Willie Jolley’s Business Building TIP!
*Brought to you as a courtesy by Willie Jolley Worldwide

Many people start out the New Year excited and say they are really ready for a better year. They tell their friends that they are ready for better times and they make lots of New Year's resolutions. The problem is that most people are only excited for the first two weeks of the new year, then by the third week, they’ve forgotten their resolutions and are back to doing exactly what they did. And what usually happens is that they end each year the same way they ended the previous year! 

Why is that? There are two main reasons. One is that they get caught up in the “New Year’s Resolution Trap” and the other is due to a lack of continuous motivation.   The first I call a “resolution trap” because it feels good to make New Year’s Resolutions.  Yet, they rarely actualize into anything tangible. Statistics show that the sale of diet products and health club attendance are highest in the first two weeks of the year, but the enthusiasm starts to dwindle by the end of the month!

I tell my audiences that making resolutions are nice little feel good activities, but are really a waste of time! They have no substance and rarely, if ever, create any sustained improvement in people’s lives. I recommend you DO NOT make any New Year’s Resolutions.  Rather, set some New Goals for The New Year!

Goals are the main keys to achievement!  How can you distinguish a goal from a resolution? Goals are measurable, they are specific, they have a time element attached and they are written. Resolutions are nebulous, non-specific and almost never written!

Rather than making a resolution of losing some weight this year and making more money this year, I recommend you set some goals. Set a specific weight goal such as, by June 1st I will lose “X” pounds;  or I will get to “X” pounds by June 1 and maintain it. In terms of income, decide how much more money you want to make this year and by what date you want to attain it. Whatever you want to achieve this year—set the goal, set the date of achievement, write it down, read it daily and GET BUSY! You will see your life change!

The second item that stops people from growing each year is a lack of continuous motivation! They get motivated the first of the year but don't keep it up. Some say the problem with motivation is that it wears off. Well, so does bathing! Yet most people bathe everyday (we hope)! The same has to be done with motivation—it must be ongoing to maintain effectiveness! 

To make your resolutions into realities, it’s essential that you make motivation a part of your daily routine. Make a commitment to read or listen to something motivation each and every day. Make a commitment to fill your mind with that which is positive and encouraging. Find something that inspires you such as a book, motivational tapes or inspirational music that encourages you to dream and then motivates you to go after your dreams!

Whatever you do—Do Something Each and Everyday to get a daily dose of motivation, inspiration and encouragement! I can attest that it works.  If you invest in yourself you will see results in an amazingly short period of time!

Make a decision to make it important to seek motivation and inspiration. Make it a daily part of your routine and you will make this a better year—I guarantee it!

So folks, On Your Mark, Get Ready, Let’s Go—Let’s Thrive in 2005!

God Bless You!

Willie Jolley