IT'S JANUARY AGAIN and here we are at the start of another year. I’m sure I'm not alone in thinking, how time fl ies, how quickly my kids
are growing up, I hope this year is better than the last and all those things the New Year makes you refl ect on. Alongside all of that, there are also
thoughts about the future. We all make plans, otherwise you just get swept along. It was a late realisation for me to understand the relevance and importance of having clear SMART goals - “Simple, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Timely”.
After all, the importance of goals is self-
explanatory. Without goals of your own, you subject yourself to the goals of others. Set yourself a direction and you get the power back in your life. Looking back over the past year I refl ect
on the fact that I've spoken to top coaches involved in the success of the best Olympic, rugby, formula one and football teams. What struck me time and time again
was how they all plan well in advance every single detail of the whole process of performance, training, eating, intensity, resting competing, keeping only one objective in mind ”to win”. The reason these teams win is because
they plan “everything”. Many athletes, sports people or teams plan their strategies up to 1-4 or even 8 years in
advance. Behind every team, there are specialists planning every little detail. The story is the same with companies
and organisations. In board meetings, they discuss the future, prepare business plans, projections, develop a series of products they have “envisioned and developed” years in advance…. I've discovered that to make plans work,
you must understand how fundamental it is to establish your goals. Write your goals down, review them daily weekly, plan personally and professionally, plan short term and long term. And discuss your goals with your
colleagues, loved ones and family. Set up a “wish book“, put in it the places you want to go on holiday, the things you want to own. Visualise success, spend 5 minutes daily
visualising the ideal situations you want to be and have in life. That way, you simply HAVE to achieve
you goals. And remember, as the saying goes: “If you fail to plan… plan to fail.” Here's to realising your goals in 2013! b
All the best! Bernardo Moya, Editor/Publisher @bernardo_moya
We want your stories The Best You is all about inspiring people. If you have a tale to tell that you think will help someone become the best they can be, please tell us.