One of These Days . . .

If you are anything like me, as the new year starts, you spend time reflecting on what happened in the previous year – happy moments and sad; things you accomplished and those you didn’t; habits you picked up, broke, changed or improved.

This time of reflection is a great time to set up a plan for success for the coming year. Many people refer to these types of plans as New Year’s Resolutions. I personally don’t care for that term (only because I know myself). New Year’s Resolutions are those things I write down and then put in a drawer, leave in a notebook on a shelf, or lose completely.

The following are my tips for moving from “resolutions” and things you plan to do “one of these days,” to Action Steps for Success:
1) Think about the things you would like to accomplish, change, or improve
2) Make a list of those things swimming around in your head that you are ready to take action on
3) Pare down and prioritize the list thinking realistically about the time you can commit and the motivation you have to take action
4) Assign a specific deadline to each written task (an actual DATE)
5) Develop a plan of action with small milestones and intermediate steps that lead up to each written deadline
6) Create a Vision Board with your written plans that includes a picture of “success”
7) Post your vision board where tht you will look at it on a daily basis
8) Share your list and vision board with someone (or multiple people) whose opinion you care about (These people are now your accountability partners, because they will likely check on your progress when they see or talk to you.)
9) Create a visual indicator that you can mark/write on once an item has been achieved (I personally like stars or check marks) so that you get that rush of success every time you look at your list and renew your motivation to work on additional items
10) Take action! or as Nike says, “Just Do It!”
11) Evaluate, and adjust as needed
12) Don’t give up!

I still have a long way to go, but using these steps has brought me increased confidence, better health, a closer relationship with those I love, and the ability to move some items from my list of things I will do “one of these days” to joyful memories of things I have done.

I hope that it can do the same for you!

Bobi Cook is the Regional Team Supervisor for Workforce Solutions in the Houston – Galveston area. She currently supervises and schedules the Facilitators and Navigators. She also utilizes her MBA and over ten cumulative years experience as a professional educator, quality systems manager within the automotive industry, and small business administrator to conduct job skills seminars throughout the 13 county Gulf Coast region which assist job seekers with developing and implementing successful job search campaigns.