I think there are many avenues you can explore when it comes to setting goals.
First you have to decide on your priorities. What is the single most important thing you would like to improve in the next year? It could be professional (increase my salary at work, get a new job), personal (learn a certain skill or try out a new hobby, write an article, improve your speaking skills, learn a different language), spiritual (read the bible all the way through), etc. You decide what you are interested in accomplishing and learning.
Once you have identified that goal, you have to ask yourself some key questions...
As an example from the professional side, what skills do you not have that might be holding you back from advancing in your current position or moving up to a higher position? Are there certain programs you should be learning? (Check the job ads to see what employers are currently asking for). How are your social media skills? What certifications might you be interested in pursuing? For me, for example, I focused on getting back my CAP, increasing my toastmasters certifications (which helps with my speaking and leadership skills), and updating my Microsoft Office certifications to keep myself cutting edge as a job candidate - as I feel you never know when you might need to look for a new job.
Then, once you have identified what you want to learn (say as an example you decide to pursue the MOS exams), you research what is involved in taking them. In this case, it's fairly easy, you visit
www.certiport.com, read up on the requirements for each test, decide if you will self study (using two study guides that have been published for Microsoft Office 2010) or if you will take classes to prepare yourself. Then you research who is offering those classes and how much they cost. You'll talk to your boss to see if they will pay. Then you'll set a realistic deadline for each exam, such as 60 days per test.
So to break this out in concrete steps for goal achievement, it would be:
TAKE THE MICROSOFT OFFICE CERTIFICATION EXAMS FOR WORD (EXPERT), EXCEL (EXPERT), POWERPOINT, OUTLOOK, AND ACCESS BY JUNE 30, 3013.
1) Visit certiport.com and review the requirements for each exam. Identify local testing sites (from certiport site).
2) Decide the order in which I am going to take the exams.
3) Research possible classes in the area. Talk to boss to see if company will pay. If company will pay, sign up for next class on the topic I am going to test on.
4) If company will not pay, order the two study guides from Amazon.
5) Buy the vouchers for at least one test (or all if preferred - check expiration dates, also note you can buy some with a retake option).
6) Set a deadline for myself to prepare for that exam (example: 60 days). Put a note on my calendar at two week intervals to remind myself to prepare.
7) Sign up for the test.
8 ) Take the test!
9) If I pass, repeat process for next exam. If I don't pass, note areas on test where I felt weak as I was taking them and focus on those areas.
PROGRESS GOALS:
Word (Expert) August 30, 2012
Excel (Expert) October 30, 2012
PowerPoint January 31, 2013
Outlook March 31, 2013
Access June 30, 2013
As an alternative, you can just look at specific timeframes. For instance, before the end of the year, I would like to accomplish THIS (choose a goal). Then break down the steps toward doing that goal into 30 day steps and put them on your calendar WITH reminders. I also like to do something concrete to remind me - could be a post it on my wall, a background picture on my computer, whatever...
