It’s that time of year again when we are bombarded with television commercials about joining Weight Watchers or a local gym to help achieve our New Year’s resolutions. Most adults take time at the beginning of each year to set their New Year’s resolutions or personal and professional goals. While setting goals each year is important, understanding how to set yourself up for success is critical.

What makes some of us more successful with our goals than others? At Mettise, we help our clients determine where they want to go and how to get there. This cannot be done without setting goals. During our assessment and goal setting process with our clients, we use SMART goals. SMART goals are five simple but powerful steps that, if used, increase your chance of success in reaching your goals.

Goals are an essential part of growth and success both personally and professionally.  Goal setting is a process that requires time, intention and commitment that in the end can create tremendous success and momentum in your life and business.

A growth strategist guru, Kati Hanna has managed over 75 projects in a wide variety of industries during her 25-year career. She focuses her efforts on working with leadership teams to define goals and high-potential opportunities for growth; and managing key growth initiatives, marketing efforts and organizational implementation. Learn more about Kati.

Here are a few ways to help keep your rock star’s star from flaming out:

1. Commend
   We often take for granted that our best performers know how much we value them. Be sure you’re recognizing their efforts often or someone else will woe them away. A few words of appreciation go long way.
2. Communicate
   Do you know what your best employee wants next for their career or where they see themselves in a few years? It may not be with your organization if you aren’t talking to them about future growth and your vision for them going forward. Sit down and ask about their career aspirations and how you can make those dreams come true. Who knows. You might be able to make each other’s dreams a reality.
3. Cultivate
   Rather than spending time and resources on fixing problem employees, your employee development dollars are better invested in the same people you rely so heavily day-to-day. Create situations where your top performers can be side-by-side with other high performers by making sure they participate in their professional society, community boards and leadership programs such as a Leadership Posse.

Nurturing top performers is very deliberate and very personal. However, a small investment of time and development dollars in your top performers is inexpensive compared to the cost of replacing your best team members.

We’ve all been there. We wake up half rested, groggy and even a bit disoriented. The fall out of continuously not getting enough sleep leaves us more than just feeling a little groggy in the morning. Lack of sleep can have a detrimental domino effect on your overall mental and physical well-being.

New research is telling us that not sleeping well is much more dangerous to our health than just feeling tired. In the short term, you may find that you make mistakes at home or work and it takes longer to complete tasks. You may experience decreased alertness and experience more stress in relationships. It is even said that work and automobile injuries are more common in people who don’t sleep well.  Lack of sleep is associated with many serious medical issues including high blood pressure, obesity, heart issues, stroke and mood disorders.

Here are 5 tips to more restful sleep:

1. Go to bed at the same time each evening – your body and mind get into their own natural sleep rhythm.
2. Turn your screens off at least an hour prior to going to bed – the blue light from our mobile devices and televisions actually prevent us from winding down at night.
3. Write it down – capture your thoughts on paper about the day’s activities and what is on your agenda for tomorrow.
4. Gratitude – remember all you are grateful for always for connection to your soul.
5. Meditation – take a few intentional moments to wind down – loosen your jaw, let go of tension, focus on your breath and allow thoughts to come & go without any judgment.

As we transition into winter, it’s the perfect time to give our bedtime routine some attention.  Sweet dreams.

After graduating from OU in 1966, Bob received his commission as a transportation officer in the United States Army. Lieutenant Ford completed flight school and volunteered to go to Vietnam.  In his first six weeks, he became aircraft commander and took over the command of a helicopter detachment at  Hue, North Vietnam (40 miles from the DMZ). During 1967 and 1968, he flew more than 1,000 missions in Vietnam. Bob has written a book about his experiences in Vietnam, “Black Cat 2-1: The True Story of a Vietnam Helicopter Pilot and His Crew.”  For those whose voices were silenced in that faraway place or who have never told their stories, Bob creates a tribute that resounds with respect for those who served with honor.  We encourage you to pick up a copy and learn more about this American (and Oklahoma!)  Hero and his journey.

Upon his return to the States, Bob was deployed again – this time to Okeene, Oklahoma to run a major division of the family business.  Shawnee Milling acquired the Okeene Milling Company in 1911.  The Okeene Milling Company specializes in flour milling for bakeries and institutional customers. The mill has flourished under Bob’s leadership, attention to quality, financial stewardship and tenacity.

Bob works with The Mettise Group every quarter to assess and make strategic financial decisions. He said Sherry Dale’s advice has been invaluable throughout the years and he values the personal attention and care she demonstrates with her clients.

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The groups meet once a month to take part in a process that is both a Board of Directors meeting as well as an MBA-style case study. Members walk away with concrete recommendations and resources immediately applicable to his or her business. We are dedicated to building a powerful network of individuals who share our values and commitment to each other.

Keep in mind the following:

1. Feedback – Don’t wait for the annual formal review process.  Utilize regular interactions for continuous feedback.  Also make sure the feedback is clear, honest and constructive.

2. Inspire – Go big on meaning and vision.  Inspire people with your vision, set challenging goals and articulate  a clear purpose.

3. Listen – Don’t just talk.  Your team has ideas about generating solutions to on-going issues and problems.  Enlist their input and be open to new thoughts.