44 GEARS March 2006

I f there’s one thing universal about January 1st, it’s the hope it brings for a more prosperous

year ahead. It’s our renewed opportu-nity to master our efforts in conquering the level of success that we know we can, with the proper resources and our energy refreshed.

With this in mind, the first of the year is our very first resource and must not be regarded as anything less, but it takes energy, too. So how’s yours holding up? Stirring your own energy can be tough, especially if business has been in slow-mo or roller-coaster mode for awhile. What a drain on energy these can be. But a strong, self-kick start will make the difference, so don’t shortchange yourself right off the bat.

Too often, we let our business mode set our pace: When business booms, so do we; if it goes into main-tenance-mode, we accommodate that; if it slows, especially for too long, we become unmotivated, almost lethargic, drained from worry.

Self-kick, self-kick, self-kick! Easier said than done, I know, but crucial to better days ahead. You must commit: first, to the promise that you won’t start the new year the same old way; second, to a determination to persevere once more, and even better this time around; third, to the belief in the strength of your own possibilities as you invest the worth of your personal power.

Review what you’ve accomplished in the past year. This will remind you of two things: first, the progress you have or haven’t made; and second, the rea-sons why. These clues should send you in the direction you need to go now.

Next, revisit your plans for the coming months, making sure you’ve set goals that can truly be achieved in the time allotted. Don’t start out overwhelmed; you’ll get frustrated too soon. With all the variables businesses face today that are out of your control, there’ll be plenty of chances for frustra-tion to show up without you giving it a head start.

Your level of motivation will count heavily in all goal projects and it’s important to be self-motivated by a belief in “I can.” The biggest chal-lenge here will be in participating in “I can change.” Why? Because changing things is not the challenge; changing habits and mindsets in ourselves and those we share our day with is.

In visiting business owners and staff around the nation, regardless of location and number of employees, I see commonplace challenges in achiev-ing important goals. Embracing a posi-tive mindset about your pursuit of goals must include these steps:A) You must first understand that

achieving goals is a journey, not a destination.

B) You must agree that achieving

goals takes more than just you.C) Because goals vary in size and

interest, you must set goals that motivate employees.

D) Master the 10 strategies to change:1) Know what areas of business

are hindering its success. Do a self-check and surroundings-check, listing points of prog-ress and points of setback that affect efforts to reach goals.

2) Once you’ve identified the obvious problems, look a little deeper to find any eventual outcomes they may already have created. The solutions you’ll decide on must extend to include the problem’s full grasp, not just what’s easily visible.

3) You must possess people skills to be effective (perhaps the most important piece of the plan). Another self-check for sure: regular employee meet-ings to talk, talk, talk is the best strategy for open-door communication and stirring new ideas in those who are truly interested.

by Maylan Newton, ESI, Senior Instructor

So the New Year Begins…

How Will You Do How Will You Do with Yours?with Yours?

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46 GEARS March 2006

4) Your behavior must be posi-tive. Before you can expect positive participation from anyone else, your behavior must be positively motivating. Yes, everyone will participate in goals to a degree, but how strongly, really? Remember, of all the things that impact an employee’s performance, your behavior is at the top of the list.

5) You must be able to change your employees’ behavior. This task isn’t as difficult as you might think. It starts with a two-part recipe: understand-ing behavior in others added to a positive behavior in yourself. There are times when your goals mesh with the goals of others and times when you’ll need to convince people to accomplish something you want done.

Your evaluation of some-one’s behavior may often be biased or prejudged, based on your own experiences and

perceptions. It’s important to consider this:a) Each of us behaves in

ways that are based on our unique backgrounds and experiences.

b) Our own behavior affects the behavior of those around us.

c) To change someone else’s behavior may require you to first change your own.

Remember this: to change behavior, it’s necessary to accept that any behavior is rational and logical to the per-son displaying it. His or her goals may simply be different from your own.

6) You must prioritize your goals (this usually requires eliminat-ing some). Too often, people take the word prioritize too lightly. Why? Because people tend to believe that every goal has priority.

Get down to some seri-ous thought with this 6th step. Don’t be guilty of “stepping

over dollars to pick up dimes.” Life is too short, and time, never enough. Make two lists, both of serious goals need-ing to be reached: In one, list short term goals; the other, list long term (time-consuming) goals. Plan your time and your strategies and work at reach-ing them.

And never forget that even priority goals can be altered, repositioned or eliminated as needed.

7) You must plan your process for change (never assume “no complications, no problems”). Have a backup plan, thorough-ly considered and ready to take position.

8) You must delegate responsibil-ities. You can’t do everything yourself, so why try? Hand it over for someone else to do and work with that instead.

9) Manage your time carefully. Fulfilling this task is much more than just a suggestion. Poor time management equals burdened efforts and poor progress. Plan your strate-gies around tasks with time frames, then monitor and man-age them.

10) Take the first step. Of course, to get your feet off the ground, lifting is necessary, and that takes energy. Taking the first step with goals takes more than even that. It takes tap-ping into two resources we all have within us: Courage and Confidence. Take advantage of it.

See yourself in your dream, then see the dream as your life. See that vision everyday and say to yourself, “I can… I will… I am.” Remember, take the time to see it and say it everyday. It’s some of that Self Talk that’s so popular these days and it works! Something you can pass on to everyone around you if you’d like, and all wrapped up in a test of will, three parts strong: the Boldness to dream the dream, the Wisdom to set the goal and the Courage to follow through.

So the New Year Begins… How Will You Do with Yours?

Remember this: to change behavior, it’s necessary

to accept that any behavior is rational and logical to the person displaying it. His or her goals may

simply be different from your own.

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