Having a great 2018 will be easier said than done. Of course, you all know that. Knowing what you want and perhaps how much you want and when you want it can help. If you can’t answer those questions, how great your year will be will be a matter of opinion and likely a relative one at best. You are not in a state of permanence in your current circumstances and always in a state of transition. Therefore, you must embrace change since nothing in your physical, natural existence is immutable. Looking ahead and executing a plan will get you closest to being able to see what is ahead and how close you are to getting to that point.
Using a play on letters in the word GREAT, I will attempt to provide some ideas and inspiration that may be useful to you as you calculate your desired route for 2018.
G: How does the word Geography fit into your plans for 2018, or does it at all? Think of some of the ways that it can and then see if your idea remains the same or changes. Perhaps you will relocate to be in a warmer climate. Or, you may want to live nearer relatives. Are you planning vacation time for the year? If not, why not? Vacations are essential, even if only “staycations.” In the US we take less time off from work than most countries around the world. And what about who you are becoming a consideration? Are you a person of Gratitude? Are you thankful for both the small and large blessings in your life or do you complain about what you don’t have or that it came later than you wanted? Do you want to merely “Grind out” the year or do you aspire to turn Gating factors into Gates leading to where you want to go?
R: Have you Renegotiated with yourself what your life may be like in 2018? I have! It isn’t an easy negotiation, but you may find it very beneficial. That of course, will require that you change some things. And since change is inevitable why not include it in your planning process for this year? You could become Regenerated; Reinvigorated; Reinvested and Revived so to be able to make Rough terrain seem more like Rolling hills.
E: Are you expecting to Evolve your life this year? I so, what are the areas where you Expect that or are planning that to occur? It will take Execution of your plan, not just the roadmap. That will require Effort on your part. There will not be room for Excuses. If you have Elevated your goals so that you require additional time to complete them, you will need higher Efficiency in your workflow. Look for small ways to save time and carve out time to Evaluate your progress along the way so that you can stay the course or course-correct when needed.
A: Some of you are focused on Asset Appreciation in 2018. There are several ways for that to occur, including improving your financial position, Achieving your goals in business, Attaining a higher paying position in your field of work, Adding more value to others, and enhancing your Attitude. To reach your targets, you will first need to Assess your current position. You may also have to overcome some Adversity. So why not Aim high and follow the lead of great football coach Vince Lombardi whose motto was “strive for perfection to Attain excellence”?
T: Trying harder is one way of Transitioning into a new way of living. But being smart about your planning and execution is also beneficial. Test your thoughts and plans before moving forward to ensure a higher probability of success. You could run them past other people whom you Trust, pray for them or just review them several times with a plus and minus measuring stick. Making all goals only Top priority wants will help shorten the process and provide a higher probability of success. So, before Tackling a new goal, make sure it is Thought Through. Then, when you Tackle the challenge, you will have an increased likelihood of Triumph. High priority Targets will hold more abundant inspiration so that you will be able to fight through the Tough Times and complete your Transition into a new and improved future.
Cheers to having a GREAT 2018!