BarTalk February 2003
Volume 15, Number 1

by Julia Menard

By the time you’ve read this, New Year’s and its tradition of taking stock of our lives and setting new goals will have come and gone. A majority of adults, 61 per cent, make resolutions but only five to 15 per cent actually see them through to completion. Roadblocks such as lack of time or money are seen as reasons to abandon goals. Or energy and commitment wane as time goes on.

Since 45 per cent give up goals by the end of the month, February can become the time to take steps to make our resolutions stick. I’ve gathered five of the best goal-sticking tips based on research from goal experts, interviews with lawyers, and through my own experiences as a business/personal coach. These are intended to help you get back on the track of living out what you most desire.

1. Articulate the inspiration and dreams behind your goal.
Goals are most meaningful when linked to values and dreams. Especially if it’s a goal that’s been hard for you to achieve, investing time articulating the deeper meaning that goal would serve helps fuel the motivation you need to sustain the hard times. Ask yourself three times: What’s important to me about that goal? “The starting point of all achievement is desire.” Napoleon Hill, Think and Grow Rich

2. Set bite-sized, concrete goals.
Abandoned resolutions are often from attempting to achieve too much at once. A sure way to stay motivated is to set tiny goals and celebrate their achievement. This focuses you on how far you’ve come versus how far you still have to go and new energy is generated to propel you. Commit to taking and recording 500 actions towards a big goal this year – that is, two actions per workday. It’s a gimmick, but intended to spark easy action and results. “Inertia tends to go in the direction you’re going.” Bill O’Hanlon, Do One Thing Different

3. Record your goals and your progress.
Writing down your goals and learning from your life is a powerful way to achieve goals. Note successes. Record what obstacles or hindering beliefs you see and how you might be able to look at them differently. Describe what benefits you receive by keeping the status quo and how you can meet those needs in a different way. Schedule in time to journal. “A journal is the single most powerful tool you can use to achieve your objectives.” Dennis Waitely, The New Dynamics of Goal-Setting

4. Commit to a support structure.
Since there are many obstacles along the way when we set a goal, having someone to remind you of your goal, which may be important but not urgent, can often be the key for finally realizing your desire. This partnership makes the process fun and collaborative. Pick someone who is as excited about reaching the goal, as you are – a friend, peer group or coach. If you have the resources, investing money also boosts your commitment to “show up” – when you put your own dollars down, you up the chances of sticking with it. “Nothing worth doing is worth doing alone.” Anonymous

5. Forgive yourself–get back on the wagon.
When we slip, we tend to see this as an omen of eventual failure. The CBC radio program “Ideas” cited a study of genius, which showed the one common trait was perseverance – they endured in the face of mistakes and failures. We all fail at some goals, but not because we don’t want them or can’t achieve them. How we see “failure” is key. Looking at mistakes as experiments and feedback on getting to your goal is more empowering than failure. Always keep one eye on your dream. “Above all, have dreams.” Canadian Olympian Jody Holden

So, pick yourself up, dust yourself off and set a small goal. Then go do it. Action creates momentum, which moves you back on a path to realizing what you most desire!

Julia Menard is a business/personal coach specializing in assertive negotiation, life balance and transitions. She can be contacted at julia@makeandbelieve.com.

This article was published in the February 2003 issue of BarTalk and is subject to the copyright by the British Columbia Branch of the Canadian Bar Association, 2005, all rights reserved.