What I like about the New Year is having a clean slate and starting anew. It’s a time to dream and daydream about all the grand possibilities of the year ahead.

For your dreams to become a reality, you must turn them into goals. It is important to make it specific and measurable, give them deadlines and write them down to make them come true. Goals are important because it gives you a target to aim for; it helps you concentrate your time and effort; it can help establish priorities; and it can provide motivation, persistence and desire.

This time is ideal for setting goals. The best goals reflect who you are: your strengths, your values and your personal style. If you are freedom-loving, then precise, inflexible goals will not feel alive for you. If you are detail-oriented, a loose intention will probably not work too well.

In setting your goals, start by listing your 10 lifetime wants. If you won $100 billion in the lottery today, what would you do? What would allow you to express more of what’s important to you? Take up photography? Sail around the world? Write a book? Establish a non-profit organization? Join a band? Become an artist? Start a restaurant?

Then, think of where you would want to be in your life by the end of 2008. Write down your vision, goals, intentions and ideas for the following areas: family, friends, career, spirituality, social life, money, health, personal development, and leisure.

Make sure you choose goals that feel good. You must be very excited about your goals so it can keep you motivated. Stay connected to your goals and review them periodically. Look for fun ways to pursue your target. Redesign goals based on results, challenges, changes, and insights. Keep adding to your list, and continue to reevaluate your strategy.