I don’t know about you, but I’ve heard about goals till I’m blue in the face.And the focus is often on SETTING goals, rather than how to actually ACHIEVE them.I’ve heard it said that a goal without a plan is just a wish. How true that is.I want to approach this topic from a different angle. Rather than talking about setting goals, let’s talk about what you need to be DOING in 2020 so that, when you look back on the year, you will consider it a resounding success.We’ll also talk about the THINKING aspect of planning for a successful 2020, because what you are thinking will have a direct impact on what you are doing.Or, put another way, if you’re not DOING what you want to be doing in 2020, it’s because you’re not THINKING thoughts that will support what you want to be DOING. I’m going to recommend some exercises for you to complete. You can certainly think about your answers to these questions, but there’s something very powerful about writing your answers down and seeing them on paper. Here's the link to a worksheet that will help you through this process: http://bit.ly/Episode109SETTING THE STAGE Let’s start by setting the stage here. If you’re going to set yourself up for success in 2020, the first step HAS to be defining success for yourself. Not what anyone else thinks success looks like…what does it look like for YOU? Here are the suggested areas of your life to look at, these come from the BAGUA map. If you’re not familiar with the BAGUA map, you can Google it and see examples; it’s based on the principles of Feng Shui. -Wealth (prosperity)-Fame (reputation)-Relationships (love and/or friendships)-Family (community)-Health-Creativity (joy and inspiration)-Wisdom (self-improvement)-Career (purpose)-Helpful People (travel, benevolence, synchronicity)I don’t recommend that you try to do all nine areas; I’d rather see you pick 2-3 that really speak to you and determine what success would look like in that area.Some examples are in order:If you choose Wealth, you might decide that success would look like a certain income level. You might also choose to do something with your money that will generate wealth, such as investing or doing things that will allow you to keep more of the money you earn. My success marker for Wealth in 2020 is a certain income level. For Fame, you might decide to start a blog…write a book…join a committee or activity at work that will get you exposed to more people on a broader scope. You might decide to speak on a certain stage or get a certain level of recognition for your job performance. My success marker for Fame in 2020 is to have 10,000 downloads per episode of this podcast. For Relationship, you might want to meet the love of your life…improve your marriage…ask your significant other to marry you. My success marker for Relationship in 2020 is to meet Andy.For Family, you might want to have a baby…mend or strengthen a relationship with a family member…or create a community for yourself with friends. This one also incorporates “community,” so it isn’t limited to blood relationship.For Health, you might want to address a certain health issue that’s been plaguing you, reach a certain weight, start a certain type of exercise like yoga.My success marker for Health in 2020 is to get the help I need for my back and neck issues, while also reaching my goal weight. For Creativity, you could either start or expand on an activity that brings you joy and inspiration. I have a friend who got a bunch of art supplies for Christmas because she wants to return to her love of painting and making stained glass. It doesn’t have to be artistic…whatever brings you joy. For Wisdom, what is one self-improvement activity you can engage in? Do you want to finish your bachelor’s degree or start a master’s degree? I there a certification or credential you’d like to pursue? My success marker for Wisdom in 2020 is Self-Coaching Scholars; I’ve re-joined and will be fully engaged in the monthly coaching activities. For Caree