2018 is right around the corner and for a lot of people it means it’s time to start thinking about New Year’s Resolutions. This can be exciting for some people, and frustrating for others–how many resolutions have you actually kept?

This year, I challenge you to do something different with your resolutions. Don’t worry about making resolutions to exercise more or lose weight. Instead, set goals for yourself to help improve your brand in the New Year.

Set New Goals

Doing this is multi-purpose. It will help you nail down your goals for the New Year, but will also help you figure out what has been stopping you from achieving these goals previously, and any blocks you may face on your path to success.

Be Bold

The sky’s the limit here! I want you to be bold and picture where you want to see your brand at the end of 2018. Pretend there are no obstacles in your way, and write down everything you would like to accomplish. Maybe you want to work more on your personal brand through blogging and content marketing. Or maybe you are ready to really hone in on your target market and niche down. Think big picture here.

Be SMART

This has nothing to do with intellect. SMART Goals are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-bound. Each of your goals should be SMART goals so that you can track your progress. If a goal is not measureable, for example, that means that it is too vague and you need to rework it. “I want to be rich” doesn’t define what you consider to be “rich”. To make this goal measurable, you should instead decide on an income goal for the year.

Be Active

Making goals is great, but the key to achieving them is in taking action. Develop a plan that allows you to do something every single day that moves you closer to making those goals a reality. By being proactive, you will find that many of your goals will start to fall into place and you will be able to take your brand to the next level.

Be Happy

Learn to celebrate your successes. You worked hard, so take the time to appreciate that! Acknowledge the hard work you put in to achieve your goal.

A new year does not have to mean a series of resolutions that you will abandon in three weeks. If you take the time to map out your goals, you will be able to achieve what you need for your brand in 2018.