Goal Achievement – 1 Down, 51 To Go!

"goal achievement" "the great gordino"I was reading a blog post the other day, and it hit a nerve about goal achievement in connection to New Year Resolutions – something I’ve written about a lot over the years. In this article I’m going to cover the important point it brought home to me…

The blog post, right at the end, had a 3 word sentence.

December is coming.

That was it, and the context was that even though it was only early January, the arrival of the next December was as inevitable as night follows day. In fact it’s inevitable precisely *because* night follows day!

Apart from Christmas, December naturally brings that end of year feel, a sense of bringing down the curtain. The New Year that follows brings in turn a sense of optimism, and the New Year Resolution. I really have written often that I’m not a fan, and that you are better setting your goals any time *other* than New Year!

That’s because the jokey nature attaching inbuilt failure to New Year Resolutions gives all sorts of wrong messages to your subconscious about your own ability to set and achieve a goal.

One week later, the vast majority of resolutions have failed, and that’s even if they’ve been remembered at all!

So, let me tie together the prospect of December’s arrival with the title of this article…

1 down, 51 to go? Of course I’m talking about weeks in the year! One week in, and if your resolutions are in that huge heap of failed ones I mentioned, then now is the time to do it properly!

How many times have you hit New Year and told yourself that *this* will be the year, that *this* time you’ll make real progress, only to find that 1 week in everything is the same, with no plan for anything to change?

Well, 1 week of the year has gone, and the fact that there are only 51 left is something you cannot change. That number will go down and down, whether you spend them doing exactly the same as before, or whether you do something different!

It needs different action to get different results, so if you haven’t set your goals properly to include belief and that first step of action to take, then the 2nd week of the year will be the same.

So will the 3rd week. So will the 4th.

Er, you get the idea!

So, if you really do want to see this year bring different results, forget the jokey New Year Resolutions. Take on board the fact that the 52 weeks of every year will tick by whatever you do. Make the decision that by the time next December does come round, you will be further down the road to change having taken the steps you set out for yourself.

It’s a great concept to use, to consider your progress against your plans, and it can be done at any time of year (although if you leave it until next week, another week will have gone!)

That’s it for today – do let me know what you think!
‘Til Next Time,
Health & Happiness,
Gordon
P.S. If you enjoy this article, you might like to read another article –
‘Goal Achievement – Step Away From That New Year Resolution!’

Do leave a comment!

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12 Comments

    • September is a great time to make resolutions – does a good job of getting past that strict Jan – Dec week 1-52 thing which seems to paralyse so many.
      Cheers,
      Gordon

  • Great perspective Gordon – thank you for sharing that! January 1st is a great milestone to plan for the new year but looking at it from the perspective of 52 weeks is so valuable. If we didn’t reach our goals for this first week, what will we do to change that in the next 51 weeks? Thanks!

    • Thanks Cindy,
      it’s a real way of driving home that if not action is taken, the time will simply pass anyway – and at great speed!
      Cheers,
      Gordon

  • I like to point out that they are a New Year resolution and not new years day resolution and so there is a whole year (52 weeks) to work on them – enjoyed your article

    I like the September thing too but that is because I spent so long in college:-)

    • Hi Mary,
      this reply has given me prompts for 2 new articles!
      1. New Year resolution not just New Year’s Day
      2. Using your September point, you could imagine January as the start of a ‘term’

      Cheers,
      Gordon

  • I love your suggestion of looking at the big picture. I like the idea of looking forward to the end of 2013 and working on creating change that will happen gradually, and definitely, by the end of the year. Thanks for your wisdom!

    My latest new behavior is that I’ve blogged twice this week. That is my goal – to share my gluten free wisdom with others. If you’re interested in gluten free, please read my newest post:

    http://www.glutenfreediva.com/2013/01/gluten-free-snacks/#

    Thanks!

    • Thanks Ellen,
      Regular blogging is a great way to get more people to see your message and what you have to offer! Great goal to have.
      Cheers,
      Gordon

  • One of the things that I learned recently is that I panic and/or fall into inaction when I just focus on the end goal. I am much better at keeping moving when I just focus on the next little step–often this is merely what I need to accomplish this quarter, this week, or just today.

    • Hi Morgan,
      You have hit the nail on the head – many people, and I include mysellf in that, can get overwhelmed if they see the distance between where they are and where they want to be.
      Small steps is the key for sure!
      Cheers,
      Gordon

  • I think another reason for not making resolutions right now is that it’s such a grim time of year – at least in the UK. It’s not easy to commit to a new healthy lifestyle or change habits when it’s dark most of the time and cold and wet all the time! How about Spring when everything is new, or Summer when days are long and easy? So important as well to make it personal, pick the right time for you and the approach that suits you individually. This year it’s worked for me so far to have in mind the things that I am leaving behind in 2012, and doing the Blogging Challenge has got me off to a nice brisk start, but getting my nutrition back on track will take longer and I will be patient with myself! I like setting myself challenges at any time so I’m looking forward to lots of changes and new experiences in 2013!

    • You make a great point about the weather- the effect of lack of sunlight is underestimated by too many.
      You also make good points about the goals having to be personal – yes, the approach has to suit the person individually, but there *does* have be a key structure of action steps in there.
      Thanks for thoughtful input as ever,
      Gordon