January 2010 Vol 2 Issue 1
|
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Are You Setting SMART New Year's Resolutions?
January often inspires many of us to make New Year's Resolutions. We vow to lose weight, start exercising, quit smoking, or make a number of behavior changes. Why is it that some of us succeed, while the rest of us try, but fail?
People who succeed are really no different from anyone else, except for two things. They are in a state of "readiness" and they plan ahead. Psychologist James Prochaska, who has conducted multiple studies on behavior change, tells us that successful "changers" who set a deliberate course of action are ten times more likely to succeed.
You too, can succeed if you break your New Year's Resolutions down into small, manageable steps we call SMART goals. What are SMART goals? SMART is an acronym for a goal setting approach that supports successful change.
A SMART New Year's Resolution will be:
Specific - Answer the "W" questions. What do I want to accomplish? Why? When? Where? For example, instead of just "getting more exercise," a specific goal might be "30 minutes of exercise daily 5 days/wk starting Jan 15. I will walk 3 days a week and join an aerobics class two days a week. It will improve my blood pressure, help me lose weight, handle stress better and make me feel better about myself."
Measurable - Ask yourself how you will know if you have accomplished your goal. Setting concrete measurements keeps you on track to achieve your goal.
Attainable - It is OK to dream; however, when you truly believe you can attain your goal, you begin to figure out the actions steps needed to get there. Following the actions steps helps you achieve your goals.
Realistic - Set goals that are within your capabilities and important to you. If your goal is something you are willing and able to work for, it's most likely realistic.
Target Date (Time Frame) - Your goal should have a specific time frame; "someday" doesn't cut it.
|
What Leaders are Reading
Changing For Good - Dr James Prochaska, Dr John C. Norcross and Dr Carlo C. Diclemente.
How many times have you thought about starting a diet or quitting
smoking without doing anything about it? Or lapsed back into bad habits
after hitting a rough spot on the road to recovery? This is a revolutionary book that provides six steps for overcoming bad habits and moving your life positively forward.
The Encore Effect -How to Achieve
Remarkable Performance in Anything You Do by Mark Sanborn.
"Everyday we
are called to perform - at work, at home, in our communities. But is it possible
to make every performance outstanding, the kind that leaves people applauding for
an encore?" It is possible! And this book shows you how.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
LEADERSHIP TIP
OF THE MONTH
Vince Lombardi, the famed coach of the Green Bay Packers, is credited with the saying, "When the going gets tough, the tough get going." He constantly preached this to his players. Realizing this is sometimes easier said than done, here are some things to help you "get going" in those tough times.
Keeping a record of goals accomplished is a morale builder that will boost your self-confidence to set and achieve progressively higher goals. It is your personal achievement trophy case providing both a spur to continued improvement and a shield against doubt, fear, worry and indecision.
Keep this record visible where you can see it and record the results of goals accomplished regularly.
On those occasions when self-doubt creeps into your mind, simply turn to this and review your past accomplishments and the impact they had on you, your business and the people around you. Your past successes can be the most motivating influences in your life. They will serve as a constant reminder of your value, your worth and what you can accomplish in the future.
John Branstad
QUOTE OF THE MONTH
"People with clear, written goals, accomplish
far more in a shorter period of time than
people without them could ever imagine."
Brian Tracy
|
|
