Use the START Method to Make 2013 Your Best Year Ever

Do you begin the year with good intentions, then fade away because you got sidetracked? You’re not alone. According to a Franklin Covey Survey of 15,000 customers, one third will break their resolutions by the end of January. Nearly 40% surveyed attributed breaking their resolutions to having too many other things to do and 33% simply aren’t committed.

It’s not too late to do something different and get the New Year off to a running start. Use this simple START Method to get some real traction:

Start Before the Launch Date
If you identified a beginning date of your plan on January 30, why not start before that date? If attracting more clients and adding additional revenue is your declaration, start by taking a business development day during the holidays for just you. By January 1, you will have a head start on your resolution and begin with the steps you’ll take. My clients use the holidays to put the finishing touches on their Business Blueprint. With their entire year planned out on how they are going to get more clients and add additional revenue, they look forward to the New Year with anticipation.

Take Baby Steps
The old adage, “how do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time” holds true in setting achievable goals. People bite off too much becoming discouraged too soon. For example, when you set an action step to exercise one hour four days a week, taking your lifestyle from no exercise to one hour of it leaves you with muscle soreness. The mind-body connection is critical. Instead, take it slow in the beginning leaving your brain and your muscles looking forward to more. Each day add a few minutes more of exercise.

Add Fun
If it isn’t fun, it won’t get done. Ask yourself, “how can I make this fun?” That simple question helps to identify all possibilities and add fun while doing it. Switch your brain from dreading a task to looking forward to it.

Rejoice in Your Successes
To keep yourself motivated, celebrate even the smallest achievement. While you may not want to celebrate with a counterproductive gift (like a double dipper Hot Fudge Sundae when you’re trying to live a healthy lifestyle) you may want to purchase new clothes. This reinforces your actions, keeps up the momentum, and invites new things into your life. How about donating your gently used clothes to charity!

Track your Results
Review your action plan weekly. Review plans at the end of the year, too, to see how far you’ve! Some resolutions continue until they become a lifestyle and others need to be tweaked for completion at the right time. Either way, tracking results helps you to see what works, eliminate what doesn’t, and identifies how far you’ve come.

In what other areas of your life or business could you use the START Method?