REAL RESOLUTIONS
by Beth Pugh
I
recently took my 15-year-old son out of school for the day and took him
to a conference on success. It was a great thing for us to do together
and started a conversation about plans and goals. He now sees the need
for developing a plan to get what he wants vs. just wishing life would
be the way he wants it to be.
Goals
are intentional. They are a strategy, a map, and a blueprint for having
what you want in life. It's often been said that 'those who fail to
plan, plan to fail.' Bill Cole says, "A dream without a goal is just a
wish."
It
is with this spirit that I have asked my clients and now am challenging
you to think about both your short-term and long-term goals. It is
important to understand that often the short-term goals are the
stepping stones to the bigger ones.
What
were your resolutions back in January? Do you recall? Have you attained
them? If so, congratulations! If not, you still have the rest of the
year to make them a reality. Why not start now?
What
do you want life to look like at the end of this year? Will it be a
struggle? Will it be chaotic and lose all significance in the Holiday
rush? Will you overspend or charge when you shouldn't? Take the time
now to plan out a strategy to take you through the rest of the year.
Are you going to have a party? Plan it now. Do you make gifts? Make
them now. Do you want to just get away? Reserve it now.
The
New Year may seem far away, but it is coming quickly, I guarantee that.
What is going to be the year you lose that extra weight? Stop smoking?
Find a job you love? Develop a healthy relationship? Start a new
business?
WHAT DO YOU NEED TO DO TO GET WHERE YOU WANT TO GO?
People
fail because they do not have a strategy for achieving their goals.
They may take action, but not have a plan. Or they may have a plan, but
take no action. Now is the time to begin thinking about what your goals
are, making a plan to achieve them, and developing an action strategy
so that you create the discipline necessary to sustain them. The pole
vaulter, Bob Richards, puts it this way, "Goals give purpose. Purpose
gives faith. Faith gives courage. Courage gives enthusiasm. Enthusiasm
gives energy. Energy gives life. Life lifts you over the bar."
What will it take to get you over the bar?
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