Here we are again, the "New Year"! Time for resolutions, promises, goal setting and good intentions. Okay, so where do we start in our efforts to make positive lasting changes in our lives this year? Let's start here; What are you going to change in 2011? When I look at approaching positive lasting life changes like this, I like to look at life like a pie with three areas that I feel should be our most important areas of focus. Those three areas look like this;
1. Our Emotional Health: How are you feeling? How's your health? Are you depressed, worried, anxious, burnt out or want to break a bad habit pattern? Are you suffering from low energy or some type of addiction?
2. Key Relationships: Marriage, dating, family, friendships, community or work relationships.
3. Performance: Your dreams, goals and accomplishments. Bringing your talents to fruition.
Generally, when we make New Years resolutions we tend to think in terms of "here's where I am now, and over there is where I want to be". The problem with that is, there's a big gap between our current reality and where we want to be. If we make a resolution or a goal and we don't have the natural discipline or will power to change our habit patterns completely, we can't think that just by making a resolution or commitment that were all of a sudden going to reach our goals. That being said, a lot of us try to do just that and yield the same results over and over again, year after year. Who we are now, is who we are until we do something to close the gap between who we are and who we want to be (our goals).
To close the gap between who we are and who we want to be (our goals), we're going to need two things. We're going to need fuel or a new energy source and some sort of structure or template to keep order to that new energy source. You might have goals to lose weight, workout more or develop your career through learning a new skill. You increase your chances of succeeding if you find people to support and motivate you who have already succeeded in obtaining the goal(s) you've set for yourself. Surrounding yourself with these types of successful people and organizations will fuel you and create a new energy source to move toward what you want by helping give you a clear picture of success and a strong belief that you can achieve your goals.
Now, follow a structure or template to achieve that success. Let's say that your goal is to develop your career by learning a new skill. The structure or template for success would be to enroll in school toward a specific industry and with a specific vocation in mind and then follow the schools support system and template towards success.
Here are a few tips to look for when setting your goals for the New Year.
1. When setting your goals, be clear and specific to what you want and what you want to change. Do your research and know the direction you need to go to get where you want to be.
2. Get with people who are accomplishing or have accomplished what you want to accomplish. Studies show that success and growth are contagious! I'm not suggesting that you dump all of your friends who are stuck and not moving forward in their lives and careers. What I'm suggesting is that you associate yourself and build relationships with people who are moving to or are where you want to be. It's motivating and will give you the fuel, energy and structure you need to be successful. Success Breeds Success!
3. Expect and don't be afraid to fail! No one gets it perfect all of the time. Sometimes we're so afraid of failure, we don't even try. If you don't try you'll NEVER succeed.
4. Why hasn't this worked before? We don't need new ways of failing, the old ways work just fine. What are we going to change in 2011 to make it different than 2010? Set the time aside in your life to work on accomplishing your goals. There are plenty of people who want our time. Set clear boundaries to protect what you're trying to build. So when you set your schedule, you need to figure out where are the power drains that have created the patterns of failure to this point and say "no" to them. Your goals are your gift to yourself. Make the time for them and protect them.
5. Have sub-goals while keeping the main goal in mind. Give yourself small obtainable goals as checkpoints along the way to your overall goal. It will give you another source of fuel and motivation.
6. Choose goals that matter and that will fulfill you. Creating goals that use your gifts, talents and values in building a life that will sustain you and your family will be sure to give you the positive lasting life change you desire. Then, watch the other areas in your life improve and fall into line. Remember, "Success Breeds (more) Success"!
I hope this post helps you this coming year. Small failures or set backs along the way are natural but over all success is the destination. Starting today, give yourself the attitude that 2011 will be more successful than 2010. Figure out what you want to change in your emotional health, relationships and performance this year. Set your goals and gain the fuel, energy and structure to make this "New Year" what you want it to be by surrounding yourself with success. You can do it! You have to do it! Success is right in front of you. Reach out and grab it.
If you would like to discuss goal setting or changing your career/life through education and training, please feel free to contact me. I'd love to talk with you.
Thanks,
Scott King
Director
TechSkills of California
1215 Howe Ave
Sacramento, Ca. 95825
(916) 649-9600
http://www.techskills-ca.com
TechSkills of California is committed to delivering vocational training programs that correspond to the ever-changing needs of businesses in Northern California and Las Vegas, Nevada. We offer career programs in Information Technology, Health Services and Business Skills. We provide the training you need to get the skills for an exciting new career. Your future is calling! For more information on getting started with your new career contact Scott King at 916-649-9600.
* Sources: Lou Tice the Pacific Institute (
http://www.thepacificinstitute.us/v2/) and Dr. Henry Cloud (
http://www.cloudtownsend.com/)