January 2025. 🎊
How's it treating you so far? What's more...how are those resolutions treating you? Did you know that January 10th is known as Quitter's Day? It's not surprising but also quite defeating that as a nation (or maybe this is even a global date), "they" have pinpointed that collectively, we really can't stick to a big goal for more than 10 days. Yikes!

So since January 10th has come and gone, I'll ask again....How are your resolutions going? Have you been able to adopt one or two healthy habits that have you thriving in the new year? Or is "New Year, Old You" more your speed at this point?

If you're sticking to your new plan, GREAT! I seriously applaud you. You've kicked January 10th in the butt. But if things are looking too much the same and you're not wanting to try taking on a new resolution, I'd like to propose something different. I'd like to talk to you about a plan to set better goals in 2025. Call it a resolution if you'd like but I prefer to look at it as healthy and sustainable goal-setting that can be applied at any point in the year.

I'm not suggesting any new groundbreaking material either. You've likely seen this model before. But I wanted to remind you and encourage you.

We're talking about setting SMART goals. Are you familiar? For any goal you may have, I want to encourage you to apply the SMART Goals Framework.

But real quick, before we get into the exact framework, I'd like to point out that I typically look at these matters through a lens of my 6 core relationships. I've written about these. If you want to read more, click here. But basically, our potential lies within six core relationships that we often overlook or take for granted. They are your relationship with you (how you lead and talk to yourself), your loved ones (family and primary love relationships), the people at work (coworkers, boss, direct reports, clients, vendors), your inner circle (close advisors and friends) and God.

For this example, I'm going to talk about how you might put your marriage under a microscope applying SMART Goals Framework.

SMART ::

🎯 Specific:
Clearly identify what you want to achieve in your relationship, like "Improve active listening skills with my spouse" or "Spend quality time together without distractions at least once a week."

📈 Measurable:
Find a way to track progress, like "Initiate one meaningful conversation per day" or "Plan one shared activity per month outside of routine."

🏆 Achievable:
Set realistic goals that are within your control, like "Express appreciation to my spouse once a day" instead of "Completely change their behavior."

‼️ Relevant:
Ensure your goals align with your relationship values and priorities, like "Strengthen emotional intimacy" or "Build trust through open communication."

⏳ Time-bound:
Set a timeframe to work on your goals, like "Practice active listening for the next three months" or "Devote one hour each week to quality time together."

So for example, if I have a goal at home to improve communication with my spouse, using the SMART Goals Framework, my SMART version might be, "Initiate one open and honest conversation about a challenging topic with my spouse each week for the next month."

Try it out. Identify the 6 core relationships in your life, evaluate and determine some SMART goals for each one.

And I pray you’re having a great new year!