It’s that time of the year when everyone is composing New Year’s resolutions – “lose weight”, “secure a new job”, “spend more time with family and friends”, “make better financial decisions”, … and the list goes on. According to a research by the University of Scranton, Pennsylvania, only 8% of people achieve their New Year’s resolution . This begs the question – do New Year’s resolutions on their own actually cut it? (Maybe?) Well, I have 6 actions that will help you prepare for 2018 to make it one of your best and most fulfilling years ever.
1. Take a retrospective of 2017: Socrates once said, “An unexamined life isn’t worth living.” As 2017 folds up, it’s a good idea to look back and acknowledge those things that worked and those that didn’t, the goals that got accomplished and those that didn’t. Basically, take a checkup across the different areas of your life to know your current state across those areas. You may have hit the number of online courses or certifications you’d planned for, or you got that promotion you’d aimed at (great job). But perhaps you were unable to put on the desired body shape you’d dreamt of, or to save up enough money to buy that car; that’s a current state which needs to be improved. The unaccomplished goals of 2017 will give an idea of what you could focus on for 2018.
2. Write down your vision and goals for 2018: Take some time to visualize 2018; what is the ideal state across the different areas of your life? Once you’ve captured that clear picture of your 2018 then it’s time to write down the vision along with the corresponding goals. I highlighted “write down” because that’s a key action. Success expert, Brian Tracy once remarked, “People with clear, written goals, accomplish far more in a shorter period of time than people without them could ever imagine. ”
3. Identify your compelling reasons (aka ‘why’): There is a saying, “Know your why. This is the driving force behind everything.” Nothing can be more true than that saying. Each year will bring it’s own mountains to keep you from reaching your goals. If you really don’t know why those goals are important to you then you’ll likely turn back once those mountains loom. Knowing your compelling reasons, your ‘why’, will infuse you with the strength and determination needed to keep pursuing your goals even when the going gets rough and life gets tough.
4. Devise the plans/strategies (the routine) : “A goal without a plan”, they say, “is only a wish.” So, have a plan of action toward achieving your set goals. The best kinds of plan are those that break down the goals into smaller, manageable bits that can be done regularly as a routine. For example, if you have a goal to make an extra $12,000 in 2018. A good plan will entail breaking down that $12,000 goal for the year into a $1,000 goal for the month and possibly a $250 goal for a week (maybe even break it down to the hour). Afterward, you’d go ahead to determine what means will help you get that goal – a second job, a business, or something else. This way you know you just have to stick to the plan to achieve your end goal.
5. Revisit your goals regularly: Have your written goals placed somewhere you can see them regularly so you get so fixated on them that you never forget them. It is also a good idea to read out your goals at least 2 times daily as the experts recommend. Doing this will send impulses to your subconscious mind which together with your Reticular Activating System (RAS) will keep looking out for ways to help you achieve those goals.
6. Step up your game: If you want to get something you’ve never gotten before, you must be willing to become someone you’ve never being before and do something you’ve never done before. In other words, you need to raise the bar for 2018, making it higher than 2017’s to guarantee a better year ahead.
I know you’ve got major accomplishments in 2017 that you’re very proud of. But I must let you know that those accomplishments are only a tip of the iceberg compared to what you are capable of achieving. Don’t belittle yourself, and don’t settle for less. You don’t know the limit to what you can achieve in life, and so you must act as though you’ve got no limit. I can’t wait to see how glorious 2018 will turn out for you.
To an awesome 2018!
Here is a video to get you fired up for the New Year