Personal Success Means Starting The Year With The End In
Mind Frank Barnhill M.D.
I’m sure you’ve all heard the saying: the fastest way to go nowhere is
not to start the trip. Or how about this one: a sure fire way
to lose a game is not to play. These sayings have a lot of
value, as their truth is absolute. The number one reason a lot
of people fail at what they wish to do is: they never start.
By now, you’ve probably guessed the number two reason: those
who fail often fail to plan. Having a plan for life is like
buying a roadmap before you try to drive somewhere on vacation.
There’s just one problem; In order to get somewhere, you have to
know where you are going. Then, the roadmap comes in handy,
because you know where to go and how to get there.
People who are highly successful in life go one step
further. They not only plan where and how, but when. They
literally start every New Year with the end in mind. Simply
put, they plan all of their work, personal life and energies on
a time schedule so that they will meet their goals by the end of
the year. Some go further with two year, five year and ten year
plans. Some like three or six-month time schedules, but most
successful persons have a written plan for their year.
If you decide upon goals for the year, then by all means set
start dates along with your completion date at the end of the
year. Making goals to be met by the end of the year, without
setting a start date, is the same as never playing the game.
The preparation means nothing if you don’t take the risk of
winning or losing. And yes, everything in life carries risk.
Now, why should you start the New Year with the end in mind?
Oh, there are dozens of potential reasons: doing so will reduce
or prevent unneeded stress and anxiety, maybe help you make more
money by the end of the year, help you get that promotion, let
you spend more time with the family, and even give you a
healthier life with loads of self esteem. Do you get the
picture?
No matter whom you work for, ultimately you work for yourself
and you choose the path you take in life. You must first decide
where you want to be at what time in your life. Then you can
work on traveling your chosen path to that goal. So a good New
Year’s plan includes a goal, to be met at a specific time, with
a specific start date and lastly a roadmap on how to get there.
Otherwise, you really can’t get there from here!
If you truly wish to be successful in life, start your New
Year with the end in mind.
Happy New Year!
Dr. Frank |