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Did you make any resolutions for 2009? How are you doing so
far? Are you still on track? It’s not too soon to start
assessing your progress.
If you didn’t make any resolutions is it because you know
you cannot trust yourself to follow through? Many people
make light of this aspect but the impact is quite damaging.
Knowing you cannot trust yourself is like berating yourself.
This behavior of course depletes self-esteem and prevents
necessary risk-taking for growth. In addition, if you cannot
rely on you, how can others?
People make excuses for not following through. As
The Recovering Excuse
Maker™ I’ve certainly made more than my share. Two
of the most common excuses are insufficient time and money
to achieve desires.
Here’s a couple of simple ways to have an immediate
improvement in these areas:
1 – NO TV for one week
2 – Do not eat out (restaurant, vending machine etc) for 30
days
Some of you I imagine just became extremely uncomfortable.
Good! No, I’m not sadistic. However, we know as humans we
only seem to change when we get very uncomfortable. And most
people have no clue of the correlation of their daily
actions to their results. No correlation, no adjustment and
therefore, no success.
Here are some keys to helping you achieve your
desired outcomes.
First, don’t make resolutions, set goals. Resolutions often
are made in haste, a stupor, or just because it’s New Year’s
Eve and we think we’re supposed to. Setting goals on the
other hand requires thought and commitment to be effective.
Ask yourself, is your desire something you r-e-a-l-l-y
want or something you think you’re supposed to
want? Or even worse scenario, is what you claim to want
actually what someone else wants you to have, be, or do and
it’s of no interest to you?
This last consideration is extremely important because
commitment is needed to follow through and succeed. As
obvious as that may sound, that is a missing component for
many. And, if it’s really someone else’s desire or a
superficial interest on your part, there won’t be
commitment. There’s a BIG difference between interested and
committed. No commitment, no follow through – it’s that
simple!
Once you decide on a goal, write it down, share it with
others (be selective here – make sure they’re supportive).
Avoid uncommitted phrases such as, “I’d like” or “I’m
trying” as they will only keep you stuck. Instead set
intentions with conviction. I intend to . . . Make sure it’s
what you want or are striving for versus what you don’t want
or are attempting to overcome. For example, I intend to
exercise three times a week as opposed to I intend not to be
a slug.
You may think these are simplistic steps but they play a
significant role in moving people forward!
Next, keep your intention alive with specific, incremental
steps. Think of a baby learning to walk. Each action in and
of itself often seems insignificant but without the
culmination of them walking doesn’t occur. Recently, on one
of my coaching calls my client scoffed at her growth based
on her belief that it wasn’t of any magnitude. I reminded
her that she had demonstrated more progress than she had
done prior, hence progress.
Finally, you must persist. This is often a major hurdle for
people (including myself) if we don’t have the proper
support system in place. Much of society functions from an
instant gratification philosophy – ironically,
even though we KNOW it doesn’t work – once again, it isn’t
what we know, what do we do? Functioning from instant
gratification will not align you to achieve your desires.
Sports fans, think of it this way. You enjoy watching the
game, the race. Part of the enjoyment is based on the proper
execution of a variety of aspects which requires specific
skills, techniques and application. Commitment and
consistent practice is what allows the performance to appear
effortless. The same is true for singers and entertainers.
One critical component these people all have in common is
they work with a coach. And no matter what level of success
they achieve, they continually work with coaches. Sure,
working with a coach costs money, so does going to the
movies and eating out. Which gets you closer to your desired
life?
Coaches help you persist and stay on track when you don’t
feel like it. They also push you to achieve your full
potential instead of settling for less. Are you working with
a coach? I wouldn’t be where I am today without the
coaches in my life.
Coaches also help you recognize important progress where
most people dismiss it. This lack of recognition sabotages
progress.
In summary:
• Make sure your goal is yours AND you’re willing to make
the commitment
• Write your goal down and talk about it actively
• Take regular and incremental action steps
• PERSIST – work with a coach
Make 2009 your best year yet!
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Please feel free to share
this information with friends and colleagues. Karen
KMG Enterprises, LLC
P.O. Box 26927
Phoenix, AZ 85068
Phone: (602)
870-3652
Fax: (602) 870-3653
Website:
www.KarenGridley.com
Email:
Karen@KarenGridley.com
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