I just spent a long (beautiful!) weekend at Fort Myers Beach with two great business friends – Angie Newton and Trish Lindemood – brainstorming our goals for the New Year.

One of the big objectives for the weekend was to simplify our goals, and create a priority action list to take home with us.

It’s so easy for your ideas to get overwhelming, and for your task list to grow out of control. I must say, it was really nice to just step away and brainstorm with friends. Definitely a good way to regain clarity and narrow down what’s really important…

We talked openly for the first day or two, about what we’d been working on and ideas we had brewing in our minds. But as the long weekend came to a close, we each chose three top priorities – three things we most wanted to accomplish in the New Year. Then we brainstormed exactly what it would take to make it happen.

Simplifying your goals like that is very liberating!

I feel relaxed, refreshed, and inspired – and ready to sit down and focus on my goals for the New Year. While you don’t necessarily need to head to the beach to achieve this same state, it really does help to brainstorm with friends who are in the same line of work as you – or that at least “get you”.

You can do that via Skype, in a favorite discussion forum, or even on a conference call. In fact, the three of us decided we would chat weekly to hold each other accountable to our goals. Which means no slacking for me this week LOL…

Even if you decide to brainstorm on your own, I recommend you really simplify your objectives. Set goals that are in line with those objectives, and make those goals easily attainable. From there, decide what actions (or consistent action) you need to take to achieve that goal. Simple as that!

I actually shot a quick video while at the beach, in my PJ’s no less (LOL), which you can find on my new Video Blog – or watch here:

I would love to hear your thoughts. If you want to share your Top 3 Goals for the New Year, leave me a comment below! Or if you have tips for goal setting or goal achievement, I would love to hear those as well.

Best,