Setting successful business and professional goals requires asking the right questions. Too often, we rush to create our list of SMART goals without investing any time at all into thinking about where those answers should come from. I know this because I’ve been there and spent much of my life setting goals the wrong way, without any base or foundation.
With that in mind, here are the questions I am asking right now before starting to set any hard and fast goals. If there’s one thing I have learned, it’s this. The answers to these questions will guide me exactly where I want to go, and once I know what my destination is, I can create a plan to get there.
Reflecting on 2024
- What were our biggest wins in 2024, and what made them possible?
- What were our biggest challenges, and how did we respond to them?
- What opportunities did we miss, and why?
- What lessons did we learn that we can apply in 2025?
- What 20% of our work generated 80% of our results?
Assessing the Present
- What assumption are we making that needs to be challenged?
- What fear is holding us back, and how can we overcome it?
- How do we feel about the business right now, and what’s driving that feeling?
Planning for 2025
- What should we STOP doing in 2025 to free up resources for greater impact?
- What should we START doing in 2025 to seize new opportunities?
- What should we KEEP doing because it’s driving success?
- What small, consistent habit(s) will create the biggest results in 2025?
- What bold move could dramatically change our results in 2025?
- Where can we create the most value for our customers/clients this year?
Envisioning Bold Growth
- If we had to double the business in 2025, what would we prioritize?
- If we had to 10X the business in 2025, what would we do differently?
Fostering Joy and Fulfillment
- How will we define and cultivate joy in our work in 2025?
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The Takeaway
I hope this list is helpful and creates the space you need to start imagining the 2025 you want. As I’ve been going through this exercise personally, the answers I am unlocking are already beginning to guide how I’ll define my goals.
More tools, including my 2024 Snapshot and My 2025 Goal Setting tools, will be coming soon. If you’re not already subscribed to the Depth Not Width blog, here’s an invitation to do it today so you don’t miss these tools.
Share this with someone who needs it today!
John
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