Goals are exciting and motivating all by themselves. They are targets that draw you and inspire you. State what you want, and by when, in specific terms. Examples:
I will have a finished first draft by May 31.
I will have $500 saved by July 15 for that conference I've always wanted to attend.

Projects are a means to an end. They may not be exciting, but need to be done to accomplish an end result that is important to you.
Examples:
I will file and pay my taxes on time, by April 15.
I will clear the top of my desk by Feb 1.

Commitments are activities to perform on a regular basis, in order to make significant changes. Rather than an end date, they have a frequency. Examples:
I will go to the gym three times per week.
I will spend half an hour on marketing every day. 

Now, the three work together. Break a goal down into bite-sized projects, and make a commitment to do what it takes to fulfill each project. Goals are wonderful, but if you don't break them down, they can be impossible to attain.  

December is my goal-setting month. I spend December looking back at the past year and setting my goals for the new year. Then I break each goal down into quarterly projects. THEN I set weekly commitments that will get me to a finished project.  

It's like eating an elephant. You can do it, if you just concentrate on one bite at a time. 

But before you can set your goals for 2009, you have to look back at 2008. Make a list of all the successes, breakthroughs and revelations you had. Congratulate yourself for working so hard and learning so much! 

Now, make a list of the failures, disappointments, and breakdowns for the year. Be honest though. Not achieving a goal isn't always a failure. Goals have to be fluid and subject to change. Life is constantly changing on us, and we have to be open to changing our goals to take advantage of opportunities. 

At the beginning of 2008, I had goals set that all related to my writing. In mid-spring, I had an opportunity to open an office and expand my consulting business. I weighed the pros and cons, and decided to take the offer. It has worked out well, but writing fell to the side. I don't feel that is a failure. It was a goal change for the greater good. 

When you're looking at the disappointments over the past year, figure out why. Did something happen that was beyond your control? Did you have to let one goal fall to achieve another? Maybe you discovered that the work needed to make that goal wasn't worth it. None of these are failures. They are learning experiences you will use for the future. 

Five years ago, I sat down and came up with a list of things I wanted to accomplish before I die. I called these my life-time goals. I set goals in each of seven areas:  Financial, career, relationships, health & fitness, fun & recreation, personal & emotional, and contribution & legacy. I spent a lot of time on this one, but it gave me a vision of what I want my life to be. That gave me a much clearer picture of what goals I need to set to get to that eventual vision. 

Over the years, some of those goals have changed slightly. As I grow and learn, my vision changes. We all do, and it's a healthy way of living.  

Each year, I choose a goal in each of those seven areas that will move me closer to the eventual goal. Those are my main projects for the year. Then I break each yearly project down into quarterly goals. Quarterly goals are broken down into monthly projects. Monthly projects are broken down into weekly commitments.  

This may sound like a lot of work, but it has worked wonders for me. Using this system, I left my job and went into business for myself. I paid off my mortgage and all my credit cards. (The cards are charged up again, but that was part of expanding my business.) I've built TWC up from a bi-weekly chat to the behemoth website/organization it is now...and it keeps growing. A bit frightening at times.

My lifetime goals are printed out and posted on the wall right here at my desk. When I find myself resisting a commitment, I can look up and see exactly what dream that annoying commitment is leading me toward. It's a little easier to make myself go lay another floor board in the attic when I have the goal of a warm, snug, comfortable house in the front of my mind.  

Look at your goals often. Keep it in the front of your mind what you're working toward. Be prepared to make changes if necessary.  

Review your progress every quarter. Did you achieve your goals for that quarter? Why not? What do you need to do differently next quarter to get where you want to go? Can you change direction and still reach your goal for the year? Or has something come up that makes it necessary to change a goal? 

Finally, print out and post your goals (lifetime, 5-years, this year, quarterly and weekly) where you can see them easily. Out of site really is out of mind. So make sure your goals are right there in front of you, so you don't go out of your mind.  

RECAP: 

Review the past year, successes and failures. 

Set goals for your life. 

Break those goals down into a 5-year plan. 

Break the 5-year down and set goals for 2009. 

Break the year down into four quarters. 

Break the quarter down into three months. 

Break the month down into weeks. 

The introduction is being skipped this month. The newsletter archives can be checked for previous grammar columns. 

You've probably just done a double take. The first two paragraphs are similar. Other than being repetitious, can you pick out which of the two paragraphs above contains active voice? Which one moves you right along? Which one has you yawning? 

This month we're investigating the difference between active voice and passive voice. It's common to hear the rule 'avoid passive voice.' If you're a writer, it's a good rule to follow if you want to keep your reader engaged. There are times, however, when passive voice is fine. Really. Read on. 

Active voice is dynamic and the 'doer' of the action is obvious. Passive voice is, well, laid back and can leave questions in the reader's mind as to who is doing what. The time to use passive voice is when you want to emphasize results and not necessarily who achieved those results. 

Check out the following examples and see what you think (passive is listed first). 

The ball was kicked.

Jim kicked the soccer ball.

The bus was driven by Mr. Smith.

Mr. Smith drove the empty bus into a house.

The project was managed effectively.

Ted and his team brought the project in under budget and ahead of schedule.

The computer was repaired.

I fixed my computer.

The following are examples of where you may find passive voice to be the preferred voice: 

My advice was followed.

My students followed my advice.

The water was heated to 195 degrees.

Tom heated the water to 195 degrees.

The grocery store was robbed.

Unknown persons robbed the grocery store. 

The overall rule for choosing active or passive is to use what best says what you mean.