According to a recent survey, 80 percent of New Year’s resolutions fail by the middle of February. And only 8 percent of people who set them will see them through to the end of the year. Maybe it’s due to a general lack of self-control. But I think much of it has to do with poor planning.

Starting the year off right means getting a jump on things that are important. It involves getting out of the gate running with programs and initiatives, new ideas and new focus. But it also means planning with the end in mind. I think more of us would follow through on our resolutions if we first took some time to set achievable and profitable personal and professional goals.

Setting goals, forming strategies and evaluating regularly throughout the year will decrease stress and increase productivity in your life. I always take time at the end of the year to look ahead to consider big things I want to accomplish, ways I can improve myself and those closest to me and how I can further fulfill God’s call on my life.

Start with reflecting on the current year, which we discussed in the last article. Carry over any goals you didn’t accomplish, but this time put a new strategy to them. Evaluate what made you successful and what disrupted your plan, and begin making adjustments.

As the old adage goes, continuing to do the same thing over and over again and expecting different results is the definition of insanity.

Here are the main areas of my life that I focus on when I plan out personal and professional goals:

1. Marriage and Family

Each year, my wife and I set aside some uninterrupted time to focus on what we want to achieve together as a family. That’s when we set giving goals, establishing how much more we want to give to the Kingdom this year. We also set savings and budget goals to make sure our financial house is in order. Then we set goals that reflect how to be better parents.

I like to get very specific about creating moments with my kids. That’s a focus on quality time over and above the quantity of hours I spend with them. Sports is important in our house, so that’s the main area of planning. I talk with my wife about my work and travel schedule and get very specific about the percentage of practices and games I’ll be at, with 80 percent always being my goal.

Setting goals, forming strategies and evaluating regularly throughout the year will decrease stress and increase productivity in your life.

We also set goals for family vacations, weekends away and time spent together. Maybe it involves my kids coming with me on a work trip. But I also set goals for how often and when my wife and I will do date nights. Gentlemen, spontaneous dates may sound more romantic, but your wife will thank you for being intentional about the attention you show her.

2. Personal Growth

When it comes to personal goals, I tend to focus on three areas outside of spiritual growth: physical health, mental sharpness and relaxation. That means I schedule time to stay physically active and fit. I want to do what God has called me to do for as long as I can, so staying healthy is at the top of my list.

I also set reading goals for the new year. How many books and articles do I want to read in a year? Then I break that down into each month and week to provide a measurement for how I’m doing. Finally, I set goals for my hobbies, which for me is always golf. Don’t forget to plan in downtime to recharge.

One of the best ways to make sure you stay on task this year is through peer accountability. Share your goals with others. But not only that, invest in mentorship and coaching. Make sure you’re pouring into someone else’s life — and have someone pouring into yours.

3. Work

Now it’s time to set some work goals. First, I think through all my direct reports and begin setting broad topics to discuss with team members for goal setting. How will I help them achieve their goals to be more successful?

Next, I think through new initiatives and projects for the year. That means setting long-term, large-scale goals while at the same time keeping the small matters in focus.

Fill in the blank: “At the end of the year I will be excited if I accomplished ___.” That is perhaps the best way to make sure you’re on track for the new year. It may be one large project, one achievable goal or several smaller ones.

Whatever that looks like at the end of the year, think backwards in 90-day segments, and then manage your goals accordingly. By the end of March, where do I need to be so I’m on track for December 31, 2018?

You can never achieve your goals by accident. It may take adjusting your time, money and expectations in other areas of your life. If you’re expecting something to just happen, think again. It’s up to you to be intentional and persistent about it.

To effectively achieve goals, there must be built-in time for personal, team and family evaluation. Set aside time weekly, monthly or quarterly to meet with your staff members to track progress and adjust in real time.

Also, make time to personally evaluate where you are and how you’re doing in relation to your own personal goals. That is the key to moving them from an afterthought to front-of-mind focus. And by the end of the year, you’ll find you’ve been the influential leader you set out to be.