1st January 2011...wohoo here we come!!!

On the first day of every year I take time out to reflect. This year was no different. On Saturday I did two things. Firstly I thought about my 2010 achievements and the massive year that it was. I jotted down all the things that I did and achieved and took some time out to recognise my successes. In doing that I also realised just how "busy" things were which reminded me of why I want to take a bit of a different focus for 2011. The second thing I did was think about where I am right now and what I want for this year.

Rather than write 10 pages of things I want to do or have or see in 2011, I wrote down some themes of how I want to live my life. Instead of a long list, I am focusing on habits that will get me the outcomes that I want. I wrote down goals / aims for all different areas of my life; spirituality, health, relationships, self development, recreational and career. My end product was a 1 pager with words and drawings (mostly of stick people!) that reflect how I want 2011 to look for me. This "page" illustrates my 2011 achievements before they have even happened and visually shows all the small things that will help me to achieve big this year. This approach is known as future visioning - visualising how you want things to be and committing energy to make that vision your reality.

I took a photo of my 1 pager and saved it as my wall paper and screen saver on my iphone. Now, every time I see my phone I will be reminded of my priorities for this year. I now have my general themes and an idea of how I want 2011 to look.

Next...to my SSAB goal setting tool! In the past I have scribbled down ideas and had excel spreadsheets with goals but this year I have my own tool to use! The tool will help me and you to get more specific, measurable, and realistic and to check that our goals are achievable. It also allows you to add timeframes to when you want to start and achieve your goals. All of these elements help to zone in on what it is you want to achieve and the steps required to get you to your end goal.

When you enter your goals, make sure you stay realistic! Sometimes in our excitement about a new year we go overboard with all the things we "want" to do...20 big goals just for January may not be achievable! This is where our tool can help as well! Once you have entered all your goals into the system, look at them all together and do the "reality" check. If there are a few goals that you definitely want but you don't think you'll get them all done by February then maybe you can change one of the timeframes so that you are more likely to achieve both. Too many goals can be overwhelming and counter productive! For example, this year I would love to learn to meditate, take up dance classes and learn a language. But this year I also have a few major life events (one involving a change in last name!) and a full time job and a few projects to manage. So I plan to focus on one of these at a time rather than over packing my life like I have been known to in the past. Be realistic about what you can achieve and by when.

Once your goals are set, all you need to do is start small and take the steps you have identified and keep at it. Each week we will remind you about your goals and why they are important to you and what your next steps are. Each time you receive your weekly email, this is a great time to review and reflect and check that you are on track and that the track you are on is still the path you want to follow.

Start 2011 with a clear direction. New years resolutions are great! What is even better is if you take those resolutions and think about them more -

• Why are they important?
• What steps or habits are required?
• What will success look like?

Taking this extra step with your resolutions will find you much more likely to achieve them. 2011 is yours to do what you want with!!! I think we have all felt it, a year goes fast! 2010 flew by! So take time to slow 2011 down and take control of your year and what you get out of it, be the driver of your life!

Ryan and I wish you a happy and successful year and we look forward to helping you to achieve BIG things!