2020 capture and SMART goals for 2021

"And so this is Christmas, and what you have done?"

Well, loads, so-so, or nothing. Right?

I hear everything. Some people say it's been the best year of their lives: they reinvented the wheel, they have progressed in things that they were stuck, they got promoted, they got a new job, they rethought their careers. I also heard about those who basically got paralyzed, burnout, tried to juggle with work, kids, partners (who became their most "favorite colleague" at the "home enterprise"), pets, their plants - you name it. Got worried about their jobs, anxious about their parents' health, wondered when they will visit "home". Or just a mixture of everything because we simply realized that we can NOT avoid the mix between our professional and personal lives. It's all there, and sometimes passing behind our cameras during our meetings.

Needless to say, this year has been an incredible rollercoaster. Some got the thrill and tried all rides in the park, and some just wanted to vomit after the ride and never wanted to go back to the park (or as they say it, "cancel 2020"). Regardless, we all instinctively still want to keep going, to keep trying, amidst the current scenario in which we are living in, and will, for many years now. We know the vaccine would be the prevention (or the cure), but the virus was never the cause of some of our emotions that surfaced during this year. We know that this was a trigger to some of our hidden dreams and frustrations that were never faced. Instead, we tried to bury our heads in weekly calls/meetings, run between metro and bus stations, and other millions of activities that we were sure we could fit into our calendars.

BUT, what happened to our careers?

Sure, we as a company did great (or not). The performance and the level of efficiency have never been so good. We cut costs, we are right on target. But, are you?

Some of us had the time to take a step back and relax during furloughs (reduced work hours) and do some new activities that a "normal work-life" wouldn't allow us to. For example, I run a side career consulting business for which I am so thankful. I helped dozens of people this year understand what they want for their careers, how to go about changing their paths, how to improve their personal brands, how to be a rockstar interviewer. I mean, purpose, right? (Thanks Luciana for such an incredible testimonial!)

During the final days of 2020, I want to invite you to take a step back (or forward, really). Close your PC, stop looking at your emails on your phone, have a moment with yourself, and really dig deep into what you want for 2021.

I am not proposing the new year new me, because they do fail around 7-10 days after the year has begun. We don't want that, right? RIGHT?

To some of you, SMART goals have been older than Santa Claus. To some, this is new and you are somewhat curious. Regardless of the level of knowledge with SMART goals, I want to give you a few tips on how to do them. I usually do it around the end of each year and set them as my steps as guidance. Of course, for this year I had no idea that my goals would face a worldwide pandemic, but hey, no one is perfect and no one ever will. So neither will be all of my goals, right?

So, to begin, here is a pretty good intro video that explains the SMART goals:

Now that you know what SMART goals are, I want to share these TIPS:

#1 Using the SMART goals, I can guarantee that the chances of achieving them are high. Not because you set them, but because you affirm them. Once you write or repeat, we know it stays on your unconscious and sometimes you will do it without even knowing it. Think about goals that are SPECIFIC, MEASURABLE, ACTION-BASED, RELEVANT, AND TIME-BASED. Remember, your goals should always be in line with your ultimate aims. (Am I making sense?)

#2 Have 3-month goals as well as yearly goals. As things are moving fast, and anxiety is hitting us quite hard, it's important that you set yourself some realistic goals but in a shorter time frame. Why? Because by having short-term goals, you are able to give yourself credit for those accomplishments and feel more empowered to continue. Long-term goals are great too, but let's shape the goals according to our current scenario.

#3 Self-assessment, self-awareness. I know a lot of people that grew this year by starting therapy, taking some self-development courses, exploring their skills & learning how to talk about themselves with the help of a career coach (well, hello!). For those of you who couldn't do it - don't feel the pressure. I am glad you are reading this, alive and healthy :) For the next year, try to think of some ways you could begin by exploring your knowledge about yourself. A good way to start could be taking self-assessment personality tests (I can help you with that too, by the way!)

#4 Be clear about what you want, be honest with yourself. Sounds like some of those melodramatic self-help books (I love them, by the way) but the point here is that you need to set your ground for your goals. So, if you are interviewing for a company and you can tell right away that this future "leader" will be a pain, RUN. You don't need to be where you know already you don't belong. Always be honest with what you want next, and don't settle for less (and I mean salary too, ladies and gentleman! - but mostly ladies, since we know the gender pay gap struggle, is real).

#5 Keep track of your goals. Just like you do with calories or with the amount of km/miles you run, keep track of what you are doing. Have your own milestones, and take a closer look at your progress during the year. Two per year is good, four per year is excellent, and every month is perhaps too much? Find what's best for you - set a meeting with yourself on that calendar.

These are some of my tips for the next year and I want to wish you a coy and safe holiday season, filled with health and happiness (you name it). May 2021 be the year that you want for yourself.

Cheers!