The Work Boulevard

Dec 30, 2024

New Year, New Goals: Setting Intentions for Your Best Work Year Yet

As 2025 approaches, your thoughts might turn to what you want to achieve with your business in the new year. 

If you feel you’ve been setting the same goals over and over again for the last few years, it may be time to change tack. There is an art to setting intentions in a way that is more motivational and effective. Here is some guidance for setting intentions for your best work year yet. 

“Goals are dreams with deadlines.”  ― Diana Scharf

Make Your Goals Specific:

If your goals are too vague, without precise action steps, you’re unlikely to hit your target. The more specific, the better. For example, rather than simply setting the goal for “more profit” this year, make sure to specify the percentage increase you are aiming for, which part of the business to expand to achieve it, and the steps needed to get there.

There is a proliferation of workflow apps and software that you can use to break down tasks into specific steps and keep yourself on track.

“Without goals, and plans to reach them, you are like a ship that has set sail with no destination.”  — Fitzhugh Dodson

Make Your Goals Realistic:

It can be pretty demotivational to keep setting the same goal year after year because you haven’t achieved it yet. That is a classic sign that it’s time for a reality check. 

There’s a sweet spot for goal-setting: not too high that it becomes unrealistic, not too low that it is easy and uninspirational. One surefire way to make your goals more realistic is to think long-term. Yes, you may want to double the size of your business, but it may take more than a year to achieve. 

Don’t forget that growth can be more cyclical than linear. Expanding at a consistent rate year after year is not always feasible or realistic. Once you know your business, you know the quiet times and the busy times. So make sure your goals take the cycles into account.

“Set realistic goals, keep re-evaluating, and be consistent.”  — Venus Williams

Make Your Goals Visible:

That means: write them down. Keep them in sight: on your fridge, your laptop, your bathroom mirror. Use apps to set reminders and keep yourself on track. This is especially helpful when it comes to making decisions, which every business owner has to do daily. Your goal is your north star. It’s easier to navigate challenging decisions when you are constantly reminded of the direction you are headed in.

Tell your team and your friends what your goals are. Keeping up appearances for others is a powerful motivator, so use it to your advantage.  

“By recording your dreams and goals on paper, you set in motion the process of becoming the person you most want to be. Put your future in good hands — your own.”  — Mark Victor Hansen

Make Your Goals Adjustable:

As you work towards your goals, every action you take is a learning experience. Sometimes you realise the goal was too easy, and you need to set a greater challenge for your business. Sometimes you realise the goal is unrealistic and needs to be adjusted. Sometimes, as you gain new insights into what your clientele needs, you must change direction to meet demand.

Flexibility and adaptability are key to survival. Make sure that you are always able to adapt as and when things change. For example, if you take a long-term office lease, you may regret it when the time comes to expand or downsize. Choose spaces that can evolve with you, like coworking spaces. 

“I can't change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination.” — Jimmy Dean

Make Your Goals Exciting:

It can be easy to end up focusing only on the problems your business faces. Sometimes all you see is the grind. When you lose touch with the heart of why you do what you do, it means it’s time to reconsider your goals and find excitement in your work again. 

One question to ask yourself when setting any goal is, “How will I have fun with this goal along the way?” It’s important to keep the fun going throughout the process, not limit it to only the end achievement.

You can use reframing techniques to help you adjust your vision and make a game of overcoming obstacles. Competition should be fun! You can use habit-stacking to tie mundane or challenging tasks to enjoyable rewards. For example, if you hate networking but need to do it more for your business, you could reward yourself for stepping out of your comfort zone with your favourite coffee shop drink or a meal at your favourite restaurant.

“You miss 100% of the shots you don't take.”  — Wayne Gretzky

The Work Boulevard offers flexible options for businesses of any size. Affordable coworking passes for solopreneurs, virtual office for remote teams, meeting rooms for important gatherings and customisable private office spaces that evolve alongside you. Contact our friendly team to find the right office space for you in 2025.