Having the Best 2009 Possible

Having the best possible year in 2009 takes a lot of preparation. You can’t just make a few resolutions, have a general idea of what you would like to do, and hope for the best. You must have defined goals and a clear path to follow. Without having clear goals you do not know where you want to go, and unless you know where you want to go, how can you possibly plan how you are going to get there? Imagine getting in your car and driving without knowing where you are trying to get to. You may get somewhere you want to be, but there is a good chance you will not. In addition, not having a clear path or plan, even if you know where you want to go, means you do not know how you intend to get what you want. If you do not know how to get where you want to be, you are just shooting in the dark. You are wishing to get there, but it is mostly based on luck. Now imagine getting in your car and you do know where you want to go, but you have never been there before and you have no idea how to get there. Are you going to just start driving and hope you get there? Of course not. You need directions on the best way to get there in the shortest amount of time. Doesn’t it make sense to do the same thing when it comes to your life?
Another thing that causes people to not reach their goals is that they make too many at once. It’s great to be driven and to have a multiple goals. But when you have too many, you lose the clarity that your mind needs to be able to focus on your goal and reach it. You also cannot do your best when you are trying to do too much, and it is easy to become overwhelmed and discouraged, eventually wanting to just quit.

Focus on one or two areas that you would like to change this year. Is this the year you take control of your health? Your finances? Maybe you want to significantly increase your income this year, and work a little bit harder on eating healthy and working out. Also, don’t set your goals too high. You definitely need to have big goals, but don’t make your short-term goals too far beyond where you are right now. Work in increments towards your long-term goals. Having goals that are too big can also overwhelm you when you feel pressured to reach them in such a short period of time.
You also want to make sure that whatever your goals are, they are measurable. You need to be able to know if you have hit your mark! Many people set goals that are too general, such as “lose weight”, “get in shape”, or “earn more money”. While these are good starting points, they should not be considered goals. How much weight do you want to lose? What do you want to be able to do to consider yourself in good shape? How much money do you want to make per year or month? The key phrase in goals is “How much, by when?”
The great news is that there are tons of amazing tools and programs out there to help you get your goals set and your plans laid out. Check out some of the resources and programs below. These are some of the best out there to help you learn how to be effective in setting and achieving your goals.
With the new year upon us, now is the perfect time to start fresh. Make big goals, believe in yourself, and do what it takes to make it happen. Here’s to an amazing and successful 2009!