Read this if you haven't figured out your 2021 Goals yet.

There are two types of people right now.

Person A: You're excited about a fresh start, and motivated to WIN the year #superpumped

Person B: You haven't quite figured out your plans yet, and sometimes you even wonder if you're crazy for not being hyped about goals and vision boards.

Regardless of which camp you fall in, we all have hopes to achieve something this year, whether massive or minute; for others, or for ourselves.

If you've not sorted out your goals yet, one way to look at it is to ask yourself:

Who do I want to be this year?

?? The truth is that a goal only matters if it helps you become the type of person you want to be.

Who you are determines what you'll actually do, and what you do determines the outcome you get, regardless of whatever goals you set.

Goals are useful, but don't start there. Decide who you want to be, and then prove it with small wins that lead you to that place.

After deciding how you want to show up, explain it to yourself in a language that you understand.

For example, if your plan is to use this year to position yourself for bigger influence and impact, don't just say "I have to get serious with my personal brand." Say "I want to become known as someone who is....."

Then, look at your brand so far and say, "okay my next personal branding goal is to...

Here are some Personal Branding Goals you could set for 2021

1. Book better clients - the ones who pay well and behave well
2. Create and sell a premium product or service
3. More speaking engagements and media features 
4. Polish my online presence and digital footprint
5. Build and nurture a highly-engaged email list 
6. Create compelling content that establishes my authority and gives me a body of work
7. Expand my network with high-value relationships
8. Earn $XYZ from my personal brand through …

This is crucial because if you don't know where you're going, no matter how motivated you are, you still won't get there. And even if you get there, you'd still be chasing shadows, not realizing you've got it.

You may be skeptical at this point because you haven't achieved your past goals, but don't hate yourself for it. You're not the problem. Both successful and unsuccessful people have goals. It's not about that.

I learned from James Clear that "you don't rise to the level of your goals, you fall to the level of your systems." 

So, what I recommend is that you create an execution system to help you reach where you're going. You don't even need to fuss about the goal itself. If you follow the system, you'll end up with the right outcomes.

Your system should help you see where you are, where you're going, why it's important (so you stay motivated, what you need, and how you'll get there.

Let's make a case study with Deola's Personal Branding Goal:

Deola says "This year, I want to create compelling content that establishes my authority and gives me a body of work."

Why did I give up on this before?

"I felt ignored." "I got distracted." "I lost motivation." "I had no real strategy." "I ran out of what to say."

Where am I now?

"I have only 2 outdated articles. I've not posted for 3 weeks & I don't even feel ready to start because a lot is still unclear. And to be honest, my personal brand is not really aligned, so I feel stuck."

Where am I going? 

"Publish an article 2x a month and post on LinkedIn 4x a week."

Why is this important?

"It'll give me a body of work to refer to." "My influence will be limited if I don't teach." "My content will give people a taste of what I can do for them."

What do I need?

Exposure

• What do I need to learn?
• Who will I learn it from?
• Whose content motivates me to show up & keep going?
• Where can I learn more about my audience?

Environment

• When do I create my best work?
• Where am I most creative & focused?
• How can I eliminate distractions?

Education

• What books to read
• Whose programs to attend
• Who to keep me accountable
• When to reflect on what I've learned

Execution

• Keep a running list of topics using Google keep.
• Read X pages daily to improve my writing.
• Create X posts every Saturday at my desk, after breakfast.
• Write 200 words before checking email, every weekday.

How would I create space to do this, given my existing lifestyle?

You'll always have 24 hours per day. Use the focus quadrant to rearrange your priorities and make space for what you really want.

You may have a different goal from Deola, but this should help. It's important to be clear about where you're going and how you plan to get there. (Plans change, yes. But they help us start moving).

Do you think you can do this for each of your goals? If not, maybe you have too many goals. Remember, a goal only matters if it moves you closer to who you want to be.

So, if you're struggling with planning your year, don't force other people's goals on yourself. Don't pretend to have big dreams if you're not there yet. Instead, Be honest with yourself: Who am I / Who do I wanna be this year? How do I want to show up this year?

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? Share your thoughts! What advise would you give someone still figuring out their plans for the year?

Ready to start building your personal brand? You should definitely check out Personal Branding Blueprint - my free guide to ensure your personal brand is purposeful and profitable.