Since resolutions are a bit too synonymous with the ringing in of the New Year, I tend to take this time to set goals for myself, both personal and for my business. I think goals are a bit better than trying to go “gung-ho” on a hard-to-attain resolution. As I looked back at the goals I set for 2017, I did very well at attaining and reaching what I had set out to accomplish and hope to do the same for the things I set out to do in the New Year of 2018!
Last year I strived to increase my fleet size, if the volume of freight I took on warranted it. Indeed it did and of course I was able to add a driver during this year’s holiday rush, that is working out quite swimmingly, if I do say so myself. Although I aimed for expanding by two trucks last year, it was not a lack of freight that kept me held to only one, but rather some grave news that a key member of our family would be battling and later ultimately succumb to cancer. I will once again set a goal to increase my fleet size by two more trucks, should the freight volume I get offered continue to increase, as we have already witnessed with the addition of our third truck.
On the personal side of my goals last year was to move us out of the rat race of living in the city and be able to move my family out to a new home in the country. I am pleased to say that I was able to attain this goal as well, and was blessed enough to move my family and base of operations out to what is considered “the country life” here in Southern California. Not that we have acres and acres of pasture or farmland, but considering the cramped and overpriced home we had in the city, it is a day and night comparison to what we are now so fortune to have to call home! It is nice to come home and stare at the stars in the piece and quiet that surrounds us, with great neighbors that make it all the better to be where we are. For 2018 on the personal side I am set on spending more time with my family during my off time by taking 2 or 3 trips away together, while also trying to sneak in a couple fishing trips up to the Eastern Sierras with my brothers!
Goal setting is a mental method for gearing yourself towards success. Without specific goals to reach, one can often find themselves spinning their wheels and going nowhere. Although resolutions are nice, they are often failed because of their vagueness and/or their loftiness. Saying things like, “I want to work out more” or “I want to lose weight” is a lot different than setting goals like “I will hit the gym Monday/Wednesday/Friday and lose 20 pounds within six months”. If you need some inspiration on setting proper goals, check out this article in Entrepreneur written by Jeffrey Hayzlett titled “The 5 Golden Rules of Goal-Setting”. Be sure to set your goals to reach success in the coming New Year and gear yourself for making great things happen! Share some of your goals, if you wish, in the comments section below. I would love to hear what some of the Team Run Smart community are setting out to do this year!