Happy New Year! We love/hate goal setting, there is ONE Badass reason to embrace them!  Here we go again with that damn goal setting and resolutions. There is only ONE reason to set goals and make resolutions. How you do one thing, is how you do everything. We talk about goals and resolutions this time of year, our hopes are high, and our dreams are grand, so what happens?

Over 80%  of us will have fallen off the wagon within the first 60 days, frankly, because most have never set goals, or taken the steps to achieve them, so most don’t experience the success of attaining a goal and the feelings that go with it!

So let’s take small steps, pat ourselves on the back, get the feelings of pride and success, then move on to our goals, shall we?

1. S.M.A.R.T. Goals. ALWAYS, always write them down. This is cliché, but it’s true, “A goal not written down is just a wish.” Worse yet, we can trick our minds into not really being committed to the goal. Writing it down is a commitment to yourself. Write down your top five goals in each category: Love, family, health, wealth and spirituality. Write down your REALISTIC timeline to reach each goal. Set S.M.A.R.T goals. The idea of any goal is reaching them!

2. What’s Your Why? Why are these your goals? What are your beliefs? Who are you and who do you want to become? How will these goals support you and your belief in yourself, your life and what matters most? Do you want to lose weight? Why? What will it mean? How will you feel? How does it enforce your beliefs in yourself? More money? Why? What will it do? How will you spend it? How will you feel when you have done the things you need to do to reach your financial goal?

3. Break BIG Goals Down into “Slight Edge” decisions you can make each day to take steps forward towards your goals. Each decision you make is a decision to move towards a goal, or away from a goal….that’s it… have a donut, move away from a weight loss goal. Follow up with customers, get closer to your business goal… you get it.

4. Goals Need Accountability! Find a mentor, coach or workout partner. I used coaches to win a state golf championship and a national racquetball championship… long before the victories. I set the goal of winning. I had a list of action steps to take each day, such as work out, practice, eat right, and have a coach or workout partner who would push me and hold me accountable. Answering to yourself AND someone else helps remind you of the goal and why you set it!

5. Visualize Your Goals! This is the MOST important aspect of any goal. If you can’t see it, feel it, trust it, it just won’t happen. I mean, picture yourself reaching a goal. What are you wearing, how do you feel about yourself? How about your friends and family, how does it feel to set a great example for them? How proud are you of you?

6. Let go. This may seem counter-intuitive, so here’s what I mean. Let go of the outcome. You have set your goal, taken the action steps, have support, you are making a decision that takes you TOWARDS  the goal, now let go. Let go of your ego, let go of the fear and let go of the doubt. You are ready. You know you have prepared, you can see it, feel it, and trust it, now just let go. I was playing in a state match play golf tournament, which means it’s a hole by hole competition. I was 55 years young playing against college golfers. I knew I was prepared. I was the best I could be at the moment, and I played, enjoyed the process and left my ego in the hotel room. I played against young, great golfers who were so attached to the outcome and their egos that they forgot about their preparation, skills and only cared about how bad it would look to lose to a 55-year-old. Guess who won? Yep, me. My mind was not full of a million thoughts. My ego and identity were not invested in the outcome; I let go.

*** THE NUMBER ONE REASON TO SET GOALS AND STRIVE TOWARDS THEM?

It’s how the journey helps you feel about you. When you keep promises to yourself. When you make those Slight Edge decisions to attain your goals. When you lay your head on the pillow at night. The only way WE build confidence, self-esteem and belief  is to do what we say we are going to do. Attaining the goal is the icing on the cake, it is who you become along the way that is the greatest reward.

PS. If you make a “bad” choice, away from a goal, dust yourself off and start again. Like I said, in the end, it’s how you feel about yourself. Starting over is good, it builds confidence, quitting does not.

PPS. It is ok to “cancel” a goal that no longer serves you or no longer has importance. Just be honest with yourself and why you are canceling it. Or, reset it, make it reasonable and attainable, then strive forward.