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New Year’s Resolutions Anyone? 7 Steps to Make Them Happen by: Sue Brenner, PCC, PMP
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| Wednesday, November 5, 2008 |
There is still time to make your resolutions rolling ... The first of the year has given you a blank sheet on which to write the next years of your life. New Year's resolutions for someone else?
The May holiday has expanded the hips or piled on debt credit card. That is why people say things like: "This year I'm certainly going to lean back in my jeans." Or, "I'll get rid of my debts and start saving again and for all. " These statements May you give an initial boost of inspiration, but most of them will soon disappear. In fact, studies show that most people in New Year's resolutions have reduced the gap by February.
So what can you do to beat the odds? How can you really make your resolutions for the new year is it? These 7 stages of work to do a resolution or any goal. Apply this year, starting today, and make your resolutions come true!
1. Ask yourself the question: "What do I want to accomplish this year?"
As you look to the years in front of you, what you really want to accomplish? If you really made your New Year's resolutions occur, what would you win? Look at key areas of your life for inspiration career, family, health / fitness, money or romantic relationships. As I said in the How to set goals that Stick Special Report, "Imagine you've already finished the year with satisfaction and ease. What are you most proud of? What are you most happy? "(Http://www.ignitepress.com) From there, find ideas for your annual targets.
If you are the establishment of a virgin, think about what you do in your life. On the career front, your working hours extend into the evening? Would you stop miss the family dinners and outings? From health / fitness point of view, are you tired of feeling low energy all day? Are the daily office vending machines havoc? Frustration and dissatisfaction can be a great motivation for change.
By reading what you want to move or sort of what you want to leave, come with several objectives. Then, reduce your list and select a final three goals. Let them important. If you could achieve three things this year, what would they be?
2. Ask why?
Why did you take these goals? What's behind them? Log in to what you really drive. As I said in my special report, "Setting meaningful goals, not just any goals." What goals would be meaningful for you this year? Be as specific as possible.
For example, if you want to save money, go beyond saying, "I want to save money because it would be nice to have a little money." Wanting more money for the sole Wishing to have more money is not significant enough to keep most people going. Log on to something deeper. What is behind your desire for more money? Here is a possibility: "I always wanted to own a home. It is time to take steps towards this dream. I'm tired of renting and I want to set roots of my family. I would also like to spend a pleasant space is safe and close to good schools for my children. I will use the money I save this year to a deposit. I can certainly reduce costs to buy a house! "When you explain the" why " behind what you want, you'll feel much more focused on and connected to your goal.
If you have no idea why you want something, dig deeper. Ask: "Why is it important for me? What do I break this? What my family / friends / colleagues work out that way? "You could also ask another person or coach for a preview. If you keep coming with nothing, you may be necessary to reconsider whether you want the goal at all. Create a goal that has little passion behind it. Give yourself reasons to work toward your aspirations.
3. Follow the "do what the date" formula.
Most New Year's resolutions fail because they are vague or wishes. Objectives such as "I want to lose weight" are not tangible and it will be difficult to occur. If weight loss is a goal of yours (and you already know why you want to weigh less), it is specific . For example, "I want to lose 20 pounds by May 30, 2008." Use "do what the date on which" makes clear exactly what you intend to do (lose 20 pounds) a month, day and year (May 30, 2008). Then you can measure your success every time you jump on the scale.
Speaking of the measure, make sure you can count, measure or touch your progress. The weight above objective, for example, can be measured in pounds-20 to be exact. How will you know you've reached your goal? Please specify in a measurable way. Do you want a promotion of 10% or 20% this year? Would you put $ 1,000 or $ 10,000? How much money do you need to earn each month to pay your bills? Without ways to measure your goals, they remain wishes.
Financial adviser and founder of InsideOut Investing, Anna Choi, said: "You can express your goals better when they are specific, measurable, time-bound and achievable." To do this, apply the "do what by when" formula to quantify your goals. Then, to make these goals achievable, do so "elastic" test.
4. Are the "elastic" test.
The trick is to set ambitious goals that will stretch you without you "break." In the November 2007 article,''Top-3 must be done before the New Year, "I said," Like a rubber band stretched between two fingers, the goal should have the right combination of tension and flexibility. Put enough stretch in order to make it attractive even with a little soft for making it happen. "Setting an ambitious goal encourages you to try harder and go for it.
Anna Choi agreement, "It is important to set a goal you think can happen. But it must also be a stretch goal, compared with a ridiculously huge if you feel deflated even watch. "Peak Performance has to do something difficult, but possible, given your schedule.
A new year resolution is to learn a new language. But if they are not multi-language or languages come easily, most people will not achieve in one year. Try something more attainable, such as "to attend Spanish 1 and Spanish 2 in the local community college by December 31, 2008." You'll still be working toward your long-term goal is to flow by allowing you to start. Too lofty goals you have to give up the starting line. Ambitious, gives you a challenge, but you can start right away.
5. Put your goals in writing.
Did you write your goals for the new year? If you have not, you're not alone. Research shows that the United States at less than 1% of the population write their goals. Why is this important? A 1953 study noted at Harvard University estimated the number of graduates has clear, specific goals in writing and accompanied by a plan of action. Although classmates being evaluated were obviously brilliant, very few of them set goals. In fact, only 3% of graduates to put their goals in writing.
What happened to this 3%? Interviewed 20 years later, it became apparent that this small group has had more success than others. These 3% of graduates who had set their goals in writing, built a fortune greater than all the rest, 97% of alumni.
Taking a moment to put your goals in writing is worthwhile. Try it yourself. Put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard). The act of writing cement your goals in your mind. It can also help you clarify your goals, think about them in a new light and direct your energies to how to do so. Display your goals written somewhere visible and review every day. Display them on the corner of your computer desktop and put them on your refrigerator. Keep them alive and create a plan around them.
6. Create a plan.
You know what your goals are. They are clearly written as possible. Now, go beyond the wishes and hopes to put meat on each of your goals with a solid plan. Your plan responds to the question: "How will I get there?" For example, if your goal is to save $ 10,000 by October 31 2008, a plan to save $ 1,000 per month. What are the systems you put in place to achieve this goal? Will you have money automatically deducted from your salary and deposited in your retirement account? Will you reduce the purchase of clothing or eating in the cash reserve for savings?
Create steps for each month. What is the main thing you want to accomplish toward your goal in January? in February? in March? Then pause at each new month. Below milestones identify specific actions needed to achieve them. Map of the exact steps that are time-bound within a month. Put them in your calendar.
Celebrate the small achievements along the way. If you saved $ 2000 by February (and never saved money before), bravo! Take time to toast your progress. Let yourself know that you're on the right track and that progress can motivate you to continue. Getting a dollar even closer to your goal is to better that adding a dollar to your debt.
7. Take action ... immediately.
The most important thing is to start. Never leave a planning or preparation session without taking at least one tangible action. Without action, your goals can not abscond.
You have chosen the top three objectives for the year. You know why they are important in your soul. You have committed to writing, and you have a plan. Way to go! Now continue. Take this last stage of action.
Start immediately with at least one action you can take toward your goal today. Consider the goal of losing 20 pounds by May 30, 2008. "What small step can be taken towards that goal today? For example, you plan your first appointment with a trainer. Or you go to the gym for 30 minutes. Or you take a lively 20-minute walk. Choose something so simple, it would be almost impossible to fail. Stand up and take this one action.
Use your action plan to plug in your yearly, monthly, weekly and daily schedule. Look for consistent blocks of time when you can work towards your goal. It takes discipline. Life will get in the way. But stay the course you will reap the benefits. Successful people know. That's why they make it a priority to focus and act on their goals regularly. You can do the same thing. When you arrive at your destination you will feel a great sense of satisfaction in your targeted effort to make your goal happen.
The rest of the year is still ahead. Use these 7 steps to make your New Year's resolutions happen. Get focused and ready to go at the top of your gathering one to three goals. Ask yourself why you chose these objectives to exploit the strong will behind them. Next, set your goals further by plugging them into the "do what the date" formula. From there, write your goals, with strong support plans and do not forget to take action. Go and do great things this year that contribute to your life and those around you. Here is your success! Make it a great year!
About the author
Sue Brenner, PCC, PMP
And are you ready to learn more about how to turn your goals into reality?
Then, "[N] Aked Desk" author Sue Brenner invites you to visit http://www.suebrenner.com to get free access to its success tele-seminars.
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posted by neptunus @ 8:24 PM
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