In a book I’m reading, a pedestrian who had become lost in London flagged a taxicab for a ride. After telling the now-patron that he’d only been two blocks from his destination, the cabbie remarked, “Of course, you don’t know where you’re going unless you know where you’re going.” In that same spirit, I want to check in with you about your progress toward your goals for 2018.

Today is the last day of the first month of 2018. Toward the end of 2017, I wrote a post about the importance of setting measurable goals. Then I sat down and etched out my goals for 2018. With the proper amount of work and a little luck, they are achievable … probably. Some of them are fairly ambitious.

By now the majority of people who resolved to implement changes in their lives on January 1 have abandoned those resolutions and resumed the course they were on when 2017 ended. But the difference between their abandoned resolutions and your goals is a plan. If you have written your goals effectively, they are specific and measurable. You can make a plan and take affirmative steps toward achieving your goals.

I wanted to take this moment in time to check in with you. Have you begun to work toward achieving the goals you set for yourself this year? If you’re reading this with a twinge of guilt, I have a suggestion for you – place your list of goals somewhere visible so that it will prompt you to take the necessary steps to begin to cross items off the list as accomplished as the year progresses. You can make them a screenshot on your phone or pin them to a corkboard in your office.

One of the goals I set for myself this year was to publish a book I’ve been working on. In 2017, I put together a book proposal and sent it out to four publishers. The American Bar Association responded that they were interested, but they needed it to be about 50% longer in order to take it into consideration. Of course, I agreed that I was able to do that, which has resulted in what I believe is some really valuable content. We have since signed a contract, and if all goes well, it will be available for purchase in the Autumn 2018. In the meantime, there is a great deal of work to do.

Accomplishing your goals begins with a dream, followed by actions. Have you begun to take the steps necessary to succeed in your ambitions for 2018?

Photo via Manchester Fire.