If the nightly news is any indication of the numerous challenges many of us faced in the past year, I think we’re all ready to enjoy one of our best years ever in 2010, both personally and professionally. Fortunately, there’s no better time than now to plan and prepare for your best year yet. But how and where do you begin? Listed below are five key tips to ensure that 2010 is one of your best years ever.
1. Make the commitment.
If you would like for 2010 to be your best year ever, it all begins with commitment. It’s that simple. Think about it — any goal that is ever worthy of being accomplished always begins with “commitment.” In other words, and to use a travel analogy, in order for you to arrive at a particular destination (or goal) — you must first make a commitment to reach it. So take a minute right now and commit to making 2010 your best year ever.
2. Be the architect of your life: Design your “best year ever.”
Once you’ve made the commitment, now it’s time for the fun to begin. Take some time to “design” and think about your best year ever. What would you like to accomplish? As this is a travel column, I’d suggest taking “time out” from your busy daily life and travel to a place of retreat (i.e., mountains, lake, etc.) to personally answer these questions. In short, it’s your time and opportunity to serve as the architect of your life.
3. Write down your goals and develop an action plan.
Once you’ve made your commitment and “designed” your ideal year, it’s time to write down your goals and action plan for 2010. Two famous studies done years ago at Yale and Harvard revealed that those who wrote down their goals were far more likely to achieve them than those who didn’t write them down. The lesson here is that writing down your goals on paper is like putting them “in stone” and greatly increases your chances of achieving your personal blueprint for success.
4. Execute your goals and action plans.
The phrase “execute your goals and action plans” may sound too business-like or official, but that is the very next step in the process of planning and preparing for your best year yet. In other words, start putting into daily practice the actual steps to achieving your desired goals and dreams for 2010. Most importantly though, always remain focused on your “final destination.” It’s amazing how a little persistence and determination can take us just about anywhere.
5. Review your goals and action plan regularly, making adjustments as necessary.
It’s a fact of life: No matter how carefully we plan or how big we dream, unforeseen challenges and obstacles will come our way. For this reason, it’s important to review your goals and action plan on a regular basis. When necessary, make changes to either one of them. Remember, just like the pilot on a plane, you are at the controls of your life and you can change course at any time. But the final destination remains the same — Make 2010 your best year ever. Good luck!
