5 Ways to Obtain Your Goals in 2007

2007 is here and you're probably thinking a lot about the promise of a new year. Maybe you want to quit smoking. Maybe you want to lose a few pounds. Or, maybe you want to get a promotion on your job. Regardless of what you want, you need a plan. You need to plan to succeed in 2007.

It may sound silly to you to plan for success. After all, Murphy's Law has been actively working in your life since day one. However, as the old saying goes 'laws are meant to be broken.' So, instead of focusing on what you didn't do in the past, you need to focus on what you can do in the future. You can attain your goals if you approach them properly.

Below is a format to which you can follow in order to get better results this year. It is a step by step guide to reaching any goal.

1) Write down your goal. Physically placing your goal on a piece of paper will help you in several ways. First, it is a tangible step to proving to yourself that you are serious. Second, it will help you clarify what you desire. Third, it can act as a reminder, if posted up, of what you are aiming for. So, take out a slip of paper and get going!

2) Take action. Do something (no matter how big or small) each day to achieve your goal. If you want to quit smoking, make an appointment with your doctor to discuss how this can be accomplished. If you want to lose weight, join weight watchers or start an exercise plan. If you want to be promoted, talk to your boss or read your employee handbook to see what you need to do. You need to take action to get the ball rolling toward your goal in order to build momentum. And, you need to do something as soon as possible, preferably, right after you write your goal down.

3) Make Adjustments. As you move forward to reach your goal, you'll hit a few road blocks. Maybe the patch doesn't work for you. Maybe you fell off your diet for a day or two and over ate. Or, maybe, you had a bad day at work and a promotion seems impossible. Well, don't give up. Every successful person is faced with controversy. It is at this point, you may need to re-evaluate your plan and adjust it.