It’s funny, how a start to a new year, can for many create massive levels of pressure. Whether you are a teacher heading back to work after a winter break, signing up for a gym membership to lose those extra pounds, or a financial planner planning your business goals. It seems that with a new year full of new opportunities, worry, anxiety, and fear begin to creep in. I say, don’t let it. Take a deep breath. Don’t let the pressure you feel internally, or externally, get to you. The New Year brings in new opportunities, new direction and avenues to take, and most importantly it is yet to be determined. So, is it possible for you to change your outcome this coming year? Absolutely! You can make a change, on a small scale or large to impact your business and life in a positive way. Be strong, and know you are not alone. Everyone this time of the year, feels some pressure in their lives, because of the uncertainties of future. Don’t let the uncertainties of the future drive how you live today, or you may miss out on something great.
Identify what’s holding you back, own your mistakes and fears:
Face them and move forward. If you search within and identify what’s holding you back, then you can address it, and move forward. If you don’t identify what’s holding you back, and address it, then you can’t grow. So, if you’re worried about failure, acknowledge your fear of failure and move forward. You are never a failure by taking risks (or chances) for positive change. If your strategy isn’t working, then change it. If you are stuck in the negative minded circle getting nowhere, turn a new leaf, and change your perspective to be more positive focused on what you can do to improve. By taking this approach, you will either learn from your mistakes, or you will succeed in your aims. Whichever it is, you will definitely grow, and get closer to your goals as you continue to move forward and take chances. If there are things holding you back from your success and goals, identify it, face it, and move forward.
As Wayne Gretzky said, “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” He also stated: “I skate to where the puck is going to be, not where it has been.” Having a clear and purposeful vision, is going to get you closer to consistent success and skill, and away from sheer luck or failure. Be purposeful in your life and actions, and you will begin to see it gradually improving with growth.
Conquer your obstacles with a plan by setting realistic goals:
Set a plan of your goals, and define a clear vision going forward. If you set a plan that is unrealistic, you won’t reach it, and your motivation may suffer. So, make a plan that is realistic and reachable, creating both short- and long-term goals, and create a plan to execute it. Research which areas you need to grow in, and which areas you are strong in, and create your plan from there. In the areas you need to work on, try to identify what went wrong, why it didn’t work, and what you can do practically to improve in those areas for future success. For the areas you are strong in, try to identify why you were strong in those areas, and what went right, and how you can continue strengthening those areas. If you do this, you can better understand what works for you, and what doesn’t, and apply those principles to other areas of your business and life.
Execute your plan and start working on those goals:
Take a step by step approach and begin with step one of your plan. Don’t wait for tomorrow, instead get started today. Start with something small, and gradually move down your list. Create a schedule of when you will meet each goal on your list. Be realistic in your time table with meeting your goals, so that you stay on a positive path forward and don’t get discouraged. Don’t set goals out too close, or too far. Set a review date for when you will come back to your goals and evaluate them. Evaluate your goals regularly (about once a month), so that you can clearly define your path forward as you go. If a technique is not working for your goal, change it, but stay on your path and keep a clear vision. Distractions will come, but don’t let them be your focus. If you find that your goal is too unrealistic, consider re-evaluating it during your scheduled self review.
Get a cheerleader to cheer you on in meeting your goals:
Find someone you trust to help you along in meeting your goals. Someone who is willing to keep you accountable by offering their support and checking in with where you are at. Include them in your conversation during your scheduled self review of your goals. Let them know your plan, the steps you took to meeting your goals, and what worked and what didn’t. Ask them for their advice of how you can challenge yourself and improve. It is important to choose someone who offers helpful and meaningful advice who can keep focused on your goal, and who can keep you grounded in reaching them. Ask them to help you identify your strengths and weaknesses. Use your daily successes as building blocks or stepping stones. These daily successes, will ultimately lead to achieving your long-term goals.
Make sure you always thank your cheerleader for their help. After all, cheerleaders of your success are the ones who will help encourage you during the journey of reaching your goals. It’s important to have a cheerleader who will encourage you when you succeed, and when you are struggling. Being thankful for your cheerleader, will likely come naturally, but being actively thankful will take some intention on your part. So be intentional with maintaining your support system. You can just say thank you, or you can let them know just how much their support has helped you.
After all these steps are in motion, enjoy the ride and sit in the now, taking it day by day. Allow yourself to feel joy, and excitement. Don’t worry about tomorrow, concern yourself with today. Jump out of bed and make yourself smile in the mirror to set the day on a positive note. Think of one good thing in your life at the start of the day, and you will begin to see your life move in a better, more productive and positive direction. We can’t control everything that happens in our lives, but we can control how we react, or interact with it.
Challenge yourselves to be better. YOU have the opportunity to be a light in others lives, and your own.
-BDI STAFFING “Changing lives, one person at a time.”