"There is one quality that one must possess to win, and that is definiteness of purpose, the knowledge of what one wants and a burning desire to achieve it." - Napoleon Hill
Celebrate Your Successes!
As the year comes to a close, I want to pass on one of the most impactful exercises my former business coach, Mark McHale, had me do several years ago. The purpose of the exercise was to conduct a review of the previous year by writing down every success, win, and positive thing that I experienced - both big and small. So, I challenge all readers to Celebrate Your Successes!
In my experience as a coach and manager, I have observed that most driven and success-minded individuals have a tendency to focus on what they haven't achieved yet. They are always moving on to the next goal or challenge without stopping, however briefly, to acknowledge the victory or success of the moment.
So, as you fine-tune your goals and business plan for a successful next year, take some time to look back on the current/previous year with a focus on the positives.
Grab your journal or some paper or...Use this Celebrate Your Successes PDF:
Download CelebrateYourSuccesses
Just write it all down - stream of consciousness - no matter how seemingly insignificant. Just write it down. Once you start writing, you'll be surprised at how much you really have to celebrate!
- List all your accomplishments, wins, victories, successes in the past year.
- List all moment of joy and gratitude.
- What did you do last year that you were really proud of?
- What do other people in your life have to say about what you did, accomplished, contributed?
- What did you do last year that moved you toward your goals?
- What lessons did you gain from any setbacks, challenges or obstacles?
- How are your going to integrate any learnings in to your future goals and the coming year?
Why Resolutions Don’t Work
I am not a fan of New Year's Resolutions. Statistics show that most people never keep the resolutions they set for the New Year.
- 45% of Americans usually set New Year’s Resolutions; 17% infrequently set resolutions; 38% absolutely never set resolutions.
- Only 8% of people are always successful in achieving their resolutions. 19% achieve their resolutions every other year. 49% have infrequent success. 24% (one in four people) NEVER succeed and have failed on every resolution every year. That means that 3 out of 4 people almost never succeed. Reference
The main reason most resolutions don’t work is that they focus on only one area of your life - the DO level. Many of us are living life with the focus on DO-HAVE-BE. “I will DO this thing.” (Lose weight) “So I can HAVE this other thing” (Self-Esteem) and I can BE this thing. (Confident.)
Most of us are action-oriented, and evaluate ourselves by how much we are doing, producing, and achieving. We have to-do lists, goals, resolutions and lots of "shoulds." We like to place priority on problem solving and accomplishing tasks (do), so that we can gain some sort of outcome (have), and then be something or someone in the world.
The average New Year’s Resolution doesn’t tackle the core of the issue – the “BE” level.
The best method for creating positive changes in your life is to understand and use the BE - DO - HAVE model. When you begin changing on the BE level of your life, then the DO level and the HAVE level follow more easily.
Rather than focusing first on the action and the "Do," start with who am I and what’s important to me, or the BE. While it is important to create structure, accountability, and action steps, how often do we take a step back and ask ourselves why we are doing what we are doing?
You've got to be crystal clear about WHY you want something. When you are setting your goals make sure to ask yourself the critical question: Why it is important to you? Is the goal for you? Is it your burning desire to achieve it? Or is it someone else's wish for you?
How clear we are about our “why” has a huge impact on our levels of commitment, engagement, and satisfaction with the experience.
A Definite purpose backed by a burning desire (CLARITY) + Taking the appropriate (ACTION) = Your desired (OUTCOME)
Now Set GOALS or OUTCOMES not Resolutions!
The critical steps to achieving your goals:
- Identify clear, concise, SMART goals and know your WHY for each of them.
- Write them down for all areas of your life (Personal, Financial, Business/Career, Relationships/Family, Spiritual)
- Create Action Plans - break the goal down into steps and next actions. Take action every day!
- Measure and track your progress - you can't improve what you don't measure.
- Celebrate your successes along the way - make any necessary course corrections.
Related posts on Goal Setting:
- How to Write Powerful Goals, Part 1
- How to Write Powerful Goals, Part 2
- 5 Principles of Success
- Download Keys-to-an-Achievable-Outcome.pdf (Goals Template)
What is the intensity of your desire? Do you possess the persistence necessary to succeed?
How to develop persistence:
- Have a definite purpose backed by a burning desire to achieve it.
- Create a definite plan, expressed in continuous action.
- Cultivate a mind closed tightly to al negative and discouraging influences, including any negative suggestions of relatives, friends and acquaintances.
- Develop a friendly alliance with one or more persons who will encourage you to follow through with your plan (a mastermind)
To Improve the Quality of Your Life... All You Need is the....
- Desire to change
- Decision to take action
- Discipline to practice new behaviors
- Determination to persist until you get results
"Clarity accounts for probably 80% of success and happiness. Lack of clarity is probably more responsible for frustration and underachievement than any other single factor. Your success in life will be largely determined by how clear you are about what it is you really, really want." - Brian Tracy
YouTube Motivational – Inspirational Videos
Ultimate Motivation – No Excuses
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzpWT66Km8E
Maybe, the most inspirational video ever
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7r7YY_EO0A
Life = Risk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzBCI13rJmA
Don’t Quit Poem
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkCFeNeqyHk
Esther Hicks
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4zWBHFCmXM
