This month I’m giving myself a refresher course on goal setting strategies. Seems like January is a good time to do it, with the start of the New Year. But any time is a great time for me to remind myself that I can’t just think about setting goals – I also need to make a plan for achieving them.

How easy it is to forget this, and to fall into old habits of wishful thinking – that somehow, just thinking about a goal will bring it to life, or hoping that things in my life will change without really taking any real action steps to achieve those changes.

Years ago, one of my mentors shared a quote on goal setting and achievement from Paul J. Meyer, who is one of the “grandfathers” of today’s success and motivation leaders like Brian Tracy, John Maxwell, Tony Robbins, etc.

I just found it again, dusted it off, and am going to display it prominently in my office so I will read it every day:

“If you are not making the progress you would like to make and are capable of making, it is simply because your goals are not clearly defined.” – Paul J. Meyer [Read more…]

How do you know when you’ve really “arrived?”  That’s a question that many people ask when they want to find direction in life.

When I was younger, I’d often hear people talk about some sports star, actor, or musician who had finally “arrived.” What they meant, really, was that this person had just become rich and famous.

But is wealth and fame a good descriptor for when a person really “arrives?” I’m not so sure.

I began thinking about this recently while using my Magellan GPS on a road trip.  I travel a lot and take my GPS wherever I go.  I love that I can enter the address or location of my intended destination, and the GPS will look at all of the options and tell me the best way to get there.

And when I do reach my intended destination, the GPS announces,”You have arrived.” [Read more…]

The first week of the New Year is nearly over.  How are you doing so far on your New Years Resolutions?

If you’re like me, you might find it easy to set New Years Resolutions, and much harder to achieve them. So, to help you set and achieve your New Years Resolutions this year, here are my top New Years resolutions posts:

How to Achieve Your New Years Resolutions

Ready or not…the New Year has arrived.  While I join with many who celebrate its arrival with a great deal of excitement and hope for what the new year will bring, I recognize that others face the New Year with feelings of anxiety, fear, and disappointment.

I can relate, as I’ve felt some of those negative feelings before – maybe you have too.

For me, they came as a result of not having achieved my New Years Resolutions in the previous year, and the changes I had hoped to accomplish in my life.

Have you ever wondered why only a few people succeed in making change in their lives – and how you can be one of them?

Click to continue reading How to achieve your New Years Resolutions

Nine of the Most Popular New Years Resolutions

What New Year’s Resolutions Are Right for You?  Here’s an easy way to figure it out:

1. Start thinking of some of the things in your life that you already know you want to change or that have bothered you for a while.
2. Ask those who are close to you – your spouse, friends, co-workers, maybe even your boss – if they have any suggestions for you. If they’re honest, I’ll bet they’ll have a suggestion or two for you.

Chances are, one or more of these nine popular New Year’s Resolutions will probably end up on your list…

Click to continue reading Nine of the most popular New Year’s Resolutions

New Years Resolutions: Ten ways to increase your chances for success

Here are ten tips to improve your success in achieving New Years Resolutions.

1. Turn your resolutions into goals by specifically identifying what you want to accomplish and when you want to accomplish it.
2. Be specific in setting your goals.  Write them down.
3. Be realistic in your expectations and deadlines.

Click to continue reading New Years Resolutions:  Ten ways to increase your chance for success