It’s that time of year again. The time when many of us have visions of grandeur in making some positive changes in our lives. If you Google New Year’s Resolutions you will come up with millions of hits almost instantaneously. When I did just that I was not surprised to see Brittney Spears as the top listing. Will we ever get enough??? There are a lot of sites with great information. Anything from how the tradition was started all the way to the most popular resolutions. Even the Government is getting into the frenzy. Some people make Resolutions for fun while others take it very seriously. Depending on your level of “stick to it ness” you to may venture out and actually obtain and conquer this commitment. You just need to make sure that you have a stable plan together if you wish to reach your goal.
New Year’s Resolutions require us to make a change in our normal everyday lives to accomplish some goal. Many people set-off and do not have a plan. They let others influence their decision making too much. Ever noticed how many diet commercials and fitness club commercials you see and hear this time of year??? Making those changes often have us making too much change too soon. So be careful in what you set out to do, take some time and come up with a good plan. Here is a useful tool to use when trying to set a goal and accomplish your full potential.
- Decide What You Want - select a goal that is SMART – specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time bound.
- Commit to It - write it down – people who write down their goals achieve them more often than those who do not.
- Count the Cost – consider the cost in time, effort, money and relationships. Be realistic and honest. What will you give up to reach your goal? What do you expect to gain when you reach it?
- Set Priorities – identify the priority of this goal to other goals, needs, and wants. Prioritize this goal in numerical order in relation to your overall life plan.
- Communicate – discuss your goal(s) with spouse, family or friends. Request feedback and comments from those who may help you achieve this goal(s).
- Compare – evaluate this goal in relation to your other life goals for compatibility. Does it complement your other goals? Does this goal conflict with goals of your spouse or other family members?
- Compromise - modify this goal, if necessary, to make it compatible with other goals in your overall life plan. Negotiate in good faith with family members ( or yourself ) when goals need adjusting.
- Reach Consensus- agree with spouse, family, or friends on the appropriateness of this goal. Review and renew the commitments involved.
- Develop a Time Line – establish a date to start and to complete the goal. Include any required intermediate steps. A lofty goal is better broken down into smaller steps.
- Devise a Plan- determine how to proceed. Include personal and financial steps required to accomplish the goal.
My Resolution for the New Year is to write at least two blogs a week. Lets see how I do…
- Phillip
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tagged: Resolutions
