October is here which means we’re in the final quarter of the year. As a football fan, I love a good 4th quarter win — you know, when your team makes a comeback and steals the game. But if you see me strutting around holding four fingers in the air this season, it may not be for my favorite football team (Roll Tide!) but for myself and for YOU. I am declaring that this quarter is ours!
I believe you can change your life in 90 days.
Here’s how I plan to do it:
1. Set action-oriented 90-day goals.
Instead of setting aspirational goals, goals for which I can’t truly control the outcome, I’m going to set goals that are completely in my hands. For example, instead of setting the goal of seeing my byline in nine of my favorite publications by the end of the year, my goal will be to send story pitches to nine of my favorite publications by the end of the year.
My 4th Quarter Goals
- Send pitches to 9 of my favorite publications.
- Write a new draft of my book.
- Revamp my website.
- Earn enough money as a full-time writerpreneur to adequately pay myself every month.
- Lose 24 pounds.
My October Goals
- Send pitches to 3 of my favorite publications
- Write an outline and book proposal for my book.
- Earn enough money as a full-time writerpreneur to adequately pay myself every month.
- Lose 8 pounds.
- Raise $1000 for the Women’s Fund of Greater Birmingham. (You can help me out with this goal here.)
The Legendary University of Alabama coach Paul “Bear” Bryant once said, “Winning isn’t imperative, but getting tougher in the fourth quarter is.” So you may not achieve all of my aspirations for 2019 but taking intentional action in this final quarter will definitely make you stronger.
2. Keep my goals in sight – literally.
Last year I realized that I often failed to accomplish my monthly goals simply because I forgot about them! I was getting so caught up with all the day-to-day things I had to do that I wasn’t making time or even mental space for the bigger picture.
So I decided to start keeping my monthly goals in plain sight – literally – by posting them in my home office, taping them to my laptop, and writing them on index cards that I place in my bag, on my nightstand, and in the pocket of my Day Designer.
I also started using The Start Today journal, which prompts you to write down 10 goals a day. And each night when I’m planning my agenda for the next day I make sure that I’m doing at least one small task that will get me closer to accomplishing each goal.
3. Be good to my body and my soul.
One of my personal goals for the final quarter of the year is to lose 24 pounds. So I’ve started Weight Watchers and I will be exercising daily. I’m also going to be intentional about drinking more water.
And because none of this matters if things aren’t right with my spirit, I will also be intentional about reading the Bible and writing in my prayer journal every day, too.
What are your goals for October and the rest of the year?