Happy New Year! 

Well, Happy New Year if you are listening in real time... and all the best if you are listening at another time of year - because, well, setting goals at any time of year can be a good thing. 

Do you like the energy of New Years resolutions? Or does it feel icky / counterproductive or like you are setting yourself up to fail? 

Do the statistics about the failure rate of New Years resolutions mean you are idealistically opposed to setting any? 

Have you noticed how on social media this year, there seems to be a move away from them?

Here's what I recommend (lol - not that you asked, but I will share anyway)... don't shy away from deliberately setting goals - just call it what you want in the way that feels good for you. A "resolution", "goal", "intention" "promise" -  can be such a great thing. In my experience, deliberately moving towards something you want to be / do / have is better than not setting any goals. Being intentional not only means that you are more likely to take the required action to achieve said goal but it also means that you are more in tune with conversations and some of the more surprising ways that what you want can come into view. 

• Want to achieve a certain A-Level grades or a 2:1 or above? 
• Focused on getting into a certain educational institution?
• Ready to build your personal brand and start attracting opportunities? 
• Interested in starting a side business - whether you are currently a student and / or an employee? 
• Want to ensure you are having vegetables with every meal?

Why not speak it / write it down / set the intention... and then importantly take action towards it. 

Real life conversations I have had and what I have seem online tells me that much of the resistance to resolutions or goals comes from the notion that we can be hard on ourselves if we don't achieve what we set out to do, however I'd suggest it's then a case of being kinder to ourselves and being less judgemental - as opposed to not setting them in the first place. 

This is a loaded topic and I hope you'll agree that this episode is a great place to start. 

There are many more episodes about goal setting on the Dive Into Your Career podcast already (just scroll!) and this January we will continue to explore this topic in varying ways. Have you subscribed? Make sure you do so you don't miss any episodes. 

Do feel free to engage with this topic (or indeed with me) at any of the below:

• The Dive Into Your Career podcast page of the Your Career And Future website where you can also leave me a message suggesting a careers-related topic for a future episode
• Follow Your Career And Future on Instagram and TikTok
• Via "Gina Visram" on LinkedIn (where they may be a post with a link to this episode where you can contribute some wisdom / reflections)
• Sign up for the mailing list (for students and graduates... a list for their supporters will follow)
• E-mail me on [email protected] with any queries

Also - are you a job seeker early in your career?
Download the checklist: 25 UNMISSABLE TIPS TO SKYROCKET YOUR JOB APPLICATION SUCCESS RATE

You've got this!