Hey gorgeous!
It’s mid-January, and for many of us, that means we are tempted to quit (or already have!) whatever resolutions we made. It’s not too late. In fact, now is the time to lay a solid foundation for 2018, resolutions kept or not.
Get organized
New Year’s resolutions can’t get you very far if you don’t have a plan in place for how to achieve them. I regularly use calendars to keep myself organized — a wall calendar, a planner etc. It really doesn’t matter what system you have as long as you have one. Remember, if it’s not written down, it usually doesn’t happen.
Write down your goals
Just as your to-do list is less likely to be completed if it isn’t written down, your goals for the year are the same. People who write down their goals and dreams on a regular basis achieve their desires at a significantly higher level than those who did not. Dr. Gail Matthews found that you are 42% more likely to achieve your goals and dreams simply by writing them down on a regular basis. Start with the top 10 things you want to accomplish this year. Write it as if it’s already happened.
“I am so grateful I ____________________ this year.”
Make a development plan
Once you have goals you should clarify who you need to become in order to accomplish the goals. In exploring who you need to become you should identify three specific skills/competencies you must master to make it happen. Now, collect everything on that topic and commit to studying that one topic each quarter. The best way to increase your knowledge is to schedule it on your calendar as a 15–20-minute block to read or listen to something educational.
Set a routine
Setting routines is a key to achieving your goals. There’s a saying if you want to change, change something you do daily. Think about what you need to do in order to reach your goal. For example, if you want to be healthier, you’ll need to make changes to your daily habits in nutrition and exercise. Try exercising at the same time every day or keep a water bottle on your desk. Whatever you decide, tie the habit to something you would be doing anyway, like take a sip from the water bottle every time you check email.
Choose a life theme
We become what we focus on, so it’s important to continually turn your attention to what you want to achieve. A simple, yet powerful, way to do this is to determine one word or phrase that sums up what you want to accomplish or who you want to be. For example, if part of your development plan is to speak up in meetings when you have ideas, a phrase to try is “be bold.” The next time you walk into a meeting, repeat the phrase to yourself and picture what it would look like and sound like to be bold. Before you know it, you’ll naturally show up bold in the meetings.
See you at the top!
Dee Marshall
@DeeCMarshall, Event Host
Certified Life Coach, International Speaker, Published Author, TV Lifestyle Contributor, Influencer, Ministry Leader, Doctor of Philosophy, Entrepreneur, Business Woman, United State of Women Nominated Change Maker, Real Estate Investor, Wall Street Alumni, Obama White House, Fire Starter, Cheerleader, Daughter of The King, Prayer Warrior, Bible-Doing Teacher, Hope Dealer, 911 Survivor,