HOW TO GET THE BEST OUT IF THIS YEAR

I've been thinking a lot lately of New Year's and the many resolutions that are made and broken, often within a week of making them. Why is it that many of us make the same resolutions every New Year's but seldom keep them? Could it be because we're setting unrealistic goals for ourselves that we can't possibly achieve? This type of goal setting only serves to discourage us from striving for future goals. Instead of planning for success, we're setting ourselves up for failure. When making a resolution or setting a goal, you should follow the S.M.A.R.T. system for maximum success: -Specific-Measurable-Attainable-Realistic-Timely Here are some common BAD New Year's resolutions along with tips about how to turn them around into GOOD resolutions that can bring you astounding results: 1. Losing weight. How many of us make the resolution to "get in shape" or to simply "lose weight?" This isn't a specific goal, nor does it contain any sort of measurable timeline in which to perform the task. -A better solution would be to say, "I want to lose _____ pounds by _____ (date). I will do this by following these steps: (change of diet, exercise plan, etc.)." -A specific goal establishes what you want to accomplish, by what time, identifies requirements and constraints, and lists benefits of reaching that goal. 2. Spending more time with family. Another common New Year's resolution is to spend more time with family and friends. Again, you need to have a plan to do this. Simply stating that you will spend more time with your family won't make it happen. This may not even be a very attainable goal if you live far away from your family or can't give up time at the office. -Look at your schedule, evaluate your priorities, and make the necessary changes to free up the time you'll need to spend the extra hours with your family. -Establish exactly how many extra hours you need to make this happen. What will have to be rearranged? These are decisions you need to make to accomplish your goal. 3. Quitting smoking. The average smoker tries to quit at least 4 times before he actually kicks the habit. Why? Because it's easy to get discouraged when you try one method and it doesn't work. You need to have numerous back-up plans because one product or method doesn’t work for everyone. -Make sure the goals you set are realistic. Don't expect to stop smoking in a week or maybe even a month. You'll only become disheartened if you fail. -Set reasonable goals such as, "By ___ (date) I will only smoke ____ cigarettes a day." Slowly become less dependent on them until you reach your goal. 4. Getting out of debt. This is a resolution that requires much planning and usually involves a change of lifestyle. If you're living in a cycle of debt, you need to plan a strategy to cut your spending dramatically, as well as pay off the debt you already have. -Set specific goals such as "I will have ____ (amount) paid off by _____ (date). I will do this by cutting ____ (amount) from my spending each week." Without a reasonable timeline in place, you'll slip back into your old habits. -If your total amount of debt is large, break the debt down into smaller, more attainable goals. Pay off one credit card at a time and take pride when you get that final statement with a zero balance. Also consider talking to a financial advisor who can help you set a reasonable plan for you to follow. Resolutions take work, there's no denying it! Simply saying that you resolve to do something is not sufficient without having a plan in place to do it. Now that you know the problem, you can stop making the same resolutions year after year! Using the S.M.A.R.T. system as a guide, you can actually attain your goals in the coming year and become a better person for it. We will all succeed.

TIPS FOR SUCCESS

Some tips to help you reach and achieve success
Mental conditioning for success.. You have to really want it before you can get it.- Start with the intention to become successful.- Create the mental environment that fosters success and build a drive to succeed. What you can do: Look at where you are now and look at where you want to be. Now come up with a plan to get there. Observe your thoughts in the process.. are you in a 'reactive' mode or 'proactive' mode. Ex. "I need to keep working so I can pay my bills" vs. "What are my goals and how can I reach them?" (dependent thinking vs. independent thinking)The first one sets you into a reactive mindset.. an "I cant because my environment dictates my decisions.. " modeIn a proactive mindset... you adopt an "I am responsible" mode. The proactive mindset allows you to become open to the answer you are looking for. It allows your eyes and ears to stay tuned looking and listening for ways to achieve what you want. Like a radar, you are looking for something (consciously or unconsciously) and when you find it you will be ready to take action more quickly and less likely to resist!
Be creative and open to new ideasAlways keep your self open to new ideas and opportunities.. Once in a while 'extract' yourself from the same day to day activities and give yourself the opportunity to look ahead and think BIG! Avoid putting yourself in situations (like financial ones) where you can become 'tied up' from making bigger & better decisions... something that keeps you locked into the 'reactive' mode
Stay focused & energized. Avoid distractions when possible and stay focused. Allow yourself some time to think of where you would like to be years from now and what you need to do to get there. Avoid doing things that do nothing but distract you or drain you of energy and creativity. Find time to stay focused. Find a space to be 'recover' and build up your energy levels. Read books that motivate you. Do things that give you a sense of accomplishment and add to your sense of self worth.
Take calculated risksThis applies to any aspects of life.. Sometimes the biggest risk is not taking any. Imagine all the 'I could haves' when 'I should have'. Dont take foolish risks.. but plan and take calculated ones. Ones that are backed up by your passion to succeed no matter what happens. One that you know even if you failed you would get yourself back up and, learn from your mistakes and keep moving forward. Do not be afraid to take calculated risks.
Failure is a blessing!.. if you run into them.. just reorganize, reprioritize and keep moving forward. Failure is a pre-requisite to success. A person who has never experienced failure likely never experienced success. Failure should not bring you down, it should make you want to succeed even more. Mentally challenge yourself in the mist of failure.
"Taste" Success.. unless you never have the 'feel' for success you may never hunger for it. Getting the taste of success can drive you to keep moving forward and take even bigger steps and making even bigger decisions. You can start small such as a simple transaction, acquiring something, selling something, saving something, accomplishing something, investing in something or just seeing results! Success gives you the feeling of reward and that there is more waiting for you!
"Feel" the feeling of Ownership!Unless you have the feeling of real ownership and control, success would be harder to obtain. Ownership gives you a sense of pride, a sense that you get what you put in. You control how far you want to go and how much you can potentially make..To do this you must take responsibility and look ahead.. and you must take action!
Never slow downThe real world never slows down and neither should you! Constantly look at ways to improve your business, improve what you do.. or improve your own self. Constantly look for new tools to enhance your business.. to challenge your own self.. your co-workers or employees. Think of a water metaphor.. in nature for water to stay fresh, it needs to constantly flow! Keep your ideas flowing and keep building on the knowledge, experience you have and let that momentum keep moving you forward.
We will all succeed.

BE CREATIVE

I believe that creativity is a natural order of life itself and it provides my life with the purest of energies.
I believe there is an underlying creative force infusing throughout my life.
I believe that when I open my creativity, I am opening the Creator’s creativity.
I believe creativity is part of my destiny and just as important as all living things.
I believe creativity is my Creator’s gift to me. Using my creativity is my gift back to him.
I believe expectation of a fulfilling life attracts with powerful changes when I allow creativity to flow through my beingness.
I believe it is safe for me to discover my own creativity even if it sets new paths not yet discovered.
I believe as I move more towards my creative self, I move towards my own divinity.
I believe I am worth the time it takes to create whatever it is I am to create.
I believe I have the right to have all the creativity I deserve.
I believe that when I allow my creativity to flow throughout my life, I tap into the source of all that there is and all that ever was.
I believe that the time I spend creating is as precious as anything else in life.
I believe that as creativity gives to me, so does she deserve from me all my faith mindfulness and commitment.
I believe in my creative self.
I believe in me.

HOW TO DISCOVER WHAT YOU WANT

If you have any doubts about what it is that really want, here's a simple method to discover the real truth. You can find the answers to you want easily and in only minutes.In almost every success program or book written there is always a chapter or section about goals and how important they are. It's been repeated thousands of times in as many ways.
You don't need to be reminded about setting goals again. But what about that noise you hear in the background of your mind? How do you sort through all the thoughts you have and find what's important to you?
If you could review the thoughts you had yesterday, you could find hints about what it is that you really want or need. It might be something completely different than that new job, car or home you said you wanted.
There is an easy and simple way to find out if the goals you have made are what you really want.
This will take you only few minutes and you can do this almost anytime you are alone and can relax. You will also need a notepad and pen or pencil that can be within your reach.Step 1 - Relax Your Body and MindFind a comfortable place where you can sit or lie down without being disturbed.
Darken the room to your liking and turn off anything that could distract you such as the radio, television, telephone or computer.
Relax on your favourite chair or couch, loosen any tight clothing and if you prefer, remove your shoes.
Once you have relaxed your body, try to relax your mind by thinking of nothing except perhaps a place that you find comforting. It could be a tropical beach or simply a cozy setting in front of a fireplace.
Breathe slowly and let your mind relax as much as possible.Step 2 - Ask Yourself What You Really WantAfter a few minutes both your body and mind should be in a relaxed state. Quietly, but firmly ask yourself the following question three or more times. "What do I want?"
Repeat this several times and then just stop. Wait quietly and continue to stay relaxed both mentally and physically.
If you are patient and wait a short time you will find that thoughts will enter your mind suddenly. It may be only one thought, a few or even many.
Listen to these thoughts but don't try to analyze them. It may not be what you expect but don't seem surprised at them.
If you have never done anything like this before it may take a few attempts to get any answers.
End you relaxation session by thanking yourself for any answers you received and decide to slowly rise from your chair or couch.Step 3 - Write the Answers DownWhile these thoughts are fresh in your mind, pick up your notepad and pen or pencil and write them down. Try to do this just as you heard them without attempting to analyze them.
These are the thoughts from within that are telling you the real story about what you want or need.
You may want to do this exercise more than once for confirmation or just out of curiosity.What to Do NextTake the notes you just made and compare them to what you have already considered to be your goals. Did you find any differences?
Examine them carefully and you may find you want to change your goals a little or rewrite them entirely. Or it may be that you were exactly right in the first place.
The least you will get out of this exercise is greater confidence that your choice of goals was the best possible.Remember that as you reach your goals you will change and so will what you want. You should repeat this exercise whenever you have any concerns or doubts about what you want.
Isn't it a good idea to ask someone who knows?Ask an expert, ask yourself.

THE POWER OF QUITTING

I'm a big believer in quitting. I think it's a good thing. You should do more of it.
Yes, I did say quitting and -- yes -- I did say you should do more of it!
Sound odd? I'm not surprised. Maybe it's that neat-o 'survival instinct' of yours kicking in. Or maybe after years and years of hearing the old saw 'A winner never quits and a quitter never wins' you came to believe it. After all, since we were very young, 'quitting' has been defined as something negative. Real life, however, shows us that quitting is very often a positive force in our lives.
Don't believe me? Try quitting a few of these things:
Quit using (or abusing) tobacco, alchohol, caffeine, food.
Quit doing the things that aren't bringing you the results you want.
Quit procrastinating and you find yourself less rushed and harried.
Quit putting up with damaging, abusive, and negative relationships (at home and at work).
Quit jobs and volunteer work that don't truly bring you joy.
Quit being in relationships that are abusive.
Quit feeling miserable for yourself and being miserable about stuff beyond your control.
Quit trying to be everything, to do everything, and to have everything.
If you can quit just one of these things, you'll be creating positive action in your life. But you have to quit first. It's a simple idea most of us overlook: To really be a winner, you have to be able to stop doing stuff that's not good for you!
So quit waiting... and take action!
____
Jim Allen

HOW TO OVERCOME THE FEAR OF SUCCESS

Is the fear of success real? How could anyone possibly fear such a wonderfully positive thing as success? As strange as it sounds, many people do fear success. This fear holds them back from achieving their goals and dreams. It may sound more reasonable to fear failure, and not to fear success. What is this all about? Here are some reasons people fear success. Think these through and you'll begin to resolve these issues within yourself. 1. Change Itself Is Scary: it's easier to maintain status quo and go along unthinkingly. Life is easier when we can live it on auto-pilot. Change brings us into the unknown with its mix of exciting adventure and scary possibilities.2. People Will Expect You to Succeed Again: there is a new pressure to perform to a level that was not there before. You are aware of people watching and waiting for you to repeat your success.3. The Bar Has Been Raised on Your Performance Levels: your old habits and processes will not work. You have to change familiar and comfortable ways of being for the new.4. You Will Get More Attention From People: if you are a private person, or are not used to having an audience, this will take some adjusting.5. Your Private Life May Suffer: athletes and movie actors who make it big complain that they have privacy no longer and that they must hire security and worry about financial and personal safety issues.6. You Question If You Can Do It Again: you may wonder if the first victory was a fluke the next time you perform, and if you fail, people will say it was an accident. This puts added pressure on this second performance and takes away the value of the first performance should you fail.7. Your Time Demands Will Change: you have less time now because maintaining new levels of performance bring new demands on your time, new details you've never had.8. People Expect You to "Be" a Certain Way Now: famous stars in show business are expected to be big tippers or to sign autographs, and if they don't, are denigrated. People have a set of expectations about how you should behave in your new position.9. It's Harder to Stay at the Top Than to Get There: it was tough succeeding, but repeating it is usually even harder. It takes more time, more planning and with your new distractions and obligations, keeping focus is even more demanding.10. You Make Enemies When You Perform Higher Than Them: you may leave former peers behind, symbolically and literally, when you raise the bar. Many people may be happy for your success and others feel slighted and envious.11. Being a Success Can Limit You: when an actor hits it big in a role, they are forever remembered as that character-and if they don't manage their career well, they will become type-cast. When you do a great job on a project, you might be known as "the one" to do this job for eternity because you are "so good" at it.12. Being a Success Changes Your Self-Image: perhaps you've always wondered if you could succeed at something. You may not have felt worthy of this success. People may have told you, covertly or overtly, that you don't deserve success. You at least know your place as one who is average. When you succeed, people will look to you for advice, leadership, as being a model of virtue and you will forever change how you see yourself.

MAXIMIZING YOUR POTENTIAL

Maximizing Your Potential: Using Your Brain to ThinkBy Etienne Gibbs

The Chicago Times once printed that Henry Ford was an ignoramus. Mr. Ford sued, challenging the paper to prove it.
The proof was attempted in court. During the trial, Mr. Ford was asked a series of simple, general information questions, such as,
* Could you name the Presidents of the United States? * When was the Civil War?; and so on.



Mr. Ford, who had little formal education, could answer very few. Finally, in exasperation, he replied, "I don't know the answers to these questions, but I could find a man in five minutes who does. I use my brain to think, not to store a lot of useless facts."
A similar story is told of Albert Einstein. Someone once asked him how many feet are there in a mile. "I don't know," he was reported as saying. "Why should I fill my head with things like that when I could look them up in any reference book in two minutes?"
Both of these men, giants in their respective field, knew what every good leader learns sooner or later: that the ability to get information and act on it is what gets things done.
As one business leader recently put it, "I want people around me who can solve problems, not recite facts."
History is filled with many instances where individuals, many without a high school diploma, became successful businesspersons because they knew how to gather information they lacked and they acted on it promptly. They are, whether living or deceased, examples of people who know how to maximize their potential and did. What are you doing about yours?
Remember: When you maximize your potential, everyone wins. When you don't, we all lose.
Etienne A. Gibbs, MSW, Management Consultant and Trainer, conducts seminars, lectures, and writes articles on his theme: ... helping you maximize your potential. He offers a free health survey at http://eagibbs.usana.com; and free state tourism guides at http://www.ExecutiveAndGroupTravel.com. Reach him at eagibbs@ureach.com.