Welcome back! In this second part of the goal setting series, we’ll look into how to set professional development goals. The purpose of professional development is not just to strengthen your business, but to strengthen yourself as a business owner. So think about how your goals will impact you in the coming year, as you are setting them.

If you’re just joining the party, take a moment and hop back to my first post in this series, Why Goal Setting is Essential for Creatives. Go ahead…I’ll wait!

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Last week we took a good, long look at where you are as of right now. {Even if you’re still scrambling to complete some of your 2019 goals!} Hopefully you’ve spent some time evaluating your process, your progress, and what areas could use some improvement going forward.

This post will be pretty short to read, but like last week’s blog post, you should really take some time to do the work and think about what you really want. Make sure to download my goal setting workbook to make the most of this series. Let’s get started!

If you’ve read {and applied} last week’s post, you should be able to answer the following questions:

• What worked and what didn’t?
• What brings you joy {or doesn’t}.
• How have you taken your business to the next level (automating/outsourcing, marketing, email list)?
• What does your sales funnel/lead generation look like?
• What’s your most profitable offer and how do you make and spend money in your business?

Now it’s time to turn those raw thoughts into actionable plans.

Setting S.M.A.R.T. Goals

To give yourself a better chance at achieving these goals, you’ll need to be specific about them. Think of everything {and every one} who will be involved in accomplishing it as you write. Think of the “when”, “where”, and “why” of your goals as you go.

That also just so happens to be the first letter in the acronym “SMART“, a method of goal-setting that is believed to increase your chances of achieving your professional development ideas:

• S – Specific (Think of the details involved.)
• M – Measurable (Think of the amount of resources needed and how to track progress.)
• A – Achievable (Determine whether the goal is actually possible and to what degree.)
• R – Realistic (Can you commit to this goal, and do you have the right resources for it?)
• T – Timely (Set a deadline for yourself.)

Put your brain in the right mindset by writing your goals in the present tense, as if you’ve achieved them. For example, “In June, I have grown my email list to 2,000 subscribers.”.

Now grab your workbook and write down all the things you would like to do {or think you should do}. Every single one. This is a brain dump exercise, so feel free to add silly ideas, ideas that are not completely developed, and even ones that don’t seem realistic. Get everything out of your brain and onto paper so you can clear your head and look at it all objectively.

It’s Okay to Shoot for the Stars

Let’s think long-term for a moment with our shoot-for-the-stars goals. These aren’t SMART goals, exactly. They’re more like dreams. You’re writing them down to show yourself that even if they aren’t achievable or realistic in the next year, they are ultimately what you are working toward as you decide how to set professional development goals for yourself.

I like to include a professional one and a more personal, lifestyle-oriented one, like so:

1. It’s 2025 and I just shot a cookbook with Michelle Obama. (Hey, don’t laugh. She’s my hero!)
2. I work with international brands and magazines, which allows me to live in France and travel when necessary.

Looking at those big goals, I think to myself:

What do I need to have done/accomplished in the intervening years to make those goals happen?

What do I need to do this year to set myself up for success with those goals in the future?

I want you to reflect on those thoughts about how to set professional development goals before we move on to our third and final blog post in this series. Next week, we’ll go over how I plan my year quarter by quarter to implement my goal action plan. Are you excited? I know I am!

Can’t wait for the next blog post? Subscribe to my email list to get even more unique content that will help you grow your business and develop a healthy, productive mindset toward your work. I also share tips about business, mindset, techniques, and much more on Instagram, 5 days a week! I hope to see you there!