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Goal Setting · 4 min read

12 Steps to Make 2020 Your Best Year Ever

Discover a 12-step goal setting strategy that turns New Year goals into daily action. Learn to plan, act, adapt and keep moving forward for your best year yet.

Chris Farmer, Founder of Corporate Coach Group

“Write your goals, build a clear plan, act today, watch the results and adapt; repeat these twelve steps and you turn any year into your best year yet.”

Chris Farmer — Founder, Corporate Coach Group

12 Steps to Make 2020 Your Best Year Ever

12 Steps to Make 2020 Your Best Year Ever

Here is how to make 2020 your best year ever.

  1. Forget the troubles of the past and focus your mind on the future.
  2. Decide what you want to have, be and do, in 2020.
  3. For each goal, write down WHY you want it.
  4. Figure out the resources you will need in order to achieve your goal.
  5. Decide the information you need to gather.
  6. Think about the people whose cooperation you will need.
  7. From the information you have gathered, write a detailed plan outlining your blueprint.
  8. Take immediate action on the plan. Don't wait.
  9. Keep an eye on the results of your actions.
  10. Make the necessary adaptive changes to your plan, based upon the feedback results your recent actions have produced.
  11. Keep rewriting plans, and taking adaptive actions, until you have achieved your goal.
  12. Set a new goal, at a higher level of attainment.

1. Forget the troubles of the past and focus your mind on the future.

It is common for people to be conditioned by their past experience. Many people think "I have always failed in the past, so I will probably fail in the future."

But, we know from psychology that if you expect to fail, you will almost certainly will.

So, it is vital that you FORGET the past, and allow yourself the freedom say, "The past does NOT equal the future; Irrespective of the past, this year, I will succeed."

2. Decide what you want to be, have and do, in 2020.

Make a goal in each of the three types:

  • What do you what to have, (own) this year?
  • What do you what to be, this year?
  • What do you what to do, this year?

3. For each goal, write down WHY you want it.

Have you heard the phrase, "Everything happens for a reason"?

The same phrase could be re-stated as, "Unless you have sufficient reasons, nothing happens".

The reasons you have for the goals you set, will provide you with the motivation you need.

So, take the time to write down, WHY you want each goal.

4. Figure out the resources you will need in order to achieve your goal.

In order to achieve your goals, you will probably need to gather resources, such as, money, technology or time. Make a list of how you will find these resources.

5. Decide the information you need.

In order to achieve your goal, you will need to gain more information. Make a list of the information you need to acquire and how you will get it.

6. Think about the people whose cooperation you will need.

You will also need to gain the willing cooperation of other people. Make a list of the people, and how you might gain their willing cooperation.

7. From the information you have gathered, write a detailed plan outlining your blueprint.

Using all the notes you made, in the previous steps, write a detailed plan, outlining all the steps you need to take, in order to start moving towards your goal.
Don't worry that you don't know all the steps; you only need enough to get you started. Once you have started, you will gain the vital ingredient: momentum.

8. Take immediate action on the plan. Don't wait.

Many people have plans they never put into practice.

They make the mistake of procrastinating.

Don't put it off until tomorrow.

Start immediately to put your plan into action.

You need to gain momentum.

9. Keep an eye on the results of your actions.

The moment you start taking action, keep your eyes and ears open; observe the results your actions are creating.

Some of your actions will work well, some will not.

You need to notice what is working, and what is not.

10. Make the necessary adaptive changes to your plan, based upon the feedback results your recent actions have produced.

Treat any setbacks, difficulties and defeats, as information you need to refine and improve your original plan.

Rewrite the plans and come back stronger.

Never give in.

11. Keep rewriting plans, and taking adaptive actions, until you have achieved your goal.

You make progress by overcoming obstacles, solving problems and refining your plans.

Keep repeating the cycle until you have achieved your goals.

Then you ...

12. Set a new goal, at a higher level of attainment.

You keep moving forward by making goals and achieving them.

So, make this twelve-step system your way of life.

goal setting

Goal setting is the personal development process where you set clear aims for the future, write each aim down, build a step-by-step plan to reach it, and keep checking results so you can rewrite the plan until the aim is met.

CG4D Definition

Context: Personal development
Genus: Process

  • Sets clear aims for the future
  • Writes each aim down in positive words
  • Links each aim to a step-by-step action plan
  • Reviews results often and rewrites the plan until the aim is met

Article Summary

Write your goals, build a clear plan, act today, watch the results and adapt; repeat these twelve steps and you turn any year into your best year yet.

Chris Farmer, Founder of Corporate Coach Group

Written by Chris Farmer

Founder & Lead Trainer, Corporate Coach Group

Chris Farmer is the founder of the Corporate Coach Group and has over 25 years experience designing and delivering leadership and management training across both the public and private sectors. His programmes are structured, practical and built around real-world performance. Read more about Chris and the story of how the Corporate Coach Group was founded.

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Key Statistics

A 2024 YouGov poll of 2,051 UK adults found that 62% of people who write down their yearly goals report higher life satisfaction, compared with 21% of those who set no goals.

A 2022 University of Stockholm study tracking 1,066 people for twelve months showed 59% achieved their New Year resolution when they created a specific action plan and monitored progress, but only 23% succeeded without a plan.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about this topic

For good goal setting, forgetting old failures frees your mind from limiting beliefs. It lets you start fresh, raise motivation and believe success is possible, which makes reaching new targets far easier.
Split your new year goals into have, be and do lists. Choose aims that excite you, suit your values and stretch you a little so progress feels worthwhile and realistic.
Writing the reason behind each goal boosts motivation. A clear why keeps you focused during dull tasks and helps you push through setbacks because the aim feels meaningful.
List money, time, skills, tools and helpful people. Knowing these resources lets you build a realistic action plan and spot any gaps before they slow your progress.
Break the first task into a tiny step and do it now. Quick action creates momentum, beats procrastination and proves to your mind that progress is already happening.
Check your results daily if possible and weekly at least. Adjust plans as soon as you spot what works or fails; small, frequent tweaks keep the action plan effective.
Celebrate the win, note what worked, then set a new, higher target. This upward cycle keeps you growing and moves you towards your best year ever using the twelve step method.

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