I am fascinated by the power date of January 1st of any year. What is it about this one date that has so much power of promise over us? It is the one date used most often to set our goals for the New Year. The promises we make to ourselves to lose weight, get into shape, stop smoking, save money or do our dream job. It represents hope of a new beginning. A feeling of I can’t fail this year or can I? Can 1/1 be so powerful? Let’s take a look.
Let’s start with one of the most popular New Years goals, weight loss. According to a survey by Franklin Covey, 40% of people who set this New Year’s Resolution break it before the end of January. An astounding 33% stated they were never committed to keeping the goal in the first place. I would bet it is even higher, because most people won’t admit that. Goals are so important in our lives directions. Yet the majority of Americans just sail around like a ship without a rudder. Complaining about how bad their life has become, as if they have absolutely no control, which is very sad.
When my children were young, we had a large Disney movie collection on VHS, yes I’m old. My daughter would fixate on one movie for weeks at a time without changing videos. I recall coming home from the office when she was on the Alice in Wonderland kick. It seemed whenever I walked in the movie was at the same part until I could recite the dialog with her. The part was when Alice came upon the Cheshire Cat. Young Alice found herself at the fork in the road and she asked the Cheshire Cat which way she should go. The Cat replied “where are you going?” Alice replied “I don’t know” which the Cat replied “then either road will do.” I believe most people are in that same mode of thinking. Without goals, either road will do. But how do you know if you have succeeded, if you don’t have a destination? This is why goals are so important.
I find goal oriented people are much happier. They complain and blame less. They certainly are more successful than those wondering their way through life. We always hit what we are aiming for. Napoleon Hill once stated we get what we think about most of the time. Goals help direct ones thoughts to accomplish anything in life they want to accomplish.
My hope is that everyone will set an achievable goal that makes them stretch and stay with it throughout this year. May you exceed all of your goals and dreams. Happy Prosperous New Year!!!
“If you don’t know where you are going, you’ll end up someplace else.”–Yogi Berra
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Tim Wilhoit is owner/principal of Your Friend 4 Life Insurance Agency in Nashville, TN. He is a family man, father of 3, entrepreneur, insurance agent, life insurance broker, salesman, sales trainer, recruiter, public speaker, blogger and team leader with over 25 years of experience in sales and marketing in the insurance and beverage industries.
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