It has been proven over and over again than when we write down our goals, we are significantly more likely to accomplish them.

In light of this fact, I have been utilizing the method described below over the past several years to plan out my future, and achieve it.

This method includes how I plan out my upcoming year, quarter and month. This method is a combination of strategies that I have learned and combined from great writers such as Steven Covey, Chris Guillebeau, Verne Harnish, Todd Henry and many others.

This is not a cheesy news years resolution.

This is a tool that I use to set and accomplish goals in life.

In addition to this guide, I have also outlined my own personal goals for the upcoming year to give you insight into my life and my aspirations. My hopes are that my transparency in my goals and my explanation of this method can help you define your own goals in life, and achieve your wildest dreams.

The Goal Setting Method

Step 1 - Review your current commitments

Before planning for any goals, you must first look at what is weighing you down.

Get out a piece of paper and write out every commitment that you have, both in your professional and personal life.

Write down everything that is taking up your time and energy.

Sometimes our failure to achieve our accomplishments can be due to the fact that we simply spread ourselves too thin.

Are there any commitments you should get rid of?

Is there anything that is not moving you forward, and yet is taking up my time and energy?

If so, write those down and keep them in mind as we move into our goal planning and plan on how you can get rid of those unnecessary commitments.

Step 2 - Set your annual goals

In this stage, get out a piece of a paper and write down all of the categories of life that are important to you. Write out all of the areas that you desire to find balance in and focus on. For each individual, these may be different.

For me, these categories are: publishing, art, business, learning, financial, health, friends, family and my bucket list.

Under each of these category, set a list of goals that you would like to accomplish.

Be specific with your goals, and make them measurable.

Step 3 - Set quarterly & monthly goals

Once you finish your list of annual goals, it is time to break them down further.

Go back through your annual goals, and break these down into measurable tasks that you can accomplish this quarter.

If your goal is to end the year with $8,000 in savings, then your goal for the quarter can be $2,000 in savings. If your goal is to write a book, then you Quarter 1 can be finishing the rough draft.

Go through all of your goals, and figure out what it is that you will accomplish this quarter.

Once you have your quarterly goals, it is time to take it one step further.

What are you going to accomplish this month in order to make that happen?

Get specific with your monthly goals and figure out what smaller tasks you can start on right now to achieve your goals.

Step 4 - Create a system to keep yourself accountable

One of the biggest problems that many have when writing out their goals is they write them, and forget them.

That is why it is essential to create a system that keeps you accountable to check in on a monthly basis.

Set a calendar reminder, write a note on your refrigerator, or whatever it takes.

Set aside time once a month, once a quarter and once a year to review your progress and your life goals.

Each month ask yourself:

Did you achieve your monthly targets?
If not, why is that?
Do you need to readjust priorities?
What are your monthly goals and targets for next month?
What do I need to adjust to achieve my quarterly and annual goals?

Setting goals is a skill

Setting goals is a learned skill just like baseball, public speaking or art.

At first, you may set the wrong goals, or unrealistic goals. Don't be discouraged and keep at it. Over time you will eventually get into a rhythm.

As you set goals and achieve them you will begin to feel the power and positive change that goal setting can bring to your life.

Jake Jorgovan's 2014 Annual Goals

As I wrote this guide on goal setting, I felt that it would be best to lead by example. Below are my goals for the upcoming year and quarter. I have been transparent with everything here, my financials, my personal desires, and my dreams.

My hopes are that these can give you some insight into my mind, how I set goals and inspire you to set your own.

Publishing, Writing, Speaking:

Release a blog post every sunday at 6:15pm
Release one large project per month (Video, eBook, etc.)
Have 200 people reach out who have been inspired to create positive change in their life as a result of my publishing & speaking
1,500 subscribers
5,000 unique website visitors per month
Generate $1k of passive monthly income via blog
Create a personal press kit for public speaking
Book 5 public speaking events
Launch a podcast

Art:

Publish a weekly art project every Thursday by midnight
Have artwork featured in a gallery or on a reputable website
Sell a piece of artwork or complete a custom commissioned work

Business:

Generate a steady $5k in monthly personal income from web design consulting work
Reach $1k per month in passive income generated from my blog
Get paid for a public speaking engagement

Financial:

Put away $6k in financial reserves
Deposit $2,400 into Roth IRA
Earn $80k in personal income

Learning:

Seek out mentors in areas of motivational speakers, bloggers, podcasters, authors and youtube influencers
Learn Adobe Illustrator & create an art project with it

Health:

Run a half marathon
Weigh 195 at end of year

Bucket List (These are life bucket list items that I will accomplish this year):

View from the roof of my apartment in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Get certified and go scuba diving for the first time
Set up an avocado based food stand in a foreign country
Live in another country for approximately six months (Currently in progress. I am writing this from a beach in Mexico.)
Run a half marathon
Hike a 14,000ft mountain
Build an online audience of at least 1,000 people that I can inspire

Jake Jorgovan's Quarter 1 Goals

Personal Goals:

Art - Publish a new piece of artwork every Thursday by Midnight
Roth IRA - Deposit $200 per month
Financial reserves - Deposit $500 per month
Bucket List
- Go scuba diving
- Set up avocado based food stand at local market in Puerto Vallarta
- Live abroad for 6 months in Mexico
Health - Run an average of 10 miles per week. Tracked via MapMyRun

Professional Goals:

Publish a blog post every sunday at 6:15pm
Submit 1 guest post per week to other blogs in order to inspire new audiences and grow subscriber list
Have 50 people reach out who have been inspired to create positive change as a result of my publishing
500 subscribers to e-mail list
Publish one large project per month
- January - How to start a business while in school and create your own job (Video)
- Feb - Project Undecided
- March - Productivity & Goal Planning Tool
Business - Generate steady $5k per month in website design consulting work, $15k in quarterly revenue

There you have it, those are my 2014 Annual and Quarter 1 goals. My hopes are that my transparency in this post can help inspire you in your own goal setting.

Take action

Don't just read this post and do nothing about it.

Write down your goals, set aside time to review them and begin working on creating your own future.

If you need help, someone to keep you accountable or even just words of encouragement feel free to reach out at JakeJorgovan@gmail.com

How to set goals and accomplish them in 2014