The year I finally followed through on a new year’s goal
By: Karla Parra
Tags: Goal Setting, Full Time Rving, Beyourself, New Year Resolution, Coaching

The year I finally followed through on a new year’s goal

2019: The year we finally followed through on a new year’s goal and bought our new 84-sq. ft. home

The first year when I can clearly remember following through on a new year’s goal is the year my husband and I bought our current home — an 84 square foot “Casita” fiberglass camper. On December 31, 2018, we decided that 2019 would be the year we would stop dreaming and start doing. So, on January 12th, 2019 we boldly headed to the RV factory and handed over our down payment for a sparkling new camper. Four months later we moved out of our city apartment in Dallas and began our life as full-time RV nomads.

I often think back to that last day of 2018 in awe at our boldness in setting a transformative, scary goal and following through. As a professional coach, I can now appreciate what made this goal reachable. I’ve outlined these elements below in hopes that as you think about your 2021 goals, you not only dream big, but also set yourself up for successful follow-through.

The 5 elements of successful goal-setting:

1. A growth mindset. Moving into our camper was inspired by a desire to grow in new ways. Our intentions revolved around the potential of who we could become through this new lifestyle — more adventurous and independent. This was intriguing to us, and also meant that regardless of how long we lasted on the road, we would surely become improved versions of ourselves. Approaching your goals by first establishing how you want to grow ensures that regardless of the outcome, you will undoubtedly become an improved, more enlightened version of you.

2. Clarity on “why”. Moving out of 750 sq. ft. in the city into 84 sq. ft. in who-knows-where was significant. Therefore, we had to be very clear with ourselves as to why we were making this transition. Not only did we expect adventure and freedom, but we also knew this lifestyle would allow us to be more financially flexible, which we highly valued. As you think about what you’d like to pursue this coming year, have you asked yourself why? This clarity on benefits will help keep you motivated and focused on the prize.

3. A realistic, time-bound plan on paper. As soon as we returned home after making that down payment, we created a plan for what needed to get done by May 24, our Casita delivery date. We wrote month-by-month milestones on large flip chart posters and hung them on our apartment walls. As you think about your own growth aspirations and goals, chart the milestones you’d like to hit against a realistic timeline. Ninety days is a good starting point — long enough to allow for aspirational planning, yet short enough to be realistic. Post those milestones somewhere where you can see them constantly, like an office whiteboard or your desktop to help keep you on track.

4. A support system. When one of us began to panic at the insanity we were embarking on, the other person encouraged and nudged in order to make sure we followed through. Do you know what your “Best You” support recipe is to help you follow through on your goals? Maybe your recipe includes the people that will form your success team, or maybe it’s about the health habits you’d like to adopt to feel at your best. Think about this: how will you protect your ability to keep pursuing your goals when the going gets rough?

5. Small, consistent progress. While mapping out monthly milestones felt like progress, it was the small, daily steps we took that made the difference. Each day, we aimed to downsize a little bit more. The sum of the small steps we took is what allowed us to leave our apartment fairly stress-free on May 24 and truly enjoy the experience of picking up our new home. As you think about your goals and milestones, slice them up into bite-size steps, and write those steps on your daily to-do list or calendar. It’s the small, but consistent steps that create a big impact.

Following through on that 2019 goal of buying and moving into a camper has forever changed our lives, including our world view, our marriage, our friendships, and stories we’ll tell for years. The five elements I just shared form the steps I’m taking to design my business roadmap in 2021. Why? Because together, these elements work. Lead with growth, know you are why, plan it out, be supported, and do it, little by little. You’ve got this!

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