A New Year – Make Your Goals A Reality

Your phrase for 2009 is: “2009 is Mine!”

Every year when New Year’s rolls around people think to themselves, “how can I make next year better than last.” Then they set goals and resolutions. As we all know these resolutions or goals don’t last long. Every individual and organization needs to rethink and to bring positive change within themselves and their business.

Have you ever heard a friend or family member say the common phrase of, “I’m going on a diet next year” and then on January 2 they are spotted sneaking away to grab a burger. Another common phrase, “I’m going to get in shape this year” (January 2 is the busiest day at the gym) but then a week later they’re back to sleeping in and giving up. It is no wonder that almost 80% of resolutions fail as early as mid January, and the majority of all resolutions don’t make it to April 15^th. Why do you think this is?

Several factors: lack of commitment, lack of time, too much stress, fear of change, non-realistic goals, loss of the motivating factor for change, don’t see results…and of course, the big one, rationalization.

University for Money has provided steps to help get around these limiting factors and will help you work to achieve your goals for 2009, but they must be followed if you hope to achieve success.

1. Ponder before Setting: Really take time to think about the New Year and what you would like to achieve. Your goals shouldn’t be to simply do better. Think about something that will improve your life, business, relationship, career, physical fitness or financial well-being. Make sure the goal means something to you and it is an aspect about your life you would really like to change.
2. Write them down (Be Specific): This will help you keep record of the goals you set and will provide accountability to yourself. There is no special format to use, just as long as it is written and recorded. Break your goals into categorizes. Remember to be very specific about your goals and think in details. Example: Personal Goals, Financial Goals, Spiritual Goals, Career Goals, and then list each goal that is under the proper heading.
3. Step by Step: Under your goal for the year, write out a 3 step plan that you plan on executing to accomplish the goal. Example: Goal-Increase Sales by 25%. Steps: 1) Call on 20 new prospects per week 2) Give follow-up courtesy calls after sales 3) Build contact list by 50 per month. Or Goal-Lose 15 pounds. Steps: 1) Go to the gym 3x per week 2) Only eat out 2 per week 3) Enter 3 5k runs this year.
4. SMART goals. To help set effective goals follow the criteria below:

§ Specific: Make your goals a specific as possible. You should be able to answer What? Why? When? Make sure you are descriptive so you know what it is you want to accomplish.

§ Measurable: Your goal should be measurable; you need criteria for measuring your progress. You must be able to ask yourself, “How will I know when my goal is accomplished?” You can use dollar amounts or number of sales. On a personal scale, once you have reached a weight or gone to the gym 3x per week for 6 months.

§ Achievable: This is the most important principle of goal setting. Your goal should be achievable and realistic. One of the main reasons people don’t achieve their goals is because they are unrealistic and they begin to think the goal is unreachable. You develop the attitudes, abilities, skills, and financial capacity to reach them. You begin seeing previously overlooked opportunities to bring yourself closer to the achievement of your goals.

§ Rewarding: Your goals should be rewarding to you. There is no greater confidence builder than achieving your goals. Your goals should be relevant to you and have an effect on your life or business. Desiring the success of achieving your goals will be the motivating factor to help you push yourself to achieve the goals you have set.

§ Timely: Your goals should have a set time frame. Be careful to set a realistic time frame. If your time frame is too short for the goal to be achieved it may be discouraging and prevent you from achieving it; while on the other hand, if you take too long to achieve a goal, you will soon get exhausted and more likely quit.

1. Do something little every day: If you are thinking about your goals all the time there is a higher probability you will accomplish them. Put a 3×5 note card on your mirror of the goals or key points to help you remember and every day do something very small to help you get closer to accomplishing your goal.
2. Attach an award to your accomplishment: Think about an award that you would like once you achieve that goal, and keep that in your mind. For example: Once I reach a certain figure of $5,000 of sales per month for 5 months straight, I will buy a new Apple laptop. Give yourself an achievable reward for your accomplishments.
3. “Well, you must do something”: my mom would always say to me as I watched TV as a kid and complained how I was bored. What a great point? I love the old Irish Proverb,” You will never plough a field if you only turn it over in your mind.” In order to achieve your goals you must act on them. Too many times goals don’t get accomplished because people simply don’t do anything.

I end with my favorite quote to inspire you to reach your goals for 2009: “Those things that we persist in doing become easier, not that the act itself has become easier, but our ability to do it has increased.”

Get after your goals and have a successful 2009