2019: The Year To Take The Leap And Change Your Career And Life
Another year is nearly over. Before you start gathering all those great ideas for New Year’s Resolutions, it’s a good time to take a look back. What’s your life like now compared to two or five years ago? Are you happy with where you are now and the progress you’ve made? Or is it time to commit to change your career and your life?
New Year’s Resolutions – Again.
On average, 66% of those making a New Year’s Resolution admits to breaking it within one month. So it’s obviously not a very effective way to make real changes. It might be better to call them intentions, but even that might be a stretch because for most people it appears they’re more like fantasies.
Of the ten reasons most often cited for giving up, the two most deadly are:
Unrealistic Resolutions
You want to be a size 6, earn $500,000, and write a book in the next twelve months. Depending on your current circumstances, it might be possible, but it’s highly unlikely. Don’t set yourself up for failure and discouragement by setting unrealistic goals.
Going it Alone
While it arguably should not be so, the worst person to set yourself accountable to is yourself. It’s pretty unlikely you’re going to call yourself out on missed goals and deadlines. Let’s face it, the easiest person in the world to give an excuse to is yourself. Get a coach, get a mentor. Find someone to hold your feet to the fire.
How To Make Next Year’s Goals Different
First and foremost, it’s time to get inspired. Not just informed or thoughtful, but passionately inspired about your direction. There’s no better way to do that than listening to the stories and advice of those who have actually done the kinds of things you dream of doing.
Good news! You don’t have to spend the next six months reading dozens of books and articles. Sara Bliss has assembled one of the best collections ever of short but super effective, inspiration-boosting insights into the professional journeys of over fifty entrepreneurs and business people from fields as varied as farming to financial advising.
Skip that gift of the new electronic gadget you were going to have Santa get you. Pick up Sara’s “Take The Leap” and read it before you make those New Year’s Resolutions.
How To Make Next Year’s Goals Become Real
Once you’re clear on what you really want to create next year, get connected and get committed. Meaning, connect with those around you who can support you in your journey. In today’s world, that could be other women virtually anywhere in the world who share your passions and understand the challenges of the path you’re on.
Then, find a mentor or coach who can help keep you committed to achieving your goals. Whether it’s a mutual mentor relationship with a friend or a professional coach or mentor, it’s essential. This helps you in two ways-
- They provide perspective that might set light on a new path, or help you avoid a pitfall
- They can give that kick-in-the-butt we all need to stay on track
More good news: Just as with getting clear on your goals and resolutions, you don’t have to imagine all this from scratch. Check out Nancy O’Reilly’s “In This Together” to see how you can develop a community of like-minded allies. Then, there’s a ton of actionable insights from 40 successful women that will help you harness the collective power of that community.
“But I’m Too Busy During The Holidays . . .”
We’re all busy. The alternative is to get to December 31 and haphazardly toss out a few meaningless resolutions that get tossed aside in a month or so. So what’s it going to be? Arrive in December of 2019 with nothing changed? Or step up and create something different?
Then, make a difference in someone else’s life, and give them both books. That’s the gift of a new career and future instead of just more more stuff!
