Towards the end of every year I sit down to make a list of resolutions. And every new year sees me not following through with that list. To try something different this year, I decided to instead put together a list of goals.

The year 2013 was one of great struggle, success, and failure for me; it was probably the most eventful year of my life to date. I learned many things that I would like to carry forward into the new year. I also cannot remember the last time I crossed off all the items on my new year's resolution list.  Here is how I plan to tackle my list this year:

Set achievable goals

It's easiest to accomplish a task when you have a clear path and goal in sight. Like many of you, I used to make the mistake of setting impossible goals for myself.  I compare my enthusiasm for these lists with the fizz in a bottle'it comes out all excited and bubbly but dies down just as fast. If you share the same problem, you need to start making more plausible and easier to accomplish goals. Try to break them down into several smaller tasks to make life easier for yourself.

Set milestones

What I've learned from my experience is that the only way to complete a task is to set a deadline for it. When you have a deadline to meet, you are likely to work harder and be more focused. Setting up targets or milestones will allow you to have a better picture of where you're headed and help you realize how long it will take you to get there. It's time to stop making the mistake you've been making all these years. Stop rushing things! Remember the saying, Rome was not built in a day. There is a reason people tell you, good things come to those who wait. You need to believe that patience, perseverance, and hard work will get you where you want to be.

Have a strategy

Looking back at my time at university, I realize that the only exams I didn't perform well on were the    ones I wasn't prepared for. By not being prepared, I mean I didn't have any strategy. Without a strategy and a plan you're bound to flounder. Regardless of whether it's a battlefield, an exam, or a marathon, there is no way one will survive that test without a strategy. Be smart and be strategic.

Focus on the result

If there is one sure-fire way of reaching your goals, it's to focus on where you want to be and what you want to achieve. Recently I talked to an entrepreneur who sold his IT company for $4 million. I asked him if he ever imagined selling his company for that much money within three years of its inception. This is what he had to say:

I started a business with an end goal in mind. I knew what I wanted to do with this company and that's exactly what I did.

Keeping the end goal in mind keeps you going. Even during rainy days when it gets too hard and painful to keep going, a picture of where you want to be will give you the strength to cross the finish line.

At the end of the day all these goals or resolutions boil down to one thing, how bad do you want it? Always remember, without discomfort we never progress. Without stress we never adapt. Without    pain we never rebuild.

Sharique Khan is a motivational speaker and a blogger. He blogs at Jobpostings, Canada Pakistan Professional Association, and at shariquekhan.com. He hopes to continue inspiring people through his writing and helping them succeed in their endeavours. You can reach him through email at shariquekhan@dal.ca or connect with him on LinkedIn.