Coffee Break: Putting goals in writing first step in achieving them

If you didn't come up with a New Year's resolution Jan. 1, it's not too late.

One of the lessons I have learned in recent years is the incredible power of goal-setting. And the key to successful goal-setting is simple: write down your goals.

It's amazing how many of them you will reach without even thinking about it once you take the time to define them and put them on paper.

I did this a few years ago, writing down a long list of things that I wanted to achieve, large and small, career-oriented and personal; everything from getting a promotion to grooming the dog to rebuilding the front porch.

I revisited that list a few months later having essentially forgotten about it in the meantime and was surprised to find that I had accomplished more than half the list.

Try it! I think you'll be amazed at the results.

My goal this year is to get organized. This is the third year that I have announced that as my resolution, but this is the first time I've put it in writing. I'll let you know what develops.

Meanwhile, SBJ is moving into high gear in a new and exciting year. In March we will debut a new event, Dynamic Dozen, honoring the area's fastest growing companies. The response to our call for nominations has been tremendous, and as I write this, 30 companies are in the running.

The March 10 Dynamic Dozen event, which we are billing as the networking event of the year, will also serve as the debut of the 2004 Book of Lists, with each attendee receiving an advance copy of the book to take home.

Tickets are $29 and are available by calling Diana Weber, 417-831-3238, or e-mailing her at dweber@sbj.net.

And speaking of special events, now is the time to send in nominations for 40 Under 40, honoring the region's up and coming businesspeople under the age of 40. Nominating people or companies for any SBJ event is as simple as logging on to our Web site, www.sbj.net, and filling out the appropriate form, or contacting Diana Weber, circulation manager and event coordinator extraordinaire, as mentioned above.

Nominating is just like goal setting: you need to get it down on paper (or at least an electronic form) to make it happen.