Embracing Growth & Setting Achievable Goals for Q2 2024
As we enter the second quarter of the year, it's normal to take a moment to reflect on our personal and professional journey in Q1. If you had planned to lose some weight, start a new course, go out more, or didn’t even set a plan at all, at some point, we have or will sit back to review how far we’ve come in the year. To keep track of growth in Q2, it’s necessary that we set targets or goals that we can use to take stock of how the year is going in a way that feels both purposeful and attainable. I’d be going through the steps I took last week when taking stock of my “not so planned” Q1.
Reflect
Think back to the beginning of the year — what have you accomplished so far? Celebrate your victories, big and small, and acknowledge any detours or challenges you’ve faced. Outside of work, I celebrate the fact that I was able to impact multiple people positively in the little ways I could; this in itself is an attestation to how far I have come myself.
Define a Goal
In Q2, what do you envision for yourself? Is it feeling healthier or mastering a new skill or hobby? For me, I plan to be more focused on becoming more user-centric as a product manager and also to take more courses. These goals are tied to my personal development, and it’s something I intend to achieve before the end of Q2, as Q3 and Q4 are a new journey for me altogether. This, above all else, gives me clarity.
Make it Intentional
Rather than setting rigid targets, add personal meanings to your goals. Instead of “complete a product management or coding course,” you can push to be better with every line of code you write or module you complete. This helps you ask yourself the questions that are vital to your development.
Break It Down
Just like planning a project or a roadmap, break your goals into manageable steps. For instance, if you’re focusing on taking a course, this could mean having set times to take your course daily, weekly, or bi-weekly as it works for you
Share Your Journey
This is one thing I still struggle with. Last year, I was involved in a lot of programs. A major one was a partnership with an NGO that set out to empower 30 youths in Ibadan with digital skills over three weeks. Another was building software for a private university teaching hospital.
Great experiences yet I was unsure whether to share and I didn’t. This Q2, share your progress, no matter how little, you’d get more encouragement to push forward, and in turn, you’d be motivating others to never stop moving. A journey shared is a journey enriched.
Embrace Flexibility
Life is dynamic, and so are our paths to growth. Be open to adjusting your course as needed. If a setback occurs, view it as an opportunity to learn and recalibrate rather than a roadblock.
Celebrate Milestones
Don’t wait until the finish line to celebrate. Acknowledge and celebrate each milestone along the way — a week of consistent workouts, a completed module, and a newfound sense of confidence.
Stay Curious
Approach Q2 with curiosity and confidence. Allow yourself to explore new possibilities, take calculated risks, and step outside of your comfort zone. Growth often flourishes in the soil of exploration.
Remember that setting achievable goals is about more than just achieving them — it’s about embracing growth.
