If you are like many of us, year over year, we look at the turn over of one year to the next as a cleansing opportunity to shake off what didn’t work and to add something into the mix that does.

I have had many New Year’s resolutions in the past: Work out more, sleep in less, get more life balance exercises – yoga and meditation, improve my eating, get more sleep. In addition, I have been on both sides of actually bringing a new habit into my life that works AND completely flaming out!

Here is what I have learnt:

Adding a new goal or habit into your new year or regimen takes a thoughtful approach. Just saying it, does not make it happen. Find people who are living examples of achieving BIG HAIRY AUDACIOUS GOALS.

Here is a method I have used and tweaked over many years of learning from high achievers and dreamers who get things done. After you take a read through, you may want to save for when you can review in a quiet space.

It starts with a set of powerful questions:

1. Name one goal or habit you want to add to 2017.

2. Write down anything in your life that was once merely just a goal, dream, or desire.

a. What are some of the big and little things that at one time seemed extremely difficult or impossible to achieve or acquire?

b. Pick two or three items on that list and write down the steps you went through to turn each one of them into reality.

c. You may not have done it consciously, but it’s likely something stimulated you to want them so much so that it may have become a magnificent obsession for you. Then, did you focus on it continuously? Put a lot of emotional charge into it? Then what? Did you actually create a plan? What were the steps you went through?

3. Write a paragraph on why this new goal or habit is a must?

a. What are the reasons you absolutely will achieve this no matter what? Remember, reasons come first, answers come second! Why do you want to do this?

4. What are some of the things that you may need to do that you don’t want to do in order to achieve these goals?

a. If you have enough passion, you can get yourself to do anything, but first you must be certain about what “anything” might entail. Let’s look the tiger in the eye!

5. What is one small thing that you will do immediately toward achieving your goal or habit?

a. Example: Making a phone call, booking a meeting, getting on the internet to research, signing up for a seminar, getting a coach, etc?

6. What is one big thing that you resolve to do immediately to achieve this goal or habit?

a. Example: Making a decision, throwing out all the unhealthy food in your house right now, giving something away, etc?

7. Write it down, schedule it and measure it:

a. Write it down on a 4x 6 card and put it on your mirror or as one friend of mine does, he writes it in erasable marker on his bathroom mirror. Additional option – create business card size and carry with you wherever you go.

b. The Key: You need to see it in front of your face multiple times daily.

c.Schedule it and add to your calendar. What gets scheduled gets done!

d. Critical – Measure it: SMART Goals (Specific – Significant or Stretching, Measurable, Actionable, Realistic, Time Bound)

8. Create your accountability team

a. Who can you give permission to check in with you or hold you accountable to your goal? If it’s that important, your close circle should be to ask you about it.

b.Example – A couple friends and I have a text message group and we message every time we finish a workout. The text group is called “Accountability” and it provides that and motivation!

9. Rinse and Repeat for anything else you want to add in 2017!

a. Start at Step 1 and add another goal or habit

10. Share out your goals publicly with your close group of friends

a. The more people that know, the more you will feel accountable AND you’ll be surprised on the support you may get!

I am about 90% finished on my goals and habits for 2017. Here a few things I am up to plus some additional steps I have yet to complete:

Habit: Increase daily meditation time from 20 to 30 minutes per day
Goal: Learn Spanish!
Habit: Commit to and schedule 12 hours of community service per quarter

Steps left to complete:

Create Personal V2MOM: Take my large goals and small habits and write vision, values for 2017 and methods, obstacles and metrics to drive them
For my non Salesforce readers, this is our very successful internal method for achieving work goals and objectives
Accountability Partners: Attach accountability partners and mentors that can support me achieving! I may be calling on some of you!

Write, Create and Schedule:
Four main goals will go on a card on my mirror and in my work cubicle
I will schedule daily and weekly habits and goals into my calendar + monthly and quarterly measurement check ins
I will create a visual storyboard that I put on my closet door beside my bed

Easy right? With the right method, mentors, accountability partners and your commitment to what you truly want…

Nothing worth achieving comes easy. However, if you are willing to step out of your comfort zone, take leaps of faith, band together with some other dreamers, expect mini failures, be calm in the storm…You can look back at the same time next year and Be inspired by what you were able to accomplish in the last 12 months.

Once you get settled in your own 2017 goals and new habits, I would love to hear some of them!

Wishing you the best success in the goals and dreams you decide to take on in 2017.

Colin