Last year, my view of yearly goals was a little different. This time, I’m considering a happy medium between just thinking up stuff in one’s head to written items in a plan. So, put on your thinking brain and consider these thoughts for making your voiceover and life goals for 2021.
My thinking about goals is being influenced by, of course, the pandemic. The pandemic has affected how we all think about the world and ourselves. We need to be more on point about what we want professionally and personally. I’m not talking about throwing away your mask. I’m talking about being clear in what you want, the actions (and precautions) you will take, and what you are willing to do for your continued viability.
In How to set goals for 2021 when everything feels uncertain, Elizabeth Grace Saunders writes, “Despite the unknowns of 2021, setting goals still has great value. Having goals gives you a sense of self-determination that you have the autonomy to make choices for your life and the competence to achieve them. This is a key component of mental and emotional health.”
A goal is not always meant to be reached; it often serves simply as something to aim at.”
Bruce Lee
Set it and don’t forget it
Goals are needed now more than ever. The Lockdowns have limited our ability to interact as we have in the past, so we need to find new ways of keeping our lives moving toward a promising future. We will undoubtedly have challenges. That’s why we plan for the best and meet the other stuff as it comes.
Be SMART
Setting SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, or time-bound) goals will provide steps and processes for reaching one’s objectives. The 21 Goal Ideas to Set and Achieve for a Better 2021 says, “… research shows that 80% of new year’s resolutions are forgotten by February 15th. So, if you’re planning on losing weight, saving money, or learning a new skill, you better have a plan.”
Set the right priorities
Continue your voice-over priorities – it’s your business, it’s your life. Consider what worked in 2020, what was derailed, and what you can do to get back on track. It’s not the good times that define us. The difficult times expose our strengths and weakness. Make sure you are keeping your priorities in placed to meet your goals even throught life’s challenges.
Joan Michelson in Think About 2021 Goal-Setting Differently, suggest you start “… your 2021 goal-setting by first listing all your accomplishments in 2020 – and I do mean ALL of them, in every area of your life, as I outlined in my previous Forbes piece – and see where they are leading you. Looking at the throughlines or patterns and commonalities in these accomplishments will reveal where they are leading you.”
Stay woke
The pandemic has brought a lot of hidden realities to light. Being “woke” is not a bad thing but an opportunity to expand your thinking about the world around you. Our lives are moving along in the current of time. You can go with the flow or pull out your goal setting oar and paddle in the direction you’d like to travel. The best way to impact your direction is by writing down your goals covering specific areas of your life.
Write them and they will (or may) come
Your goals’ list does not to be long but should include specific items. Dave Ramsey’s article, How to Set Goals for 2021, recommends goals cover seven life areas: spiritual, fitness, educational, family, career, social, and financial.
Today is the best day to get started. We all want 2021 to be a lot better than in 2020. I hope my tips and reminders stir you to take action to do some planning for your future. Setting goals is no guaranteed that you will meet each objective, but aiming at nothing will always get you that result.
Now keep on breaking that lip.
As I hope you know, the world is in the midst of the Covid-19 onslaught on our society and our way of life. As such, we have to make drastic changes in our daily lives to stay healthy. Countless news programs, commentaries, podcasts, preachers, and scientists give us their daily take on how to adjust to the ever-changing “new normal.” But I’ve come to understand that changing during this unprecedented time in world history can only go so far. Each of us must decide how to make it through these strange days.
No matter your background, language, or location, life for you has changed. The COVID-19 incident has changed the present and is yet to reveal its whole effect on our future. But as an optimist, I believe life is still worth living. As a creative, living is not just consuming food or having fun; it means being able to create, share, and give to others. This is a great time to find new and emerging opportunities for helping others through the expression of one’s creative talents. But, with the ongoing readjustments facing our society, you may be wondering how to adapt to the fluctuating “new normal.” Here are five ideas on how to re-evaluate where you stand in the voiceover market and stay noticeable to current and potential customers.