I like to look at the new year as a clean slate — a time for new goals, new dreams and new opportunities.

I'm not a huge fan of New Year's resolutions. To me they seem more like shackles than opportunities. In fact, when I hear the word resolve, I think of just two things — resolving differences and removing unsightly stains from carpets. Neither of these things makes me very happy — and isn't the goal to have a Happy New Year?

So this year, I'm ditching the resolutions (I won't keep them anyway) and instead I'm focusing on goals and opportunities.

My sister started the ball rolling by offering me the opportunity to join her online at myfitnesspal.com. The goal is to lose weight and get fit, the opportunity is to talk weekly with my sister and work toward a common goal. I am already looking forward to shopping later in the year for amazing dresses to wear to a slew of upcoming family weddings.

Every year, I make a list of annual goals. Then, I seek out the opportunities and people to help me accomplish them. Some are small. Others are monumental. But all are definitive and every one involves someone other than me.

What are your goals? Have you written them down? Have you defined how you intend to achieve them? Have you made a list of people who can help you as well as a list of potential opportunities?

Whether you're setting goals for your personal life or your professional life, the routine is the same.

Write them down.

In "Zen and the art of making a living," Laurence G. Boldt defines a goal as "a measurable written statement of a definite next step toward the realization of a vision you want to see manifest. If it is not written down, it is not really a goal. It's a wish, a dream, a vision, a hope, but not a goal."

I like that, because there's so much truth in those last two sentences.

It's easy to say, "I hope ...", "I wish ...", "I dream ...". It's much harder to make those hopes, wishes and dreams come true. For that you have to have a plan.

Define your next steps. Once you have your goals on paper it's time to define exactly how you plan to achieve them. What follows is a good example of a basic job search plan.

1. Build a database of names, addresses, phone numbers and connections for 15 viable network contacts. This database will keep building, but you should set a completion date for the "first fifteen".

2. Review your resume, portfolio and other marketing materials to ensure that they best represent your current job searching goals. Ask others to review and critique your materials. Make changes as needed. Set a specific date for the completion of this task.

3. Begin contacting two leads per day with the goal of securing one or two information-seeking, network meetings each week.

4. Upon returning from any meeting, send thank you notes via email and standard mail.

5. Keep in touch with your contacts. Be sure to share the results of any actions you have taken based on their suggestions, such as: "I contacted Jim Smith as you suggested. We have a meeting scheduled for Feb. 7. I'll let you know how it goes. Thanks for your help."

6. Limit your internet search to a few hours per week. Don't be lured into aimlessly searching all day.

7. Complete online applications promptly as opportunities are found. Be sure to use key words taken directly from the job posting, however, don't stop there. Look for network connections to help you move your application from the online "black hole" to the "potential candidate" pile. Remember, the best way to get noticed is to follow up your application submission, whenever possible, with a trusted recommendation.

8. Research two to four target companies per week. Use multiple resources including personal contacts and the internet to identify viable connections, learn about problems you can solve and research available jobs.

9. Continue to add contacts to your database.

Take action. All the plans in the world will do you no good unless you take action, chart your progress and seek out new opportunities. Good luck!