How does the song go... "It's the most wonderful time of the year". Yes, Christmas and New Year's is upon us and it IS one of my favorite times of the year. One of the things I look forward to at the end of each year is designing, creating and planning what I want to become, accomplish and skills I want to develop or hone in the coming year, in other words, setting goals -- how powerful! So you'll find my Ezine to be thematic, centered around goals, goal-setting and related topics.

May you and your loved ones be blessed during this time of gift-giving, remembering the greatest gift and enjoying this special time of the year. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, may the coming year be filled with many good things and dreams fulfilled.

You Are Made for Success!
Chris Widener

In This Issue.......

1. Charting Your Course to Success Article
2. Made for Success Quote and Commentary
3. The Last Word...
4. 12 Pillars of Success, 52 Weeks of "Life-Changing" Lessons, One New You!
5. Customer Feedback
6. More Information

1. Charting Your Course to Success Article

Simple Ways to Super-Charge Your Goals and Make Them Work! by Chris Widener

Goals. Most people have a love-hate relationship with goals. They love them because they are such a great idea and a wonderful way to motivate us to achieve, as well as evaluate our progress, but hate them because for many, they more often than not go unattained and simply frustrate them. This isn't what goals should do!

So here are some simple ways to set goals so that we achieve them! After all, what good is a goal if it isn't something you achieve? Here are some simple steps you can take to make sure that you see change in your life this year.

Narrow your focus. That's right, start small. Pick two or three areas tops, that you want to work on. Too many people say to themselves, "I want to do this, and this, and this, and this..." and they end up doing nothing! Most of what you do throughout your day can be done without a lot of mental or emotional exertion, but change isn't one of them. So focus down to a couple. This way you can get some victory in these areas. Here are some areas to think about: Physical, Intellectual, Emotional, Spiritual, Financial, and Relational. What areas need some work? Now, what one thing should be the first item on the change list? The others will come later, but for now, you should focus on two or three total.

Keep the long-term in mind, but set your sights on achieving your goals in the short-term. Do you want to lose 75 pounds? Good. Long-term you will. But for now, think short-term. Don't think about losing 75 pounds by summer 2007. Think about losing 5 pounds by February 1st. This does two things. First, It makes it urgent. Instead of blowing it and saying, "Oh well, I still have 17 months to lose the 75 pounds" (because eventually that becomes 2 months to lose 75 pounds) your goal is only a few weeks out. This is better in terms of reaching your goal. Secondly, as you reach these shorter goals, it gives you regular victories instead of regular progress. Progress feels good, but achieving a goal is awesome!

Reward yourself when you achieve the goal. When you lose the 5 pounds by February 1st, go get yourself a grande whole-milk mocha. But just one! Then get back to your goal for March 1st. This puts a little fun back into the process of self-control and self-discipline. You will look forward to the reward and when the going gets tough, you will say, "two more weeks, two more pounds, then..."

That's it. I truly believe that it can be that simple for you.

This adds some ideas to the above article.

1. Don't bite off more than you can chew. Instead of saying, "I am going to quit my three pack a day habit cold turkey," say "I am going to drop to a pack and a half a day." You can always make new resolutions when you have achieved the first ones. Give yourself small victories a little at a time. Instead of saying "I am going to lose 75 pounds," say "I am going to lose 20 pounds."

2. Be specific in your timeline. Don't just say, "I am going to lose 20 pounds." Say, "I am going to lose 20 pounds by April 1st." This way, when you start to be tempted in the ice cream aisle in the middle of February, you can say, "Nope, only 10 more pounds to go in a month and a half and I am not going to blow it."

3. Post your resolutions where you will see them every day. This will keep the resolution in the front of your mind at all times. Instead of forgetting that you are trying to lose weight and ordering a big, thick porterhouse, you will have been reminded earlier that day that you need to go with something a little more on the lighter side. It will help your will beat your desire.

4. Find an encouraging person, who you respect, to keep you accountable. This person should ask you, at an interval established by the both of you, how it is going. They must be the encouraging type, though. If you are blowing it, they can say, "Well, that's okay, get back to it tomorrow." If you are doing well, they can say, "Awesome job. I'll talk to you next week." You will look forward to their weekly encouragement.

5. Find a partner. That's right, someone who is trying to accomplish the same thing (or something different if need be). Just make sure that they really want to change, or they will end up just bellyaching about how hard it is and you will both fall into the abyss.

6. Write down a list of all of the benefits that will come if you accomplish this. If it is losing weight it might be something like this: Feel better, better self-esteem, longer life, clothes are more comfortable, no more time spent sewing on popped buttons, wife says you look 22 again, etc. If it is quitting smoking, it may look like this: Better breath, no more brown fingers, no more wrinkles on my face, no more red eyes, no more smelly clothes, longer life, wife don't make me spend two hours a day on the back porch, etc. This will help you see what you will get from accomplishing your resolution.

7. Plan a reward if you accomplish your resolution. It can be anything from small to large. If you drop the twenty pounds, go out for dinner and dessert. Then get back to lose the next 20. If it is quitting smoking, go on a mini-vacation. Whatever you do, reward yourself. Or let a spouse or a friend pick the reward. Then splurge and enjoy!

Chris Widener


To hear (or see) what Chris Widener has to say about the Jim Rohn One-Year Success Plan or to join Chris and Jim Rohn as part of the Jim Rohn One-Year Success Plan go to http://jr1.jimrohn.com or call 800-929-0434.




2. Made for Success Quote and Commentary

"Review your goals twice every day in order to be focused on achieving them." -- Les Brown

Chris' Commentary:
Okay, so I don't know about twice a day (though it couldn't hurt), but the point is well taken: You should review your goals very regularly. At least three times a week is what I would recommend. If you can put them on a sheet of paper or on the computer where you will see them all of the time, all the better. The first point would be that you have to have your goals written down. Do you? If not, get to it. If you do, then print them out where you can get to them on a regular basis. This will program your mind to focus in on these priorities of yours and you will function more along the lines that you want to.

Action Point: Take some time today to figure out your goals in at least five major categories. Now write them down. Now put them in a spot where you will be able to review them regularly. Set your computer to remind you to do it if you can program it that way. Enjoy your growth!



3. The Last Word... Dreams Really Do Come True!

The other day, while I was traveling, my daughter brought my dream journal into my wife, held it open, pointed at a line in it, and said, "Well, Dad can check this one off."

The line said, "Have my own television show."

Having my own show has been a dream of mine for years and yes, now it is a reality. In fact, that is where I was that day, filming my first four shows. In the coming weeks I will let you know all about it, but for now, suffice it to say that it has become a reality.

What is interesting though is for how long I had to dream it. YEARS! I have even met with friends of mine who are already in television and sought out how to best get into it. Yet, timing is everything. When I had put it on the backburner, all of the sudden, out of nowhere, came the opportunity. Less than two months after initially hearing about it, I was in front of the camera, filming a show that will air daily. Amazing!

So, what is my encouragement to you? First, dream. Let yourself have big dreams. Second, don’t give up on your dreams – sometimes they take years. And lastly, be aware that sometimes your dreams will be fulfilled from out of nowhere. When that happens, it is a lot of fun! Dream big! -- CW



4. 12 Pillars of Success, 52 Weeks of "Life-Changing" Lessons, One New You!

5. Customer Feedback

Here are some of the testimonials and comments we received from our Ezine subscribers. We love receiving comments and feedback from our readers - so keep it coming!


Hi Chris, first, I have to tell you that I enjoyed telling my Fast Track team last night that we're confirmed for this call with you and hearing how excited they are!! I just love the reaction that everyone has had to your Winning With Influence CD series. It has been a big hit. Also, I read Twelve Pillars on my flight home from Washington. My grandfather --who died before I was born but I admire greatly-- was Charlie Davis. What a great book! It really hit home for me.
-- Tanya

Dear Chris, I just wanted to take this opportunity to let you know how much I enjoy listening to you as a speaker. I purchased the Jim Rohn DVD and you are a wealth of knowledge, you did an outstanding job and continue to do so. Thanks again.
-- Ian

Dear Mr. Chris Widener, I am regularly reading your ezines and finding them very impressive and unceasingly encouraging. The Last Word with the Top Ten Rules for Effective Presentations [Ezine-28] was full of minute details encompassing the essential requirements in delineated points. In circumspection, your services for the positive approach to embrace success deserves all praise and gratitude.
--B. Rajasekaran


Thank you Ezine readers, for the sincere and kind words of encouragement and appreciation you sent us this week! -- CW
 

6. More Information

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