I would like to discuss a topic that has become more and more important to me as life goes on, goal setting. It is not only the concept of setting goals but also having the motivation and drive to achieve them.

Surveys show that the most successful people in society today set themselves goals, short and long term. For me, shorter term goals include daily routines to ensure I am as successful and productive as possible every day.

The concept of ‘goal setting’ tends to be a little cliché. I put the term in the same category as ‘culture’ and ‘networking’, but that’s a topic for another day. The important thing is to determine what means the most to you in life and how determined you are to make these things count.

I always like to ask myself the question – fast forward to the end of the year. What needs to happen so that I can say to myself – “this has been the best year yet”.

Personally, I need to know where I am heading and what I need to do to get there.  Once I reach my objective, I am able to slow down and reflect on the achievement, making it all the more satisfying.

Prior to setting myself personal and business goals, I would often get to the end of a year and wonder what all the hard work was for.

During my recent Christmas break I was able to reflect on the year that was and give myself a little pat on the back for what I achieved. I also reviewed my longer term goals to see whether I was on track and to determine whether my actions and behaviours needed to change in order to get me there.

When Hewison advisers first meet with clients and then as they conduct reviews ongoing, goals and objectives are of the highest priority. When reflecting on your own goals, be sure to think about your financial goals as they relate to your financial planner and if you think they require a discussion, do not hesitate to contact your adviser.

Good luck to everyone for the year ahead and I hope you are able to make it your best year yet.