More than 10 months have passed since millions of people across New Zealand and the world, tried to figure out how to make 2007 better for themselves, their families and communities.

The popular tradition of putting aside some time and setting some goals or New Years resolutions is evident when everyone gets back to work and discusses their progress (or lack of) towards their particular “resolutions”.

The question is? Did you set any goals? Are they big enough to inspire you? How much progress have you made? Are you happier, slimmer, more fit, working harder, working less hard, wealthier, have you quit smoking yet, managing your time more effectively, enjoying more quality time with your family, trying to boost your career in New Zealand? Trying to re-unite family from around the world? The list for settlers, in a new country are endless. Do you have a plan to achieve these goals and have you set yourself a realistic, but ambitious deadline?

A US study of top categories of New Years Resolutions puts health and fitness as the number 1 priority for most people. At tied second comes career and time management, but personal finance and personal growth and interests are also right up there.

• their goals are linked to a bigger vision for their life and so are highly motivated. Take time out to discover your own vision or purpose? 
• they use their imagination as an asset to build a full-scale model in their heads of what they want. 
• they have an action plan to achieve their goals 
• they follow through on the plan, daily. 
• when they encounter the inevitable obstacles, they exhibit “bounce-back-ability”, using the hurdles to strengthen their resolve and capabilities. 
• they have a set of “mind tools” that help them build their dreams.
  

The good news is that you can have a revolution in your life and goal setting does not have to be on one day of the year and you can achieve much more than you might first anticipate. The difference between success and failure is very small- in fact it’s a whole lot of small thoughts and actions every single day. This is the secret.

I see it every day amongst the sales & administration staff at the newspapers where we too have corporate and personal goals, I’ve seen it at the advertising agencies and other media companies that I have worked with.

The top achievers are consistently passionate about what they do, live purposefully and manage their attitude and output daily, rather than letting their mood or attitude manage them. Obstacles? There are many and in rapid succession. Many of these performers will not take no for an answer- and will endure 4-5 failed attempts at closing a deal, before making it happen. They use their mind as a tool to create the ending that they want. The same rules apply to everyday life and goals.


Mind Tool #1 -Create mental pictures

When you hit an obstacle in your path to achieving your goals- take a breather and get right back on it the next day. Mentally visualise having already achieved these goals in full sensual technicolour. Imagine yourself every single day, three times a day, living with the success of having already achieved your goal. Feel the excitement in the pit of your stomach, speak to others about your goal and get support.

Useful Tips

Write down some affirmations. Affirmations are written in the positive as if you are already achieving the goal. For example: I am attracting positive people into my life who create opportunities for me… 

• Place these on index cards and put them where you can see them regularly or, 
•  Record a series of them onto a tape with a backing track of your favourite or inspirational music on.