RECIPE FOR SUCCESS IN 2011

Another year is ending and that means it's time to review
the year just past and plan the year ahead. I strongly urge
you to take some time to ask good questions, jot some notes,
and make your choices.
I love the line that "those who refuse to learn from the
past are doomed to repeat it." It seems a good match to the
old joke that insanity is doing the same thing over and over
while expecting different results. Too many people, too
often, drift from one year to the next, hoping and
struggling to achieve their goals or change their lives, but
refusing to "learn from the past" or make intelligent, high-
yield adjustments.
Fortunately, as I learned long ago, Readers are not
ordinary people. They are more ambitious, more
optimistic, better educated and definitely more "awake" than
the average person. You know life is a serious thing. You
have goals and you want to achieve some important results in
2011!
In my years of experience, i want to share a simple three-
step process that I hope will be valuable to you all.
I think it makes a difference and I urge you to take the
time to give it a try. Here we go:
1. REVIEW THE PAST. "Those who fail to learn from the past
are doomed to repeat it."
The first step to changing the future is to acknowledge the
truth about the present. Ask good questions about 2010. What
did you learn? What worked well? What would you like to
repeat? What are you proud of? How did you grow, change or
improve this year? How about your relationships, your
career, your lifestyle? How about your income, your health
and your hobbies? Ask good questions, and write down the
answers.
2. MAP THE FUTURE. I like the term "map" because this is
not a dream, a fantasy or even just a goal. What exactly
would you like to change, do or achieve in 2011? Do you want
to increase your income? Improve a relationship, buy a new
house, change jobs? Spend more time with family?
Mapping the future requires that you balance optimism and
ambition with a conservative assessment of what's possible.
Remember, reality never lies. It's unlikely that you can
change everything or do everything in one year. What are the
specifics you really want to change in 2011? Ask good
questions; write down the answers.
3. GET A SYSTEM. I’m a huge believer in plans and budgets
and strategies. If you want to increase your income by 25%,
you’ll have to make more sales, work more hours or learn new
skills. When (exactly) will you do this? If you want to save
more or golf more or do anything worthwhile, you'll need a
plan.
And you'll need positive support. Surround yourself with
reminders, books, tools and equipment that automatically
move you in the direction you want to go.
Get a coach or work with a MasterMind group. Make sure your
family, friends and colleagues know exactly what you want to
achieve, and make sure they support you every step of the
way.
The start of a new year is a wonderful time to take stock,
adjust course and affirm your priorities, but it doesn't
happen by accident. Take time to review. Take time to plan
and develop your system. And get the support you'll need.
You can make 2011 your best, most productive and rewarding
year ever, but only if you arrange for success in advance.
Do your homework! Make it happen!
If you are truly committed to making things better
in 2011, use a personal coach.