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Fast forward in time to December 2017.
Imagine yourself sitting alone in your favorite thinking spot.
Looking back over the previous 11 months, what HAS to have happened for you to be happy with your progress in 2017?
We’ve all heard the advice from Stephen Covey, “Begin with the end in mind.” As you set aside time to think and plan for a successful 2017, I encourage you to take a different approach this time.
Rather than writing down goals you hope to achieve, describe 2017 as if it’s about to come to a close.
Write what you accomplished or made progress on in past tense as if it’s already happened.
- What did you accomplish in 2017 that you are most proud of?
- What personal goals did you achieve?
- What business or professional goals did you accomplish?
- How much time did you commit to your growth? Your health? Your family and friends?
- What impact did you make on the lives of others?
For example, don’t write down a goal of growing your business 10% or losing 15 pounds. Instead, it should read, “I increased revenue 10%”, and “I lost 15 pounds by eating healthier and exercising 3x per week.”
This is extremely important. The mind struggles when trying to accomplish things it deems impossible or two far-fetched. But by describing things in past tense, as if you’ve already accomplished them, the mind begins to see your goals as realistic and achievable.
Start writing. But this time, write it as a summary of how great 2017 was for you! Be specific in describing all the areas you made progress in. Make it an exciting year you will look back on in December 2017 and be proud of. Even better, describe a 2017 that others will be proud of.