So, this is the end of the first three months of 2016. The end of the first quarter. How are you doing on your New Year’s Resolutions? Maybe you didn’t make those. What about your plans for the year?

I just reviewed mine. A little bit sobering. Some very real successes. Some goals turned out to be more difficult to accomplish than I thought. One was outside of my power to make happen.  We had unanticipated family needs come up that required attention. Also, there were a couple of goals that I had completely forgotten about. A mixed report. It’s all part of the learning process.

Here is what I’ve learned: I was tackling new challenges this quarter. Some of them had to do with structuring my business. They just took far more time and effort than I anticipated. Getting this done crowded out other goals. Now, I have a more realistic perspective.

One of them I can’t “make” happen. It required someone else to agree to participate. I’ve learned that I need to be more realistic when setting goals that are dependent on others. In this case, I’ve figured out a workaround that will still help me accomplish the goal. I’ll need to block time for that.

One goal, I just dropped the ball on. I totally forgot about it. This reminds me that I need to review my goals more regularly.

Here’s what I’m going to do:

I’m blocking time out to plan for the next quarter. I’ll build on my successes. I’ll break down the complicated goals into uncomplicated “chunks.”  The goal I dropped the ball on is something I can start today. So, I’ll start today.

I’m going to focus on my successes in the last quarter and not on what I didn’t accomplish. However, I’ll stay mindful of what I still want to accomplish this year. I’ll make adjustments and plan for next quarter accordingly.

Here’s what I’m not going to do: I’m not going to drop all my goals because I didn’t accomplish them exactly as I hoped. I’m not going to call the quarter a failure. I’m not going to say that setting goals and being focused isn’t worth it.

I’m trying to build my family, my business and my non-profit this year. I want to grow personally. I’m not willing to rely on chance.  So, I need to course correct. I need to give myself more time. I need to focus a little bit more. I need to review my goals more frequently so I don’t get distracted.

What do you need to do?

Maybe you are on track for all of your goals for this year. Celebrate! That’s awesome!

Maybe you are more like me and there is a lot of work in progress – Celebrate what you did accomplish! Course correct and keep pursuing them.

A garden that isn’t tended just becomes part of the field. It is indistinguishable from anything else. Tend your garden. You were meant to live with distinction.