Every December is a feast for the senses: lights, music, food, decorations, meetings, gifts… For many persons it is a time of joy, for others, of nostalgia and for others, of reflection.
As the end of the year approaches, I am one of those who dedicates time to reflection. I evaluate how the year that is going away went, review the lessons learned and outline goals and objectives for the year that is at the door. I think most of us set personal goals, like going to the gym, losing weight, reading more, etc., etc. This is fine, but I think we can go further.
We are about to start a new year, full of wishes and good intentions. The key is to transform those purposes into well-defined and measurable objectives to achieve our dreams.
In 1953, researchers from Harvard University conducted a study on a group of students. They were asked how many of them had their goals in writing. As well as how many had developed an action plan to achieve those objectives. 21% of the students surveyed acknowledged having written their objectives, but only 3% of the total had an action plan in writing, in addition to the objectives. Twenty years later, in 1973, the progress made by those students was verified.
The results they found were surprising. The 3% of students who had their objectives in writing and an action plan developed, had a more prosperous life, economically, than the remaining 97% of their peers.
Doctor ARI kyiv, in his book Strategy for daily life indicates: “The establishment of a goal is the key to a successful life. From the moment that people decide to concentrate their efforts on achieving the objectives and goals, they began to overcome the most difficult obstacles”. It has been proven that formulating and achieving objectives improves people’s quality of life and allows them to stop along the way to evaluate where I am, where I am going and make the necessary amendments. For this, the action plan is necessary with a monthly or quarterly follow-up. Achieving the objectives and goals requires effort, dedication, and perseverance.
There are different types of goals and objectives. They can be personal, social, or professional.
I remember on one occasion, when my family was not financially well off, my mother asked my father for money to give gifts to the workers’ children. This struck me very much: the generosity and solidarity of my mother, especially in difficult times in the family. The learning was that solidarity can be considered as an objective, regardless of the circumstances in which we find ourselves.
Another of the lessons that I have learned over time is to focus on gratitude. Be grateful for life, health, family, work, even the obstacles, which have taught me to be stronger, and for many other things that I often did not value. I recently received a message that I really liked, and it said something like this: “The more grateful you are, the more things to be thankful for will come to you.”
I want to take advantage of this blog to thank God for so many blessings, my family, which is the most valuable thing I have; to the company’s collaborators, without whom it would not be possible to have the company we have; to the customers, for trusting our products, to the suppliers and to so many people who have contributed to my life this year. I wish you all happy holidays, full of peace and a year 2023 with many crops and harvests of prosperity, love and happiness and the motivation to continue setting goals and objectives to achieve your dreams.