"A goal is a dream with a deadline." Napoleon Hill
Every year, I set my New Year's resolutions early and work with them for weeks. I annoy my friends and family by asking them about their resolutions and find it very hard to accept that some people simply will not make them - no matter how many times I ask.
Who can resist a fresh start? A new opportunity? A wide open future?
Certainly not me. To my mind, the new year just isn't the new year without a resolution. And according to a University of Scranton study 45% of people agree. Sadly, out of that 45% (who always set a resolution) only 8% will succeed. But all is not discouraging.
The same study goes on to report that those who "explicitly make resolutions are 10 times more likely to attain their goals" than those of us who don't. Or, in other words, specific resolutions work, while vague ones often don't.
And this is the difference, I suppose, between a resolution and a goal.
And this is the difference, I suppose, between a resolution and a goal.
Unlike the average resolution, goals include specific and realistic targets - complete with numbers, dates and deadlines. Setting these quantifiable, number specific targets help make our intentions real, moving them out of our minds and into the material world - where they belong.
So if you're feeling shaky about your New Year's resolutions, take a few minutes to write them out. Now look them over. Are they vague or specific? Do they have numbers? When do they end?
Answer these questions, in writing, and read through what you have written at least once a day. In doing so you can find yourself among the 8% who succeed - effective December 31st 2015 or before!
*Stats courtesy of StatisticBrain.com.
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