Strategies for the New Year....Continued

As we discussed creating goals and writing them down last week, I did the same activity in my own business and life. Below are My Goals and Plans for the year. 

What are your Goals and Plans? I would love to hear them in the comments below! 

Strategy #5: Next, I begin to put them into categories.
1.    Personal Mental Development
     1)   Read one book every week which challenges my intellect.
     2)   One lesson each day with AdVocab (a higher vocabulary learning program)
     3)   Keep a daily journal of the things for which I am most thankful.
     4)   Read Success Magazine, BNI podcasts and literature and other business helps.

2.    Spiritual Growth
     1)   Follow a plan to read through the Bible in one year.
     2)   Study a different book each month on spiritual subjects.
     3)   Teach from what I am learning in church or seminars.

3.    Physical Enhancement
     1)   Sleep at least 8 hours per night and take a 15 minute power nap after lunch.
     2)   Meet with a physical trainer every other month for evaluation and new tasks.
     3)   Daily walks of at least one mile.
     4)   Far-infrared Sauna 5 days per week.
     5)   Weekly and daily Cardio and strength-based exercises

4.    Family and Marriage Desires
     1)   Family Dinner one Sunday afternoon per month
     2)   A weekly date night with my wife
     3)   Find ways each month to bless our children and grandchildren.

5.    Business Plans and Goals
     1)   At least 30 students Attending Stilwell’s Learning Center each week.
     2)   At least 10 Distance Learners each month.
     3)   Stick to the prepared budget for 6 months and review.
     4)   Employ and train 2 part-time tutors and 1 part-time office manager.
     5)   Contract to Webmaster and Face book manager.
     6)   Develop a weekly plan to receive referrals from current clients, former clients, schools, churches, clubs, BNI, etc.
     7)   Take one visitor per month to BNI.
     8)   Interview on a Friday Community radio broadcast.
     9)   Consider 15 second ads on radio stations when budget allows.
     10) Speak to a club or other venue at least once per month.
     11) Develop website blogs to boost internet presence.

6.    Recreational/Vacation Plans
     1)   Train trip to California with wife and granddaughter.
     2)   50th wedding anniversary in Frisco Colorado in August.
     3)   Healing is Here Week at Charis Bible College, Woodland Park, Colorado.

7.    Civic Responsibilities
     1)   Research different community volunteering possibilities, such as city council meetings, Helping homeless children, Salvation Army events, BNI benefits, etc.
     2)   Tithe to Church and give offerings to orphanages in Mexico and U.S. and Africa.

These will become the nuts and bolts of my schedule and my everyday business and personal life framework for the New Year. Month to month, I might make changes, deletions or additions, but it will still be the basis for a tracking record for the year.

Strategies for the New Year

Every year at this time, most of us set goals or write hopes and dreams for the New Year. New Year’s Resolutions! Zig Zigler used to quip that he would always wait until March to start again with the gym workouts, because by then the parking lots would not be as full. Unfortunately, that is about the amount of time resolutions last.

Amazingly, when I sit down and carefully think through my hopes and dreams and quests for the New Year, I find that most of the past year’s goals have been accomplished, even when I don’t always look at them again after first taking time to write them down. Here are my personal strategies concerning my 2017 New Year’s goals or resolutions:

Strategy #1: I make a distinction between a vow and a resolve. A vow is often a negative form of a resolution. For instance, I can make a vow never to be upset ever again. Well, the first time I might get upset, it backfires by accusing me of being a failure. If, on the other hand, I resolve to be more patient with myself, the first time I become upset with myself, I look at it as part of my learning curve. After all, Babe Ruth struck out more than he hit the mark, yet it was the batting average that placed him in the hall of fame.

Strategy #2: I carve out several hours at the beginning of January to think about the past year and be thankful for what has actually been accomplished in my life. Usually, it is a humbling experience, because I find that more often than not the accomplishments were not only of my own doing. I think God initiates the ideas and at the same time gives an order as to how they might take place. I realize how much I depend upon partnering with people who are there to help me with the dreams and goals.

Strategy #3: I admit to and take responsibility for the failures of the past and let them go. They were mine, even though often caused by outside influences. It will not do any good to take them with me into the future, though I can learn to avoid similar failings in the coming year.

Strategy #4: I begin to write each goal or resolution or desire just as they come to me. I can always polish them up later. The object is to first have a vision and WRITE IT DOWN. Later I can make it plain and give it feet. If I don’t write it down it gets lost with all the myriad thoughts that go through my brain.

Strategy #5: Place my goals or resolutions into categories. (Next week)