Pre-New Year’s Resolutions – These Next 6 Weeks Can Change Your 2010, and Your Life!

We have just over 6 weeks left until the end of the year. This can be a stressful time of year for many of us, and it can also be a time of year when we slack off on goals, routines, and schedules in favor of holiday parties, shopping, and vacations.

With 6 weeks left until the end of the year, this is the best time of the year to do goal setting! Clear goals increase your confidence, develop your competence, and boost your levels of motivation. With the right set of goals and action plan, you can finish the year with a bang. This momentum will carry over into 2010, and you’ll be on fire when everyone else is just beginning to work on their New Year’s Resolutions!

I want to share a very valuable resource for goal setting. I’ve had this book on my shelf for years (an oldie but a goodie), and it’s been an important resource for my own goal setting. The book is called GOALS! by Brian Tracy, and it’s now available online for free download (ebook) on his website http://www.briantracy.com/.

Here are 7 Tips for 2009 Goal Setting:

1. Write down your goals
   • When you write down a goal, no matter how big or impossible it seems, you activate a series of forces in the universe that often make the impossible possible.
2. Create SMART goals
   • S = Specific
   • M = Measurable
   • A = Attainable
   • R = Realistic
   • T = Timely
3. Leverage Accountability Partners
   • There’s great value in sharing your goals with friends, family, and colleagues who are supportive. By taking a stand and sharing your goals, you’re less likely to slack off when the going gets tough. Encourage others to share their goals as well.
4. Put your goals in a visible place
   • Print out your goals and post them in a visible place that you will see them throughout the day. Examples may include: the bathroom mirror, the refrigerator, the wall above your desk, your nightstand, etc.
5. Review your goals daily
   • Read and re-read your goals in the morning when you first wake up and at night before going to bed. As Brian Tracy notes, “The result of rewriting and reviewing your goals each day, in the morning and evening, is that you will impress them ever more deeply into your subconscious mind. You will gradually move from positive thinking to positive knowing.”
6. Visualize your success
   • It’s important to visualize yourself accomplishing your goals. Think about your goals and envision yourself accomplishing them. These thoughts will translate directly into action.
7. Reward yourself
   • This is the best part of goal setting. Create a reward for yourself when you accomplish your goals. Whether it’s a trip, a new piece of clothing, or a new car – be sure to reward yourself for a job well done.