Dr. Tiffany Ofili Porter

Many of us know that a SMART goal is one that’s Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. Having this approach to goal setting increases the likelihood of success so I’ve been utilizing it for a while.

I decided a long time ago that I didn’t want to be a part of the 91% of people who fail to complete their New Year’s resolutions by year end so I became strategic in creating SMART goals instead.

As I was contemplating what I wanted my 2024 goals to be, I realized that the planning process has to begin now if I want to be set up for success.

So here we are. And I want you to join me.

For me, one of my personal SMART goals for 2024 is to finally pour into that YouTube channel that’s been on my heart to create since 2014. I was going to wait until January 1st, 2024, to launch it, and then a few days before my 36th birthday, I decided to take plunge scared and unprepared.

Shameless plug: please head over to my channel (Tiffany Ofili Porter) and join the family by subscribing and tuning into my videos:

Now, after years of doubt, analysis paralysis, excuses, and procrastination, I made the commitment to unrelentlessly pour into my channel all 2024 by posting a new video a week. I plan to do this until 11/13/2024, which is the one year mark of the channel launch. At that time, I’ll reevaluate my progress and assess my growth. This may be a big ask, but I’m up for the challenge.

Yes, I’m aware that creating high-quality, long form video content is a new skill I’ll need to learn. I don’t care.

Yes, I’m aware that starting from scratch on any new project can be intimidating. I don’t care.

Yes, I’m aware that adding another new commitment to my already full plate will be challenging. I don’t care.

Yes, I’m aware that being successful on YouTube takes an incredible amount of time and effort. I don’t care.

I made a promise to myself, and I refuse to break it.

And I am here to be your virtual accountability partner by encouraging you to do the same.

Have you started thinking about your 2024 goals yet?
1) Do you want to lose weight?
2) Do you want to get a new job?
3) Do you want to find a new partner?
4) Do you want to launch that business?

Whatever it is for you, I’d encourage you to join me in using the remainder of 2023 to plan for how we will smash our goals in the new year.

Here are a few lessons I’ve learned in just the short weeks since I launched my YouTube channel:

1) No one owes you anything

Not a view, like, follow, comment, or word of encouragement; nothing. It’s a gift if and when someone chooses to support you, so when they do, you’d better appreciate it.

Keeping this in mind is helpful because it prevents the sense of entitlement and increases the sense of gratitude.

Whether you’re a YouTuber or not, in life, it’s useful to keep things in perspective by really cherishing the folks who support your journey.

Having that support makes it easier to smash the goals we set for ourselves.

2) Humility is powerful

You can learn so much from asking for help, knowing your limitations, and acknowledging when someone is better than you at something.

I don’t know if it’s the “lifelong learner” in me, or just feeling that there’s always room for growth in most aspects of life, but I’ll be the first person to stop and consult the help of an expert. And I’ve been better for it.

With this YouTube journey in particular, there is a steep learning curve to create a watch worthy video, and I’m aware that I’m a beginner. So, I’ve committed to using the lessons from other youtubers to grow and improve.

Special shout out to my sister for her willingness to help me along this journey since she’s been doing YouTube for way longer than me:

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A post shared by Cindy Sember (@cindyofili)

Let this be your sign to ask for help when you need it. Having that humility will allow you to use your community to help you achieve your 2024 goals even faster.

3) We must focus on the controllables

I may not be able to control when and if I reach 1000 subscribers and 4000 watch hours (the benchmark for monetization eligibility) but I can control the quality of my content, how the youtube videos are optimized, and how frequently I post.

I’m a firm believer that when you show up and give maximal effort to the things that are in your control, the rest will take care of itself.

This is true in sport, school, with motherhood, and now with YouTube. As we begin planning for our 2024 goals, let’s identify which factors are in our control and be strategic in how we will master them.

For example, if you want to get your body “sumer time fine,” you may not be able to control your body’s metabolism, but you can control your food choices and portion sizes.

Let’s stop wasting our time worrying about factors we can’t control and hone into the factors that we can.

4) Impact is more important than income

Yes, it’s true that many YouTubers desire to generate income from their videos, and I’d be lying if I said that isn’t a dream. But right now, in this season, my main focus is on building a community and being useful through my content.

Not only is that within my control, but when you focus on serving others, I  believe it shows through your work and will contribute to longevity.

So, as we head into 2024 and are planning our SMART goals, let’s keep service and impact at the forefront of our minds.

Once we clearly define what we want to achieve, ensure it’s measurable, realistic, aligns with our objectives, and set a deadline for completion, we will be closer to achieving our goals. By incorporating these elements, SMART goals enhance focus, motivation, and accountability, leading to more effective and successful outcomes.

Here’s to putting in the work now so we can be goal smashers all 2024!

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