As always, we highlight Daniel's weekly RADIO-INFO article:

Five Ways to Hit Your Goals in 2011

Do you have big goals set for yourself or your company in 2011? Good! Enjoy the growth opportunity of stretching beyond your current situation into a greater future. This week in Radio3D, five tips for accomplishing your goals this year.

1. Think from the end.

Be sure that your goal is clear. Paint the picture for your team of what the end-result will look like. Remember the S.M.A.R.T. of setting goals. The best goals are specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely. Make the goal straightforward. Construct the goal around something measurable—ratings, revenue, or another specific quantifiable activity. Be sure that the goal is attainable and within reach, and set a timeframe for the goal—a month, a quarter, a year.

2. Have a Role Model, Be a Role Model.

Find a model for success in your company, circle of friends, or in a related industry. Get mentoring. Watch what is making others succeed. Get a consultant who can help you to envision success for yourself, and map a route to get there. Also, remember that the best way to learn is to teach. Be available as a role model to someone who can learn from your journey to accomplishment.

3. Lose the Time Bandits.

Whether the time bandits are your own poor habits or people who siphon away your time, you’ll be amazed at the freedom you discover when you set your time bandits free. Identifying ways to grow is equally important as identifying blocks to your growth. Time bandits are blocks that can steal your time and energy, and they can control your agenda—if you let them.

4. Remember that success and failure are daily accomplishments.

If you have a huge goal to reach for the year, break it down into monthly and weekly bite-sized pieces.  When you miss your goal for the quarter or year, it didn’t suddenly happen. It happened every day leading up to the finish line. Set incremental goals, so you know where you stand for the quarter or year. Manage your daily progress.

5. Stay Accountable.

If your goal is sales related, get pacing reports and activity reports. Look at your activity and progress relative to the finish line. Pacing reports help your team stay accountable for their activity.

Whether you’re trying to lose weight, hit a sales goal, or quit smoking, www.stickk.com has an interesting way for you to stick to your goals. The site was started by Yale University economists who figured out that people who put their money or reputation on the table are far more likely to actually achieve a goal they set for themselves.

On their site, you set a goal (specific accomplishment on a specific timeline) and put some money on the line. If you fail to achieve your goal, the money you posted is sent to a designated recipient (perhaps your favorite charity). If you achieve your goal, you keep your money. See more information at www.stickk.com.

I wish all the best to you this year in accomplishing all of your goals. Do you have some interesting goals set for this year that fellow Radio 3D readers can support? E-mail me at 3d@radio-info.com, and share your goals for 2011.

About the Writer

Future-minded and passionate, Daniel Anstandig’s experience includes developing digital business strategies for media companies, designing content strategies for broadcast and interactive, and coaching executives. He is President of McVay New Media, and editor of Radio-Info.com's new media newsletter.