It’s mid-January. I have a list of about ten items that I am sure I am going to accomplish before the end of the year. Eat healthier, lose weight, build my savings, increase my revenue and etcetera. I am so pumped up. I am sharing it with my family, closest friends and posting it on all social media outlets. I am ready. My drive is on level one hundred. “I know this is going to be a great year! I feel it! I am doing things differently this year! I am ready. Not going to make the same procrastination as I did last year! Nope…not I”.
Halfway through the year… I’ve only accomplished maybe two to three items on the list. Now my drive isn’t where it was back in January. Now I am thinking “Maybe I set too many goals and they’re not as important as I thought they were. I am young. I can make them a part of my short-term goals. I have all the time in the world. I probably won’t be able to get them done before the end of the year. I have too much on my plate and this will just have to wait”. Sound familiar? Yup… that was me.
On the flip side, it was driving me nuts because I knew I had to change my mindset. My bad habits were not going to work for me any longer. I refused to procrastinate. What did you change, you ask? I created DEADLINES… Yes… I did. I began to create a timeline of dates when I would get things done. January 26th, my list of emails for marketing had to be completed. Want to write an autobiography, chapter one had to be completed by February 15th. Want to save? By March 2nd; I had to have at least ten percent of my income in my savings account. So forth and so on.
Resolutions no longer worked for me. I wanted changes in my personal life, career, family, and finances. I gave myself deadlines. Guess what? It worked for me. I started to see results. I felt empowered. My social media outlets increased. My network increased. My family noticed the difference. I pushed myself, worked under pressure. Things got done. I was happier. Now, I am not criticizing anyone who completes resolutions or has goals. This method worked for me. In my opinion, a resolution is something you want to happen or something you want to stop from happening (Could be a good or bad habit). A goal is like a plan you set for something you hope to get done. But a deadline is scheduling a date that you will get something done. It holds you accountable. You become your personal project manager.
For me, I was determined. I did not want to have another unaccomplished list or just try and make things happen. I no longer wanted just to have goals. I was exhausted physically, mentally and emotionally of continuously making false promises to myself, my company or to my family. I wanted a timeline of deadlines with a list of dates I was determined to get things done.
So Mr. Resolution…I’m giving you notice! I want a divorce!
THE BLUEPRINT TO SUCCESS IS YOU!