How to Change ‘It’: Write It. Schedule It. Do It.

“After all is said and done, more is said than done.”

Aesop, 620-564 B.C., ancient Greek story teller credited with a number of fables now collectively known as Aesop’s Fables

In the throes of making resolutions for the new year, it is helpful to remember that a long-term goal you are planning doesn’t have to live in a nebulous future. Let’s move it to the present, which is the only place a person can act.

ACTION

1. Decide on one goal for the year that you would like to accomplish.
2. To build a bridge between where you are today and where you want to be, write down:
   • Where you are now
   • Where you want to be in the future
   • The steps that need to successfully happen to get you across that bridge
3. View this bridge you just created daily (e.g., post it on your bathroom mirror like my uncle used to do, or use it as your screen saver). Truly visualize accomplishing these steps every day, even multiple times a day

The steps you’ve identified as needing to happen become your milestones. Your focus shifts to the actions you need to take to hit that next milestone.

Create a bridge for more than one goal if you are so inclined…just do at least one. Remember to celebrate each milestone you hit along your journey. Include others in your journey to further cement your chances of crossing that bridge.

Learn more by reading Drake Baer’s article entitled “One Key to Achieving Goals? Ditch deadlines, and Make Your Mental Map” in Fast Company magazine. It provides a helpful approach – and app – to thinking about changing and reaching your goals.

Have a magical new year!