Tis' the Season to Renew and Renew and Renew

Finally, the Arizona Motor Vehicle Division got something right.  In 2004 I renewed my driver’s license and was pleasantly surprised to learn that I didn’t have to do it again until 2037!  By the time I go back to the MVD at age 69 I’m certain my photo, height and weight will have changed.  Under HAIR my license will go from RED to NONE.  Based on genetic disposition it will all be gone because on my Mom’s side they lose it from back to front and my Dad’s side front to back.

Anyway, I’m glad I don’t have to worry about renewing my driver’s license for another 28 years because this whole renewal business can be very time consuming.  Case in point…in the past ten days I have renewed my real estate license with the Arizona Department of Real Estate, my Southeast Valley Regional Association of Realtors membership, my marketing agreement with the Nouveau Riche real estate education company and my US Airways Dividend miles account.

With all of this focus on year-end renewal I, like most people, have spent little time thinking about my New Year’s resolutions.  But this is actually okay with me though because I’ve never been a big fan of this type of goal setting.  Why?  A few years ago a family member of mine made it his New Year’s resolution to stop drinking, smoking and gambling.  Then the second weekend in January he went to Vegas and it was game over.  Needless to say, he wasn’t emotionally involved with making his resolution a reality.

Through a lot of reading and self-discovery I have found that the resolutions or goals we set can be reached ONLY if we become emotionally involved with them.  This is certainly not a new concept as it has been written about in publications as old as the Bible and by famous motivational authors like Napoleon Hill.  However, what remains a mystery is why it took me so long to figure out and why so few people understand this basic principle, at least at a subconscious level.

My biggest failures, from getting in shape to starting a custom home building company, have come from setting goals that I was not emotionally involved with.  So this year I will select my New Year’s resolutions carefully.  I will be clear and concise.  And most importantly, I will resolve to be emotionally involved in every goal I set.