7 Steps to Absolute Success in 2012!

It’s nearly the end of another year and for many, its that time of year when thoughts creep in such as “New Year’s Resolutions” and “Perhaps I should set some this year” or “I won’t bother this year as I never stick to them.”..... Our focus drifts to 2012, thoughts of a new year, a new start. Many people think and hope everything will magically be different!  Perhaps a new job will appear, a new relationship will emerge or our bodies will suddenly be healthier and fitter. Some of you may even be thinking about what those New year’s resolutions will be.  For those that are, you may find yourself basing them on last year’s memories and past experiences and may discover there is an ambivalence about them!  Perhaps you didn’t stick to them or you set out with all good intentions in January but by the end of February or early March they had got lost in the daily grind?  Well, you probably weren’t alone.....

You probably know the definition of Insanity don’t you? It’s doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result!  So, if you are honest with yourself, did you achieve your New Year’s Resolutions or your goals? Did you even make any? Did you set unrealistic ones and set yourself up for failure?  Either way, maybe it’s time to do it differently this year?  Read on...

Over the next 7 weeks, I am going to give you a weekly, step by step process, that will absolutely help you get a head start in 2012.  The only catch is, you have to do it!  I can’t make you do it.  The good news is that it won’t take too long, and it’s very easy! Just 15 - 20 minutes of your week. If you do this, you will have a good plan and direction for 2012 well before Christmas Day!

Imagine being able to truly relax over the Christmas break without that nagging thought of all the things you could or should do, the goals you need to set, the motivation you require to do it all....   Imagine having a clear plan before the New Year. Would you be more in control of your life? How would you feel if you knew you had already laid a solid foundation for the year ahead? Perhaps you would have even more fun and enjoyment over this time of the year that is often the only time many people take a break for the year?

Would it be worth spending 15 minutes a week to do this?  If you aren’t convinced then stop and consider for a moment how you will feel if you get to January 1st 2012 and have no plan. Then spend a moment considering how you will feel if you do have a plan.  Step into that moment and notice what you see, hear and feel. Which one feels or seems better?

Know that when you build a house you must have a plan and you need to lay the foundations first. You need to find a builder, get quotes, and set a plan of action in place. Just like building, it’s important to lay the foundations for a successful 2012.  Know that getting started will probably be the hardest part. Remember the J curve?  You have to put in more effort before you see the fruits of your labour. Same as planting lettuces. You must water and tend to them, and as they grow they seem to magically take care of themselves. So, here is the first step.

STEP 1
TAKE STOCK of your life and do a STOCK TAKE.

It’s time to stop and take a good look at your life. We have to know where we are now before we can move forward with purpose. Businesses do stock takes and companies get audited!  So imagine your life is your business and it’s time to review it.  Look back over the year and take a note of what went well and what didn’t go well. What were your greatest achievements and what were your greatest challenges? What did you do well and what could be improved or changed?  What areas got neglected or forgotten about? Are you truly happy? Do you love your job?  Do you have great relationships?  Do you get out of bed with excitement or is it a drudge?  Are you at your ideal weight or have you noticed a few more kilos creeping on?  Are you still indulging in those bad habits - smoking, drinking too much, taking work home, eating too much of the wrong food, too busy to exercise or spend time with your family and friends?  Be bone raw honest and remember if you can’t accept it you can’t change it. Do this exercise with no judgement, shame or guilt!  Remember, life isn’t a dress rehearsal, so get real. Spend a good 20 minutes or more writing this down. Consider it like doing a stock take, taking an inventory of your life. This simple step of writing it all down can be, in itself, very cleansing.

When you have done this, divide your life into departments. Just like a business has different divisions or departments, split your life into six or seven departments. By breaking it up, or chunking it down, it will make the entire task much simpler and easier, and that has to be good!

Here are a few examples of departments:-
Health; business/career; family/ friends; learning/education/personal development; spiritual; social/ leisure time; relationships.
Pick the word or words that you feel comfortable with, and are relevant to you. Keep it to six or seven departments or divisions.

Now get a clean piece of paper and divide it into six or seven equal rows. Put one of your headings in each row.  Next, divide the row into two. On one side write down what was good in this area and on the other side, write what didn’t work so well, what didn’t happen, what was neglected or needs changing.  Again, do this with no judgment. Just note the facts and write it all down. Imagine you are looking back over the year of your life from an outsider perspective, and note the facts.

Good, now that wasn’t too hard was it!  Remember the hardest start is to get started.  Getting started builds momentum, an important ingredient in creating Success!

Finally, for a bit of fun. Let’s play a game. Imagine you are a star in MISSION IMPOSSIBLE! (except we know it is possible!) and that Your mission, if you accept, is to do this right NOW or at least, within the next 7 days. In 7 days you will receive your second set of instructions for creating a truly amazing 2012 for yourself!

So, until the second step, remember Your Mindset Matters!

Mandy Napier
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