The new year is right around the corner.  Even though it is just a day on the calendar it brings a great reminder to take inventory of your life and set goals for the upcoming year. You can call it a New Year’s resolution or setting a goal, either way it can be an important method of deciding what is important for you to achieve in your life. At the website Mindtools.com, it says your goals should be SMART.

“A useful way of making goals more powerful is to use the SMART mnemonic. While there are plenty of variants, SMART usually stands for: S–Specific, M–Measurable, A–Attainable, R–Relevant, T-Time-bound. For example, instead of having ‘To sail around the world’ as a goal, it is more powerful to say, ‘To have completed my trip around the world by Dec. 31, 2015.’”

Write down your goals and use them to motivate yourself and to separate yourself from distractions. Make sure that the goals you choose are important to you and that they are of value to yourself. If the goal is important to you then it should motivate you, which is a big key in achieving the goal. Then make sure you keep this goal in front of you on a daily basis and set a commitment to yourself, or a sense of urgency on completing this goal. Set an alarm on your cell phone to remind you of this goal. Write this goal in your calendar or on a post-it note on the bathroom mirror. The more you see the goal, believe in the goal, and feel the outcome of the goal, the more chances you have to achieve it.

Is one of your goals to have more referrals for your business? If so, there is a Crescenta Valley Chamber member that could help. The San Fernando Valley Business Network International (BNI) is a business and professional networking organization that offers members the opportunity to share ideas, contacts and most importantly, referrals. “Word of mouth” is the most cost-effective form of advertising possible. BNI provides a structured environment for the development and exchange of quality business referrals for both men and women. Last year, members of BNI passed thousands of referrals that generated millions of dollars worth of business for each other. BNI is a business and professional organization that allows only one person from each profession to join a chapter. Belonging to BNI is like having dozens of sales people working for you because all the other members carry several copies of your business cards around with them. When they meet someone new who could use your products or services they hand out your card and recommend your services. You can find a chapter near you by going to www.sfvbni.com.

The Crescenta Valley Chamber wishes you happy holidays, many goals achieved and tons of referrals.

Important dates: Jan 13, 2011 – Installation of Officers and Directors; Jan 15 – Free E-Waste Recycling co-sponsored by PHAT Energy. Please call our office for more details on any event. How to reach us: (818) 248-4957 / crescentachamber@aol.com / www.LaCrescenta.org / 3131 Foothill Blvd., Ste. D.