I love to ask people about their dreams and ambitions. Years ago, I asked Adam, who was dating a family friend, what he dreamed of doing when he graduated from high school. He did not hesitate in his response.
He enthusiastically told me he dreamed of playing basketball in the NBA.
“Hmmm,” I thought. I have loved basketball since I was in the 4th grade. Having attempted to play in college, in spite of my short stature, I was the last person to judge a dream based on perceived ability. Suffice to say, Adam did not look like a potential N.B.A. basketball player.
I was intrigued by Adam’s dream and asked, “So, do you play on your high school team?” “No”, Adam replied. “Oh, you must play on an AAU team,” I said. “Ah, no”, Adam said. “So, where do you play”, I asked. Confidently Adam said, “I practice, at the park, all the time.” Now I am even more curious. I am thinking to myself, is there something going on at this park that I am unaware of?
Is he practicing at the park with professional or college players?
I couldn’t leave it alone, “Adam, who do you practice with at the park?” “Oh, I just practice by myself,” he said.
We all have dreams. Some dreams start to bubble up in the form of New Years resolutions. While it is not surprising Adam did not realize his dream to become an N.B.A. Player, I am surprised how difficult it is for us to achieve simple resolutions.
Almost everyone has engaged in the tradition of taking a look at their life, and making promises to start doing something, or stop doing something, on the first day of the New Year. Nothing as adventurous as playing in the N.B.A., but here are the most popular resolutions for 2014?
- 47% relate to self-improvement and education.
- 38% relate to weight and personal health.
- 35% relate to financial health.
- 31% relate to relationships.
Everyone I have asked about their resolutions for 2014 has included one or more of these categories. Yet as important as these resolutions are success will elude most of us.
- 92% of us will fail.
- 25% of us have already abandoned our resolutions, and 54% will abandon them before summer arrives.
So how do you achieve your resolutions, and make 2014 a breakthrough year?
I have been studying goal setting and achievement for more than 30 years. As I reviewed my personal results, research, and coaching experience, I concluded top achievers consistently applied four strategies.
- Write your goals as if you have already achieved them. It is more than the goal; it is how you write the goal. Write your goal as if you have already achieved it. Consider a weight loss goal of ten pounds, for example. Most people would write it, “Lose 10 pounds.” You increase your ability to achieve your goal when you write it down, as if you have already achieved it. “I lost 10 pounds by March 30.” When you read, “I lost 10 pounds by March 30,” every day, you prime your mind for achievement.
- Identify the benefits you will enjoy from achieving your goal. Why do you want to achieve it? We all need motivation, especially when we run into obstacles and challenges. Make your list of benefits meaningful and personal.
- Review your goals weekly. Your weekly review has three objectives: 1. Review what has been done and the benefits you will enjoy after you accomplish it. 2. Identify what needs to be done. 3. Make a list of actions and put them on your calendar for the week.
- Review your progress with a coach/mentor frequently. In a study conducted by Dr. Gail Matthew, a Psychology professor at Dominican University of California, she found people with written goals, who make a commitment to them, and are accountable to someone for their attainment, accomplish nearly 80% more of their goals.
"Decide that you want it more than you are afraid of it."
Bill Cosby
What is your most important goal/resolution for 2014? What is the key to achieving it?