Be SMART - Reset Your Goals in 2017

"Alas 2017 is here! It's time to say goodbye to 2016 with its setbacks and disappointments." If that's your thought process, this article is for you.

Needless to say, some of us are ready to hit the reset button as we welcome the New Year. It signifies a new start; leaving those meager and incomplete goals behind and looking forward to a brighter future in 2017.

But before you get started, take some time to look back at 2016 to reflect on lessons learn. Mistakes can be stepping stones towards future successes. As you look back don't linger over what didn't work. Instead capture and embrace the lessons learned from your failures.

Where do I begin?

If you are like me, you may feel skeptical about making New Year's resolutions simply because they never last. Yet, each year we feel compelled to make a new start, but we go back to the familiar hoping this time things would be different. We know what happens by the time February rolls around... our interests have waned; the resolution is history.

In case you are wondering what's next now that I have hit the 2016 reset button, here are 5 practical ideas to help your resolutions stick:

Idea 1: Some suggested steps for creating a planning environment...

Mediate and/or pray for insight and focus.

Gather your planning material, such as notepad, pen, pencil, paper, or other tools you enjoy using. Personally, I like working with board and chalk so I can sketch out my ideas allowing my mind to flow from thought to thought as things come together.

Keep it simple; use whatever tools work for you.

Depending on your style or mood, consider background music. This, of course, is optional.

Eliminate interruptions and distractions so you can focus.

Idea 2: Have quarterly resolutions...
There are no rules barring you from setting your own timelines. Generally, it takes about 28 days to create a new habit. So it's possible to achieve your goal within 3 months. This success can motivate you to continue persistently.

Idea 3: Work holistically on your resolutions...

Start by emphasizing the relationship between the parts and the whole. In other words, focus on the symptoms as they relate to your ultimate goal.

Identify the things that hinder your goals and work diligently to replace them with good habits. This will help you stay on track so you can reach your goals within the allotted time frame.

If your goal is to drop 10 lbs in the 1st quarter of 2017, getting to the core of the issue will increase your chances of reaching your goal. Start looking at the things that can impede your success. For example, if you tend to procrastinate, you may have problems exercising consistently. In that case, try working with a friend or trainer to motivate you to stay on track.

Other challenges that can derail your weight-loss goal are poor time management, having no boundaries, or inadequate preparation. Always start with the end in mind as you move forward.

Idea 4: Be realistic...
Set resolutions that are within your reach, but still require you to stretch a bit. The reward is sweeter when you have put some sweat equity into it. This will help you keep that resolution throughout the year and beyond.

Idea 5: Don't go it alone...
"Accountability is the glue that ties accountability to the result". Bob Proctor

In order to stay focus and motivated, consider using an accountability partner. Last June, my daughter-in-law and I started walking simply because we had some time to kill. Seven months later we are still walking regardless of the weather. I've learned to "keep it moving" in the snow, rain, or sunshine. I'm able to do this because we are accountability partners. Whenever I'm hesitant to walk, my daughter-in-law has a way of gently nudging me. Of course, it doesn't hurt to walk around a beautiful lake enjoying God's spectacular scenery.

Authored by Marilyn Thorpe, Success Business Coach, Workshop Facilitator, and Consultant. I work with small business owners and teams that are ready to build strategies to reach higher levels of performance and profits.

As a business owner when was the last you reviewed your business process? Send me a draft of your business process and your 2017 goals for feedback. Visit my website: http://www.coachnexphase.com to subscribe to my newsletter for valuable tips to review your business process. Now is the best time to get started.



 By Marilyn Thorpe


Article Source: Be SMART - Reset Your Goals in 2017