Business Coach, Joan Nowak

5 Steps to Achieve Your New Year Resolutions December 27, 2011

This time of year, many of us set new year resolutions or goals  – to lose weight,  spend more time with family, work less or make more money.  We start with great intentions; but the passion and commitment soon fades away – and another year goes by!

If you really want to make a change in the coming year, here are five steps to help you turn your resolutions into results.  

First, put your goals in writing!  Written goals are far more effective than those we keep in our head!  And remember to look at your goals daily.  

Second, make your goals specific and measurable.  Vague goals create vague results.  If you lost one pound or made one additional dollar next year, would you be happy?  Of course not but you would have accomplished your goal!

Third, identify what you must DO in order to achieve your goals.  These may include actions or tasks, new skills, or simply changing some habits or behaviors.  Here’s a few examples:

• If you want to lose weight, you might consider taking a 30-minute walk at lunch each weekday, eating a healthy breakfast each day, join a gym and work out at least 3 times per week, etc.

• If you want to enjoy more time with family, you may need to go in to work earlier, delegate non-essential tasks, hire a virtual assistant, improve your time management skills, plan and prioritize your work using a calendar, etc.

• If you want to earn more, you may need to learn new skills, attend networking or industry events, develop an action plan to improve your business (or a personal development plan for yourself), hire new or better people, etc.

Fourth, reward and celebrate your success or a job well done!  Rewards can be small or large, depending on the goal.  If you have goals that cover a longer period of time, consider establishing some milestones along the way with some small rewards to celebrate your progress.

Finally, share your goals with someone who is supportive like a spouse, friend, mentor or coach.  Sharing your goals with someone else adds a level of accountability that motivates us to keep moving forward.  

Find this helpful?  Then share it with others or subscribe to my weekly.  For additional resources and ideas to grow your small business, visit my website.  While you are there, join my mailing list to receive my monthly eNewsletter and a free copy of my eBook, Mastering the 7 Elements of Business Success.