward of self-satisfaction, even with small steps, is great. This type of honest self-reflection pays off not only in clarity of focus, but in validation of a job well done.

Application

• Take the time to review all of these principles and narrow down two main small goals or habits to start right away.
• Don’t put this off but put those two goals or habits on your calendar to start right away.
• Journal your thoughts and reflections, even if just one or two sentences a couple times a week.
• Define a reward that will keep you motivated. It can be small and repeatable throughout the year. Make sure it’s something you look forward to but doesn’t hinder you from achieving your main goal! 

Additional Resources

Hero Mountain Summit Mentorship Course

Stop Circling: Steps to Escape Endless Roundabouts by Deborah Johnson

A New Way of Doing Business Course: Define your ideal life and schedule and use the automation tools that are easily to access and implement.

Halftime Success: Resources with tools and guidance for mid-career individuals, professionals & those at the halftime of life seeking growth and fulfillment.

FREE Goal Setting Worksheets

The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg

Tiny Habits: The Small Changes that Change Everything by BJ Fogg PhD

Atomic Habits: Tiny Changes, Remarkable Results by James Clear