Many people I know make the assertion every new year that this one will be the year I really find everything I was looking for. They have that absolute resignation that this will be the year that they start that new business, make all the money that they ever imagined possible, find true love and quit old inhibiting habits. Again.
As a humanitarian and motivator it might appear that I am in contrast to my own objectives to rain on anyone’s parade but let’s take a peek at why 2016 wasn’t “The Year” before you gallop off into 2017 and crash into the same disappointments that will have you claiming 2018 as your best year.
What were your goals for 2016?
Let’s not call them resolutions because most people statistically abandon those resolutions by February. Resolutions without resolve is wishful thinking. Even goals, without an action plan and focus will dribble down the drain of lost dreams like every other year. Most people have a similar list. Love, money, lose weight and happiness. Immediately the problem pops right out at me. The lack of specificity guarantees failure because vagueness is a killer of goals.
Love? What kind of love? With whom?
How will you treat her, how will you maintain that love relationship once you encounter her? What are you bringing to the party because love is not a one way street. Money? How much is enough? How will you activate a plan to earn and acquire wealth? What plans do you have not to lose it all as so many who trip into new wealth usually do? Are you serious about ling weight enough to change your eating habits or did you expect the weight to magically fall off of you? Goals without action are wishes you make when blowing out a birthday candle on your cake. Yes, here is the rain on the parade, it takes determined action and consistent focus with a specific plan to accomplish anything. Those plans have to be realistic and bite sized.
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To achieve your goals in 2017, why not start with bite sized realistic and obtainable plans first? Before you look in the mirror and tell yourself that this year you will lose sixty pounds, which you have never done before, why not commit to losing five pounds a month? Do the math, it is sixty pounds. Skip a fast food lunch three times a week and snack on veggies at night and you will get there realistically and comfortably. Change your thinking that a greasy burger with extra fries tastes so good. Of course it does but what do you want more taste or a healthy body? If it is a goal that you are committed to, the answer is clear. When you turn around and your friends don’t have to give you a welcome back party you will appreciate the effort and the rewards of that effort.
To achieve your goals in 2017, why not start with bite sized realistic and obtainable plans first?
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I had a friend who wanted to be rich. She had no idea how to become rich, no plans in place and usually was in her pajamas eating lunch most days. Her floor of her car was always littered with lottery scratch offs and with her lack of ambition, destitution was a constant companion. Suggested ideas to enhance her situation were rejected as “Just not for me” and short of dumb luck she was never going to have anything more than she had at birth. Wealth is accumulated with a plan. How much money do you want to earn, create and attract in 2017? Instead of saying a million dollars, which is hard to envision if you haven’t made that amount before, let’s go bite size and say one hundred thousand dollars. If that still boggles your mind, shoot for fifty. Nobody gets paid once a year so break it down into bite sizes. One hundred thousand dollars is $1923 per week.
You can envision that much easily. If you are sitting in a cubicle making your boss one hundred thousand dollars a year it is doubtful that you will make that also working for him. Time to figure out what you can do in a new field and maybe working for yourself. Start reading about people who have already done it. Watch YouTube videos about successful people and learn the mindset and habits of people who are already doing what you want to do. You do not have to reinvent the wheel here. Take bite size actions toward your goal every single day. Change whatever needs to change whether it is your attitude, your circle of friends, your job or present opportunities. Others have created wealth, that means it can be done and if they can do it so can you. In 2017.
Make your list, set your goals.
Make them specific, realistic and things that you can actually sink your teeth into and make happen for yourself. Jettison distractions. Would you like to know the distraction that kills most goals? Your television. When I eliminated a television out of my home, I became one hundred times more productive. I read and watched videos about how to become what I wanted to be and became my envisioned self. Though I continue to grow every year, I obtained my goal within a year or two and added to it each day. I stepped over obstacles and endured failures and defeats. It is all part of the game so expect it. If you are serious about your goals becoming your reality, nothing will stop you because you won’t allow anything to get in your way. 2017 is yours my friend. You will have 8760 hours to make great things happen starting January 1, 2017. Own 2017.
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