Setting Your Grant Writing Goals for 2012

"You must know for which harbor you are headed 

if you are to catch the right wind to take you there..."

~ Seneca

I'm not really a fan of New Year's resolutions (even though I have made a few), but I'm a big fan of goal setting.  Why? Because setting a goal gives me a specific target to shoot for, rather than a general direction that is nebulous and probably impossible to achieve..

Here's an example:

Go west this year.

Get to San Francisco by January 30, 2012.

Which of those two is more helpful for my day to day planning and more likely to actually get me to San Francisco?

Right.  The more specific one.  The goal.

So, what are your grant writing goals for 2012?

Here are a few suggestions:

• Develop a realistic writing timeline for each project, and stick to it. This week, develop a sample that you can use as a template.
• Read at least 2 grant samples each week to improve your skill by taking in the successful grant writing of others. 
• Acquire at least 5 new clients between today and June 30, 2012.
• Reach out and develop professional relationships with at least 3 other grant writers this year.
• Read The Grant Goddess Speaks... every day (or at least once a week), either on line or on your Kindle (Ok, that might be a little self serving on my part, but it really will help you be a better grant writer).

Once you have selected a goal or goals (no more than three), write them down.  Write them down where you can see them every day. Yes, every day.

Next, develop a brief action plan for achieving each goal.  What are the actions you plan to take each day, week, or month to make that goal a reality? Having the goal is critical, but having a plan to achieve it is just as important.

Using the example I gave above, I can look at my goal of getting to San Francisco by January 30, 2012 as often as I want, but I also need to make sure the care is in good working order.  I need to get gas, plan a route, schedule the trip, etc. If I don't do those things, I'll be sitting at home later wondering why I never got to San Francisco.

So, what are your grant writing goals for this year?

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Related posts:

3 Grant Writing Resolutions You Shouldn't Ignore

Top 10 Lessons I Learned from My Grant Writing Mentor

Grant Writing Commitments for the New Year