3 steps you need to take to achieve your goals

Well, we're half-way through month number one of 2013. How are you doing on those New Year's resolutions/goals you set a month ago? Still strong? Still committed? Struggling?

Think about a baby's first steps. They're not pretty. They're not sure. Though they might be cute, they aren't very graceful or even productive. Oh, and there are a lot of falls thrown in for good measure. 

I used to run marathons and one day on a training run about mile 18 I told my running partner that I sure was tired. He told me something I'll never forget, "It's mile 18. You're supposed to be tired!"

Now I offer you the same encouragement…It's only mid-January. If you're goal is worthwhile at all, it's supposed to be hard. It shouldn't come easily or quickly. Be encouraged. You're right on schedule.

Let me give you three things you can do NOW to help make sure that you conquer those goals and acheive your resolutions.

1. Keep you goal in front of you. It doesn't matter if it's taped to your bathroom mirror or to the steering wheel of your car or to your refrigerator, but make sure you can see it every day…several times a day. Yeah, there's even an app. Try Lift. You have to keep a constant watch on your goal if you want to acheive it. If it's not really a goal but rather a curiousity (I'll bet Edith turns into an old maid) then sure, write it down, put it in a file and don't look at until New Year's Eve and see if you were right. But if it's a goal you hope to achieve…get it out there were you can keep an eye on it. The carrot on the stick isn't just a cliche.
2. Connect with a coach. Even the very best athletes in the world know that they can't be their very best without a coach in their life; and not just to help develop new skills. Coaches help us see our blindspots. They direct our attention where we are unlikely to direct it. And, yes, they are there to kick our tail when we start whining about how hard it is. If you don't know who to call, try this guy. You need what he has to offer.
3. Understand the positive power of failure. Remember our conversation earlier about a baby falling a lot when learning to walk? The same is true here. If you're not falling…you're not really trying. And any goal worth your time will not be achievable the first time out of the gate. But every failure puts you just one step closer to mastery and success. Turn the defeating power of failure on it's ear. You didn't fail…you took another step toward success! 

So how are you feeling about the goals you've set for 2013?