The beginning of the New Year always is filled with great anticipation, hope and determination.
We typically begin fired up and are ready to conquer the world. We tell ourselves this will be the year I “finally” will reach my goals. Sadly though, by Jan. 31, we revert back to our old ways of not doing the things we need to do to be successful and again frustration sets in.
The good news is that this doesn’t have to happen. 2016 can be the turning point for you as long as you get off to a fast start.
Jan. 1 is known as the great equalizer. Everyone starts at zero. You have a golden opportunity to accomplish feats you’ve never reached before. Your responsibility is to set realistic goals and develop the actions plans necessary to implement immediately. The best favor you can do yourself is to share your goals and objectives with a trusted friend, advisor, mentor, etc., and ask them to hold you accountable for the implementation and followup you will need.
Here’s a thought: Why not shorten your year to three months as opposed to 12 months. Create a sense of urgency in your day-to-day, hour-to-hour activities. What you’ll find is that you won’t have any time to waste. Once you’ve accomplished the goal, make sure to reward yourself.
Along the way, it’s also important that you acknowledge the small victories achieved on the path to the bigger prize. This will keep you motivated.
As you move forward, I suggest you follow a process that will serve as a blueprint to accomplishing all the goals you’ve set for yourself next year and here it is:
1. Decide exactly what you want in every key area of your life;
2. Write it down;
3. Set a deadline;
4. Identify the obstacles that you will have to overcome to achieve your goal;
5. Identify the knowledge, information and skills you will need to achieve your goal;
6. Identify the people whose help and cooperation you will require to achieve your goal;
7. Make a list of everything you will have to do to achieve your goal;
8. Organize your list in to a plan. You organize this list by arranging the steps that you have identified by sequence and priority;
9. Make a plan. Organize your list into a series of steps from the beginning all the way through to the completion of your goal;
10. Select your No. 1, most important task for each day;
11. Develop the habit of self-discipline;
12. Practice visualization on your goals, and
13. Decide upon your major definite purpose.
Decide exactly what you want, write it down, make a plan and work on it every single day. When all is said and done, you’ll have to look at yourself in the mirror and answer that one pressing question: “Have I given it my best effort today?” If the answer is yes, you’re definitely on your way to achieving everything you want but don’t wait, make sure you get yourself off to a fast start in 2016.
A Graduate of FIU Business School, the University of Chicago Booth Business School Leadership Academy and a Certified Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt, Pete De La Torre has trained and managed multiple million dollar producers in the flower importing industry. He was a nationally ranked producer and manager with two Fortune 500 companies in the financial services industry sector, served as executive director of the Doral Business Council for seven years; host of “The Pete De La Torre Radio Business Hour” on 880 AM The Biz, and President/CEO Pete De La Torre Enterprise.
