You Say You Want a Resolution?
Well, ya’know, it’s a new year. Time for a fresh start. Traditionally, when the giant glowing ball drops, and people emerge from their drunken stupor, it’s time to set resolutions – goals as some people call them. Why do we set goals? So we have an incredible drive forward and have a mindset of achievement. They also serve as a ruler so we can measure how much we actually failed.
First thing you need to do is be crystal clear on what you want to achieve. It can’t be fuzzy like “weigh less” or “have more money”…unless of course your goal, itself, is some pink fuzzy dice or something in which case, fuzzy is fine…weird, but fine. Goals should be stated with the 3 P’s: Present-tense, Personal and Positive. None of this “I want to quit smoking” garbage. This goal should be stated as “I am a non-smoker” or “I am positive I will die from smoking” both are excellent examples of the three P’s.
Second: Write them down! A recent USA Today (aka McPaper) study revealed that of the people who set resolutions, only a small percentage wrote them down. Of the folks who had not written their goals, only 4% followed through with their goal. Of those who wrote their goals down, 46% followed through. You have 10 times better chance of achieving them by simply writing them down. In another interesting USA Today study, results show that four people read USA Today.
Third: Set a deadline! While a deadline is obvious in our smoking goal above, it’s imperative that all goals have a deadline. Once again, this makes it easier to gauge failure. “I weigh 350lbs by December 31, 2006” (who said you can’t set a weight-gain goal?)
Fourth: Define the obstacles you will have to overcome. A wise man once said that obstacles are those things you see when you take your eyes of the goal. Cute. I ran hurdles – those things kill if you don’t jump over them! My voice was so much deeper back then. In other words: WHAT’S IN YOUR WAY? 9 times out of 10, it’s YOU. Get YOU outta the way so you can make real progress…whoa, Dr. Phil moment here.
Fifth: Identify what you need to know to accomplish your goals. If your goal is to be a doctor, it’s nice to have a little medical schooling (at least a little…don’t go overboard) If you want to be a politician, you need to develop speed in your blaming finger. You know, skills!!
Sixth: Identify who you need to know to accomplish your goals. If you are giving up smoking, it’s good to know a hit man who will shoot you on-sight if you have a cigarette in your mouth. Talk about motivation! Die or…eh…die!
Seventh: List all that you have to do to achieve your goal. For instance, if you would like to become a famous actress your steps might be: 1) Take one acting class 2) Move to Hollywood 3) Look at map and try to move to Hollywood again 4) Flirt with big-time producer…and so on. This acts as an easy checklist so you have instant feedback that you’re right on track to achieve your goal.
Eighth: Organize your list into a plan of action. Take all of the items on your list and prioritize them from most important to least important. Using the example above your first plan of action would be “mug somebody to get money for acting class”, then “find acting class”, then “ hire a private investigator to stalk a producer” and so on.
Ninth: Make a plan. That’s right! It’s time to commit your action items to a calendar. Set a deadline for each one. If your goal is to gain 300 lbs, set your weight gain in more achievable segments on a yearly, monthly, weekly and even a daily basis. How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time! (This is a great way to gain 300lbs)
Tenth: Choose your most important task each day and start working on it first then don’t stop until it’s finished. It would make sense that this task be achievable within the time-frame of one day. For instance, if you decide that your number one task for the day is to walk cross the United States, well, you’d better be a pretty darn fast walker! The task should fit your ability to act. If you’ve never followed through on goals before, you may want to start with smaller, more achievable tasks. Like, “walk up to front door”. Tomorrow your task could be “turn knob.” By setting smaller tasks, your chances of success skyrocket.
There you have it, the only goal-setting guide you’ll ever need. Follow it and you can become rich and successful like me…eventually…someday…I hope. Can somebody help me push my car?
P.S. This is loosely and comically based on Brian Tracy’s goal setting outline. He is the real expert on the subject – seriously. Go to www.briantracy.com (no, I’m not an affiliate!)
First thing you need to do is be crystal clear on what you want to achieve. It can’t be fuzzy like “weigh less” or “have more money”…unless of course your goal, itself, is some pink fuzzy dice or something in which case, fuzzy is fine…weird, but fine. Goals should be stated with the 3 P’s: Present-tense, Personal and Positive. None of this “I want to quit smoking” garbage. This goal should be stated as “I am a non-smoker” or “I am positive I will die from smoking” both are excellent examples of the three P’s.
Second: Write them down! A recent USA Today (aka McPaper) study revealed that of the people who set resolutions, only a small percentage wrote them down. Of the folks who had not written their goals, only 4% followed through with their goal. Of those who wrote their goals down, 46% followed through. You have 10 times better chance of achieving them by simply writing them down. In another interesting USA Today study, results show that four people read USA Today.
Third: Set a deadline! While a deadline is obvious in our smoking goal above, it’s imperative that all goals have a deadline. Once again, this makes it easier to gauge failure. “I weigh 350lbs by December 31, 2006” (who said you can’t set a weight-gain goal?)
Fourth: Define the obstacles you will have to overcome. A wise man once said that obstacles are those things you see when you take your eyes of the goal. Cute. I ran hurdles – those things kill if you don’t jump over them! My voice was so much deeper back then. In other words: WHAT’S IN YOUR WAY? 9 times out of 10, it’s YOU. Get YOU outta the way so you can make real progress…whoa, Dr. Phil moment here.
Fifth: Identify what you need to know to accomplish your goals. If your goal is to be a doctor, it’s nice to have a little medical schooling (at least a little…don’t go overboard) If you want to be a politician, you need to develop speed in your blaming finger. You know, skills!!
Sixth: Identify who you need to know to accomplish your goals. If you are giving up smoking, it’s good to know a hit man who will shoot you on-sight if you have a cigarette in your mouth. Talk about motivation! Die or…eh…die!
Seventh: List all that you have to do to achieve your goal. For instance, if you would like to become a famous actress your steps might be: 1) Take one acting class 2) Move to Hollywood 3) Look at map and try to move to Hollywood again 4) Flirt with big-time producer…and so on. This acts as an easy checklist so you have instant feedback that you’re right on track to achieve your goal.
Eighth: Organize your list into a plan of action. Take all of the items on your list and prioritize them from most important to least important. Using the example above your first plan of action would be “mug somebody to get money for acting class”, then “find acting class”, then “ hire a private investigator to stalk a producer” and so on.
Ninth: Make a plan. That’s right! It’s time to commit your action items to a calendar. Set a deadline for each one. If your goal is to gain 300 lbs, set your weight gain in more achievable segments on a yearly, monthly, weekly and even a daily basis. How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time! (This is a great way to gain 300lbs)
Tenth: Choose your most important task each day and start working on it first then don’t stop until it’s finished. It would make sense that this task be achievable within the time-frame of one day. For instance, if you decide that your number one task for the day is to walk cross the United States, well, you’d better be a pretty darn fast walker! The task should fit your ability to act. If you’ve never followed through on goals before, you may want to start with smaller, more achievable tasks. Like, “walk up to front door”. Tomorrow your task could be “turn knob.” By setting smaller tasks, your chances of success skyrocket.
There you have it, the only goal-setting guide you’ll ever need. Follow it and you can become rich and successful like me…eventually…someday…I hope. Can somebody help me push my car?
P.S. This is loosely and comically based on Brian Tracy’s goal setting outline. He is the real expert on the subject – seriously. Go to www.briantracy.com (no, I’m not an affiliate!)
posted by James C. at 7:50 PM
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