It’s already 2009 – the start of the tenth year of the 21st century. If you’re like most of us, you’re looking forward to a year of challenge, change, opportunity, and hope; you’re flirting with the idea of making a New Year’s resolution that has something to do with health, wealth, or relationships; this won’t be the first time you’ve made that promise to yourself; and, in your heart of hearts, you expect your resolution to be broken before the end of January. If 2009 is your year to realize success, consider this: Give yourself the month of January to plan for your success. On February 1, implement your plan.
Below are six tasks to tackle in January so that you can hit the bricks running in February:
1. Translate your New Year’s resolution into a SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Time-limited) goal.
2. Make sure your SMART goal is not just a ‘should’ goal. ‘Should’ goals are the ones we set under duress and would avoid if we could find a way out. Choose a goal that moves you — important enough so that everything that competes with it for your attention has to take a back seat. When a goal isn’t compelling from the start, it is unlikely for it to become more compelling when the going gets tough.
3. Select an accountability partner who will check on your progress and encourage you to stay on track to achieve your goal.
4. Research and map multiple paths to success. Be sure to include strategies to deal with setbacks, roadblocks, and detours.
5. Create a fail-proof environment by securing tools, time, funds, coaches, etc., necessary to support your success.
6. Schedule appointments with your accountability partner to discuss your progress and to learn from temporary setbacks.
If you believe you’ll fail, you will. It takes time to pick a compelling goal and to get ready to initiate the new behaviors necessary to realize success. Give yourself the gift of January to thoughtfully and carefully develop an action plan. If you do, you just might achieve your 2009 resolution in time to make a brand new one for 2010.
Good luck and best wishes for a successful year.
Call Debbie to schedule a therapy or coaching consultation with her in Valencia office at 661-259-5986 or Encino at 818-385-0550.