Crank It Up!

     We are approaching the date that most people have already given up their New Years Resolutions.  Some will stick with it for another month or two.  But most likely life has distracted you from your goals.  I can't tell you how many times that has happened to me...year after year after year.  What I have found is that 1). I set unrealistic expectations for myself, 2).  I am not managing my time wisely, 3). I haven't asked anyone to hold me accountable, 4)  I have a bad attitude.

     Setting your goals high is a good thing.  You want something to reach for.  But sometimes I think we feel the need to fix everything all at once.  That can be soooo overwhelming.  Try starting out with goals you know you can attain.  Start with your strengths.  Why?  Because every strength we have could be better.  Become an expert in your field. Get so good at what your good at, that you become the goto person.  Become known as the man/woman who is known for ____________ (you fill in the blank).  Say to yourself, "I am known for my __________."  What is the first thing that comes to your mind?  Start from there, then when you have mastered your strength, begin working on one of your weaknesses.  Systematically work through strength, weakness, strength, weakness and so on until you have tackled a big chunk of your list.  When we try to only tackle our weaknesses, we get discouraged easily, because sometimes it takes a little longer to correct a weakness.  Begin with a positive.

     Time management is an area that we can all make improvements.  I tackle it year after year and still come up short (of time).  There are lots of time management books on the market to help you work on that part of your life.  To help keep you on track, write your goals down.  Put them where you can see them every morning.  The bathroom mirror, the dash of your car, your refrigerator,  your computer at work/home are all great places that will remind you of your intended goals.  Read them in the morning before you go to work and read them at night before you go to bed.  Keep a log of what steps you took that day to work on your goals.  Did you read about how to be a better you?  Did you implement something that you read about?  Did you listen to a CD in your car about how to be a better you?  All of these things assist you in sticking to your goals and managing your time more efficiently.

     I think the most difficult part of working on my goals is when I have had a set back of some kind.  Sometimes little emergencies come up and I have to go and put out the fire.  Sometimes it's not even an emergency, but something or someone that just needs my attention.  It is so easy to get off-track and discouraged.  That's when it's helpful to have an accountability partner.  Someone who you can go to, not just to keep you on track for your goals, but someone to encourage you.  I need someone to breath belief back into me almost every week.  "You can do it Windy!"  Sometimes when we don't believe in ourselves, we need someone else who DOES believe in us to tell us so.  That can make the difference for me in whether I continue or go on sabbatical.

     Maybe you need someone everyday to build you up in a world of negativity.  I need that too.  Try listening to motivational CDs on your way to work everyday.  Your co-workers will notice a difference in you immediately.  "Wow, Bob is so positive.  I love being around that guy!"  And they will thank you for making a difference in their lives...all because of your positive attitude.  In five years, you will be the same person you are today, except for the books you read, the CDs you listen to and the people you associate with.  If you have been putting garbage in your head your whole life, you will continue to get garbage out.  But, if you put positive in, not only will you get positive out, but it will overflow onto others.  In five years, you could be a whole new you.  Your wife will say, "Who are you and what have you done with my husband?"

Now is the time to crank it up!  Don't give up.  Keep looking forward and keep your goals in sight.  Use tools to help you reach your goals.  And ask a trusted friend to help you on your journey.  The narrow path is not the easy path, but it is well worth it.

Resources:
Resolved: 13 Resolutions For Life, by Orrin Woodward
The 12 Week Year, by Brian P. Moran
The Slight Edge, by Jeff Olson
Wins, Losses, and Lessons, by Lou Holtz
Eat That Frog, by Brian Tracy
The Mental Fitness Challenge, by Orrin Woodward and Chris Brady
LIFE CD subscription
LIFE Leadership CD subscription
AGO CD subscription (faith based)
EDGE CD subscription (teens and young adults)

You can find these books and many others on a variety of topics including marriage, family, and finances on my website:  www.the-team.biz/39889184