New Year - New Beginning

Does the headline sound familiar? Every year you make your wishes and say I will hit the gym starting in January. I will lose that winter weight. I will get my bonus. I will finish that project or start that project. I will etc etc etc… Yes January is the start to new year and hopefully a more improved you. 

Don’t let the headline just become words. It’s December 2023 and by now you should have your 2024 goals planned out at a bare minimum but also have your two-year, three-year, five-year and ten-year plan written down. This is your road map. 

Your goals should be written down using the acronym S.M.A.R.T.

S: Specific

M: Measurable

A: Attainable

R: Relevant 

T: Time-Bound

The easiest example is to lose 20 pounds by July 31^st, 2024. It’s specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound. Do this procedure with all your goals. 

Now, in my opinion there are two key steps to take to ensure your goals don’t become the same at the end of 2024…empty words and promises but instead you achieved them. The first is to change all your goals to commitments. 

Commit Commit Commit. I used to write down my goals every December and at one point in my life it felt like I was writing the down the same goals every year. I don’t know about you but I do save my commitments and review them later and everything I wrote was  the same or similar. Does that sound like you? Well, one year I changed them from goals to commitments and my life has never been the same. 

When you view them as commitments, I believe you work harder and function different towards achieving them. You need to read them every day and always be working towards achieving your commitments. 

The second step is the hardest but also the easiest. YOU JUST NEED TO SHOW UP! What does that mean. Just Show Up! Even when you are tired, force yourself to make some progress. Start that first page, watch that lesson, etc Even if it is for 5 minutes, progress is progress. It takes 10,000 hours minimum to master a task they say but then again everyone had to start somewhere. Michael Jordan got cut from his High School Basketball Team and is one of the greatest players to have ever played the game. Woody Allen said "80% of success is just showing up!" 

I end with a quote from Tony Robbins - " Where Focus Goes, Energy Flow!" So focus up and let the energy go where you need to. Write down your commitments, read them every day, and JUST SHOW UP! Don’t keep writing down the same goals every year. Make 2024 different and your best year ever!!!