How to make a reasonable resolution

It's hard not to get the resolution urge on New Year's Eve…

There's that sense of renewal, of rebirth, and the guilty awareness that you ate your
own weight in chocolate during the holidays. Sure, last year's resolutions didn't make
it past the fifth of January, but hey, this year is going to be different, right? 

Most of us don't have a clue how to make a reasonable resolution, which is why most
of us fail to keep the ones we make. 

We set high goals for ourselves, and then wonder why we never attain them. So we
either stop setting goals (never a good choice), or make resolutions that are ridiculously
easy to keep.

I asked a friend what his New Year's resolution was last year...

He thought very seriously and then replied "Breathing." An admirable goal, but
hopefully not one he'll have to struggle to keep!

How many times have you felt you’re the undisputed King or Queen of the broken
resolution, when it comes to…

Losing Weight, Exercising, Prospecting more, Spending less, Saving money, Making a
schedule, Following your plan, Taking more time off, etc., etc., ETC… 

Sure, you were sincere when you made these resolutions.
 
You said it.
You mean it.
And then did absolutely nothing about it.   

Sure, these resolutions stood firm for a few weeks.

But their memory returned throughout the year, making you feel guilty and
ineffectual. If you didn’t do anything to make these resolutions reality…
it’s probably because:

• You had NO plan. 
• They came from I SHOULD, instead of I WANT.
• You were NOT aware of the Benefit of Doing. 
• You were NOT aware of the Cost of Not Doing.
• You may have been working AGAINST how your brain naturally functions to manifest goals.  
• All you had was a MEANINGLESS expression of your resolution (Save Money, Be Happy, Get in Shape… etc.) 

So let’s commit to make this year different.  
This time, let’s figure out a way to set resolutions properly, and keep them.  

After all what do you have to lose???

Here are my proven success tips for setting successful New Year Resolutions and
staying on track in the New Year. 

Each makes a huge difference.

If you want to become good at using these techniques, accept and follow my Coach
Challenge for each. And of course get a coach to help hold you to it.

My Proven Tips for New Year’s Resolution Success 

1. Get clear and specific about exactly what you want… and know exactly what
you don’t want.

This is Step One in taking control of your brain. If you tell yourself to not think of a pink
elephant, you will think of the pink elephant…..

Coach challenge:  Make a list of what you want. Or you can start with a list of what you don’t
want first then turn that list around to what you do want.    

2. Make sure you are in control of making the resolution happen.

A New Year’s Resolution of “I won’t let my clients throw me off my schedule” raises the very
important question – “What is it YOU can do that will support that?” Until you’ve figured this
out you’re just hoping.

Coach Challenge: As soon as you start focusing on what YOU can control you begin to turn
things around. For example: “I will raise my standards and assert boundaries by putting
myself on a Do Not Disturb system all day, and only answer voice mail and email at
scheduled times… (or I will hire someone to do this for me).”

3. Mentally visualize your goal.

Give your brain a clear idea of what it is like to achieve your goal. Visualize all the pleasurable
aspects of achieving your New Year’s Resolution again and again. The more you do this, the
more your brain will draw you towards that goal.

Coach Challenge: Spend a few minutes every day clearly and vividly imagining yourself
achieving your goal.  Repeat this process as often as necessary. 

4. Change unwanted behavior.

This is the most important aspect of creating change, and most often overlooked. 

If you have tried to change something in the past and haven’t succeeded, one of the most
likely reasons is that old behaviors were giving you benefits that your brain did not want to
give up.

For some people, smoking makes them relaxed. For others, eating junk food gives them a
feeling of comfort. So the reason or intention behind the behavior is a good one, even if the
behavior itself is undesirable. 

If you want your resolution to stick, you need to find alternative ways of achieving the benefit
that the old behaviors gave you. So if smoking helps you relax, part of the planning for your
new healthy life should involve finding alternative and preferably more enjoyable ways of
relaxing.

Coach Challenge: Years ago I was smoking, to fill a loneliness gap. When I worked on filling
that gap with healthy activities I was able to stop smoking and I was no longer lonely. This is
true in business as well. If you’re changing a behavior, simply ask yourself what the benefit
was of the old behavior. Then ensure that this benefit is incorporated into your new goal.

5. Eat the frog.

Mark Twain said: “If you eat a frog first thing in the morning, that will probably be the worst
thing you do all day.”

Coach Challenge: Start your day by tackling an important task, especially if it is a task you
aren't crazy about.

6. Nix the multi-tasking.

We pride ourselves on being able to do two, three or four things at once. And that is fine if the
activities are fairly simple, like stuffing envelopes while on a conference call or eating lunch
while reading email. But if at least one of the tasks is more complicated, like putting together
a PowerPoint or putting together a CMA, it deserves your full attention. 

Coach Challenge: Set aside a period of time that you can devote to one task. You will make
fewer mistakes and get more done in less time.

7. Buddy up.

If your resolution is to keep your promise with yourself, to prospect or do something simple
like stick to your eating, health and exercise plan…

Coach Challenge: …Make a pact with a co-worker or friend who has a similar goal. Support
each other in keeping your resolutions. 

Join “Coach Patti’s 30-Day Productivity Challenge” and play The Real Estate Game® to help
you stay accountable to your resolutions and keep your promises to yourself.  You’ll be buddied
up with 20 agents nationwide who have the same goals as you… And you’ll have more fun than
you’ve had in a long time.  www.TheRealEstateGame.com 

8. Plan it.

A few minutes of planning can save you hours of time. 

Coach Challenge: Either first thing in the morning or at the end of the day… take a few minutes
to plan. It doesn't have to be a long formal process, just jot down the things you want to do
that day (or the next day if you do this at the end of the day).

9. Don't Try Everything at Once! 

There's a temptation with the New Year, to create a list of everything we've ever wanted to
change. 

Don't fall for it! You'll have better luck fulfilling one or two goals than you will with a list of
fifty. You can always add new resolutions to your list later.

Coach Challenge: Just take One Thing at a Time.

10. Write it down.

Do this as a constant reminder, and to tell your brain what to focus on.  

Coach Challenge: Stick it up wherever you will see it. You may want to change the wording from
time to time to make it fresh.  

So now you have your plan of action to make your New Year great.

Before you get started, leave a comment below and share your thoughts about my Proven Tips
for New Year’s Resolution Success.

Think they can help you? Think you’ve got what it takes to make your most attractive
resolutions become a reality? Are you ready to accept my Coach Challenges every step of the
way?

Now go out and make something GREAT happen for yourself!

Coach Patti