So, the New Year is already 8% over. We're four weeks, or
29 days, or about 700 hours into this new thing. What do
you have to show for it?
"As a country, I think we've accomplished quite a lot. We've
installed a new President and a new Congress. We've
completed the football play-offs, leaving just the Super
Bowl to go. The employees of one small business I coach
have, as of Friday, lost a total of 193 pounds in 27 days.
And one ambitious entrepreneur I hope to work with in the
future has registered her DBA, opened her business checking
account and made her first $744 in sales. She's 9, "almost
10" years old", says Philip Humbert.
So, what do you have to show for 8% of your brand new year?
As long-time subscribers know, I love goals! Defining and
setting goals is one of the most important things anyone
can do. They predict the future, organize our time, focus
our thoughts, and create our destiny. In many ways, our
goals tells us who we are, what we value, and how we spend
our time.
But goals without daily action are mere pipe-dreams.
They're fun. They can be sexy and dynamic and energizing,
but sitting on a piece of paper, they're just words without
power. Goals without commitment, passion and action, are
just a movie we play in our heads.
While goals are amazing and wonderful, they are always in
the future. They are things we are "going to do." They have
completion dates anywhere from a few days to several years
down the road. And because of that, goals are subject to
change. They are subject to procrastination, to new ideas,
to outside influences. Over time, we may change our minds
or discover whole new possibilities. Goals are powerful;
they can also be ephemeral.
And yet, we all know instinctively that the power to
transform our lives is in our hands. More bluntly, it's in
our "to do" lists. If I were forced to choose between
someone with detailed, written goals but only a vague sense
of their daily schedule, and someone with vague or
disorganized goals but a clear, vital sense of activities
for the day, I'd bet on the to-do list. Some people are too
busy getting things done to define their goals for a year,
or a lifetime.
Don't get me wrong. I start every morning writing in my
journal, reviewing my goals and values and priorities in
life. I love that and recommend it! It brings me peace and
I think it brings me power. Try it and see if it works for
you.
But I also respect folks who have no time for that! They
have kids to get dressed and off to school. They have a
train to catch, people to call, decisions to make, meetings
to attend, and stuff to get done. Sit and ponder goals? You
gotta be kidding me!
If you can, set goals for at least a year in advance.
Goals, combined with a plan, a calendar and a budget will
change your world faster and more powerfully than you
might imagine. Do it!
But if you can't, or won't, or just don't want to, at least
use daily lists. Decide what time you will get up tomorrow.
Decide whether or not you'll eat breakfast. Decide the
three most important tasks you'll complete. Decide how you
will use your day!
Then, stick to your plan. Live YOUR life. Don't let other
people, chance or random impulses define your life. You
decide. This is your life. At the end of every day, be
proud to say, "I did it my way!"
And, for goodness sake, don't try to do it all by yourself!
As a Coach, I know the importance of partners and team
members. I know the vital role that feedback, experience
and advice bring to your success. Whether it's your spouse,
a co-worker or a friend, be accountable to someone. You
need (and deserve!) great cheerleaders!
This year, give yourself every chance for success. Review
the past four weeks. If you like what you've accomplished,
celebrate! But if you haven't used the first 8% of this new
year to your advantage, change something!
Whether the key to your success is a personal coach, or
better organization, make the investment in 2017. If you
need clearer goals, better plans, an accountability
partner, or more detailed daily to-do lists, do what needs
to be done! This is your life. Make it a great one! Settle
for nothing less.
29 days, or about 700 hours into this new thing. What do
you have to show for it?
"As a country, I think we've accomplished quite a lot. We've
installed a new President and a new Congress. We've
completed the football play-offs, leaving just the Super
Bowl to go. The employees of one small business I coach
have, as of Friday, lost a total of 193 pounds in 27 days.
And one ambitious entrepreneur I hope to work with in the
future has registered her DBA, opened her business checking
account and made her first $744 in sales. She's 9, "almost
10" years old", says Philip Humbert.
So, what do you have to show for 8% of your brand new year?
As long-time subscribers know, I love goals! Defining and
setting goals is one of the most important things anyone
can do. They predict the future, organize our time, focus
our thoughts, and create our destiny. In many ways, our
goals tells us who we are, what we value, and how we spend
our time.
But goals without daily action are mere pipe-dreams.
They're fun. They can be sexy and dynamic and energizing,
but sitting on a piece of paper, they're just words without
power. Goals without commitment, passion and action, are
just a movie we play in our heads.
While goals are amazing and wonderful, they are always in
the future. They are things we are "going to do." They have
completion dates anywhere from a few days to several years
down the road. And because of that, goals are subject to
change. They are subject to procrastination, to new ideas,
to outside influences. Over time, we may change our minds
or discover whole new possibilities. Goals are powerful;
they can also be ephemeral.
And yet, we all know instinctively that the power to
transform our lives is in our hands. More bluntly, it's in
our "to do" lists. If I were forced to choose between
someone with detailed, written goals but only a vague sense
of their daily schedule, and someone with vague or
disorganized goals but a clear, vital sense of activities
for the day, I'd bet on the to-do list. Some people are too
busy getting things done to define their goals for a year,
or a lifetime.
Don't get me wrong. I start every morning writing in my
journal, reviewing my goals and values and priorities in
life. I love that and recommend it! It brings me peace and
I think it brings me power. Try it and see if it works for
you.
But I also respect folks who have no time for that! They
have kids to get dressed and off to school. They have a
train to catch, people to call, decisions to make, meetings
to attend, and stuff to get done. Sit and ponder goals? You
gotta be kidding me!
If you can, set goals for at least a year in advance.
Goals, combined with a plan, a calendar and a budget will
change your world faster and more powerfully than you
might imagine. Do it!
But if you can't, or won't, or just don't want to, at least
use daily lists. Decide what time you will get up tomorrow.
Decide whether or not you'll eat breakfast. Decide the
three most important tasks you'll complete. Decide how you
will use your day!
Then, stick to your plan. Live YOUR life. Don't let other
people, chance or random impulses define your life. You
decide. This is your life. At the end of every day, be
proud to say, "I did it my way!"
And, for goodness sake, don't try to do it all by yourself!
As a Coach, I know the importance of partners and team
members. I know the vital role that feedback, experience
and advice bring to your success. Whether it's your spouse,
a co-worker or a friend, be accountable to someone. You
need (and deserve!) great cheerleaders!
This year, give yourself every chance for success. Review
the past four weeks. If you like what you've accomplished,
celebrate! But if you haven't used the first 8% of this new
year to your advantage, change something!
Whether the key to your success is a personal coach, or
better organization, make the investment in 2017. If you
need clearer goals, better plans, an accountability
partner, or more detailed daily to-do lists, do what needs
to be done! This is your life. Make it a great one! Settle
for nothing less.
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