The Most Important Ingredient to Your Success in the New Year

It's not over until I win...

It's that time of year.  The time of year for new beginnings.  The time when people make resolutions and decisions on changes in their lives.  It is a time when people say, "This time it is different.  I'm going to stick with things and make a real difference in the New Year..."

We all know what happens next for most people.  A few weeks or month in - all of those changes and the enthusiasm for them give way to apathy and discouragement.  

Why does this happen?  Why is it that just a few weeks earlier people can be so excited and optimistic about improving themselves and their lives only to lose it that quickly?

The answer is actually quite simple.  They don't anchor their newfound excitement and change in anything substantial.  They do not create a real clear "why" for what they are doing.  They don't give themselves a clear goal with a clear deadline and incentive for reaching it.

In the absence of these, the minute things don't go their way or they encounter challenges and obstacles, the enthusiasm begins to fade and they lose interest and let it go.  Then comes the remorse and guilt, followed by the acceptance of "Oh well, that is just the way it is.  I guess I'm destined to be this way or __________ (fill in the blank)."

The majority of people give up on what they want too easily and quickly.  Don't become one of them.  As outlined above, you need some simple, but powerful things in place to succeed.  Here they are:

1. You must be clear on "why" you are doing what you are doing and the goals you are setting.
2. You must have a crystal clear set of goals or desired outcome.
3. You must have a clear deadline, a set date for accomplishment - not a time-frame.  Time-frames are expandable.  Deadlines are set in stone.
4. You must give yourself an incentive, a reward that really matters, for accomplishing your goal by your deadline.  The incentive should be tied to your anchor - your why.

Lastly, here's a little Bonus Secret.  The one thing that carries through all of this is your attitude - which, thankfully, you have control over.  A lot of people don't realize this, but your attitude is simply your inner game showing in your outer game.  You have control over what you think, what you believe, and how you feel.  Use it to your advantage and control your attitude on a daily basis.  Learn to recognize when you are self-sabotaging and allowing negativity to take hold.  Stop it and re-direct your energy and emotion to what you can control and to things  that really matter (like sticking through a tough obstacle) .

You were meant for more.  It's never over until you give in or give up.  Don't give in, tell yourself everyday that "It's not over until I win!"  Now, get out there and make it a reality!