A New Year

January 5, 2011 in Uncategorized

2011 is finally here, and more people set goals on New Years Eve then on any other day of the year. But statistics show that the vast majority of “resolutions” made on New Years last for about 60 to 90 days before the old habits take over and keep you in limbo. So the question now becomes; do you want to be one of the many who spend December 31st, 2011 berating themselves for wasting a whole year, or do you want to learn how to achieve everything you deserve, and spend New Years Eve 2012 saying, “Wow, look at all I have accomplished”.

2011 can be the best year of your life, if you make the choice now, and establish habits early on that will carry you to the outcome you deserve. Apply a few of the achievement tips below to your life in 2011 and turn your resolution into a reality.

1. Think it, Ink it: How can you expect to achieve a goal you cannot clearly identify and articulate? This is why it is so important to write down and clearly state every goal you wish to accomplish. Because “life” just happens sometimes, and if we are not extremely focused on an objective, it can be easy for us to get side tracked or even forget about what the real goal/vision is for that day. The great sales and motivational speaker Zig Ziglar put it this way, “You can’t hit a target you cannot see, and you cannot see a target you do not have.” When you think about 2011 and all the thinks you want to achieve, start by writing them down, and than revisit that sheet of paper often to make sure you are working toward your goals everyday.
2. Supplement: It’s sometimes hard for people to achieve goals because of the old habits they have that are not conducive to the new goals they want to accomplish. This is why many diets and workout regiments fail so quickly. You start out strong and motivated but eventually those old habits end up winning, so how do we overcome this perpetual issue? The trick to “kicking” an old habit is to replace the old with a new better one. For example, if you want to go on a diet, but you tend to be the person that likes to munch on junk food throughout the day, don’t try to give up the munching habit all together to start out. Instead try to simple supplement your junk food items with healthier choices that are going to actually help you reach your dieting goals.
3. Go Public: This is a huge step in the goal achieving process. When you set a goal, go public with it, tell someone or even a group of people about what you want to achieve and have them hold you accountable. It is much harder to let your body give up on a new goal if you are accountable to someone else also.
4. Inch to Success: Do not try to tackle a huge goal in one day with some new get rich, or skinny gimmick. As the great Zig Ziglar said, “I didn’t gain 30 pounds in one weekend, its one more bite that did me in.” Change the habit and take baby steps toward your goals. I know this might shock you to hear, but success is slow and at times difficult. The gimmicks we all get bombarded with on TV are not the answer to your problems. Don’t swing for the fence on the first pitch, take small steps toward your goals, and change the habits that have been keeping you from getting there on the way.
5. Take Action: This step is in my opinion the most important step in the whole process, and if you could only pick one tip to apply, this is the one. Without action all you have is a good idea. Unfortunately wealth and success do not just fly into our lives just because we want them to, as past college speaker of the year James Malinchak puts it, “You have to get off your assets, and do something.” Setting a goal, or getting a gym membership is not enough. You have to act on them in order to make them your reality.
6. Reward Yourself: Finally, setup a reward program for yourself. Rewarding yourself with something when you hit milestones so you have something to look forward is key to staying motivated. For example, lets say your goal is to run a mile without stopping. When you reach your one-mile goal, go out and eat at your favorite restaurant one night to celebrate. Then set your next milestone and do it all over again.