New Year Resolutions | Hard Lessons

What Are You Shooting For In 2014?

2014Target A new year is only six days away. What are you shooting for in 2014?

One of my favorite challenges in scripture comes from Paul in 1 Corinthians 9:26 (NASB): “I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air.” In other words, “I live with purpose.” So, in your personal life, family life, business, church, whatever, run with aim; shoot for something! One thing is certain—if you don’t shoot for something, you hit will hit nothing.

Here are a few suggestions that may help you hit the target in 2014:

#1 Have no more than three or four personal goals for the year. Choose things that are doable and will really make a difference.

#2 Choose one goal that is primary—an “if-I-only-get one-thing-done” goal, this is it. Make sure you reach this goal!

#3 Don’t let past failures keep you from trying again.

“Living in the past is an enemy of the future.” (Erwin McManus)

Forget “what lies behind and [reach] forward to what lies ahead….” (Philippians 3:13 NASB)

#4 Plan in detail for January through March. It is important to get off to a good start. In late March, plan for April through June, and so on. The greatest motivation for continuing will be progress.

“Setting a goal is not the main thing. It is deciding how you will go about achieving it and staying with that plan.” (Coach Tom Landry)

It won’t just happen. You need a plan.

#5 Make sure you have an accountability mechanism. Post your plan on the refrigerator or give it to a friend who won’t say “don’t worry about it” if you begin to slip.

Leadership author John Maxwell challenges us with: “You don’t have to be great to start; but you have to start to be great.” 2014 is as good a time as any to start. Why wait?

Best wishes for a great 2014. I’m pulling for you to hit the mark—dead center!

[If this post was interesting and useful to you, please forward it to a friend. Thanks.]

Why Bother Unless…

It’s that time of year again…time for New Year Resolutions (NYRs). More than half of us make NYRs, but so what? One out of three give up before the end of January; one out of four don’t succeed on even one of their resolutions. Only one out twelve are successful on all their NYRs.

I make NYRs almost every year. I have never been fully successful and some years have been in the give up before the end of January group. I don’t say “I give up”—they just fade away. So for me and for most of us, “Why bother?” is a valid question. Actually, “Why bother unless I do something different?” is the question.

I am determined that 2012 will be different (sound familiar?). There are four things I intend to do differently.

#1 I will set reasonable and achievable goals. I don’t have any BHAGs (Big Hairy Audacious Goals) in mind for 2012, just progress and completion. I am not suggesting you shouldn’t have a BHAG, but if you do, consider making it your only NYR because BHAGs require more than their share of time, energy, etc.

#2 I will have no more than five resolutions. The guy in the cartoon has already lost. There is no way for him to even remember, much less keep, such a long list of NYRs. I will set one goal in five areas: body, mind, soul, spirit and vocation (Hard Lessons). If I make progress in all five by December 31, then 2012 will be a great year.

#3 I will measure things that drive results, not just the results. For example, none of us ever lose weight by tracking how much we weigh. The daily weigh-in is a waste of time unless something is happening to actually drive weight loss. So, I intend to track what I am eating and how often I exercise, knowing these will drive the weight loss I desire.

#4 I will go public with my NYRs and ask someone to hold me accountable. Accountability is the key. Let’s be honest. It’s much easier to slack off on a secret NYR than a public one. Dottie (my wife) will be my accountability partner on some; some men I meet with regularly on others.

One final thing to remember: a good start is really important. Making progress is a great motivation to continue. If you are on track at the end of January, you will likely continue. Start slow and steady, then gain momentum as the year goes on.

By the way, I will let you know how I am doing on a regular basis. Hopefully, this will not be another “why bother?” year.

If this post was interesting and useful to you, please forward it to a friend. Thanks.