Another excellent article by the Automatic Business Coach, Sandy Martini. I am making my list right now………

Click here to learn more about Sandy
MEB

 
Every year millions of us diligently work on our New Year’s Goals or Resolutions, determined that this year will be *THE* year, somehow different from all the rest which preceded it.

 
We labor over writing the goals, create Vision Boards, and start the year bright-eyed and bushy-tailed (like children on Christmas morning when they see a tree loaded with presents).

 
And yet within a week, maybe two or three, reality sets in. We’re the same people we were before midnight on January 1st and, likely have the same habits. . .good and bad.

 
So how do we create results and not simply resolutions?

 
The answer is simple. . .treat the New Year as you would any large project and break it down into manageable pieces.

 
Let’s see what that looks like:

 
1. Choose one of your annual goals and break it down into 4 quarterly (90 day) goals.

 
2. Take the first quarter (January – March) and break that down into monthly goals — what do you need to achieve each MONTH to reach your first quarterly (March 31st) goal?

 
3. Take the first month (January) and break that down into weekly goals — what do you need to achieve each WEEK to reach your monthly (January 31st) goal?

 
4. Take the first week (January 4 – 10) and break that down into daily ACTIONS — what should you do each day which will allow you to reach your weekly (January 10th) goal?

 
5. And what needs to happen for you to get your daily actions DONE?

Do you limit your email/Twitter/IM time? Do you tell your best friend you have work to do? Do you get up an hour earlier or work an hour later? Do you invest in a mentor who can save you hours of learning time? Figure out what you need to do. . .and then do it!
Simple, right?

 
It is until you take a look at ALL your New Year’s Goals and realize you’d have to work 15 hours a day and be on a treadmill eating carrot sticks while chatting with your friends and family the remaining 9 hours in order to reach every goal you set.
The above exercise does two things for you:

 
1. It gives you the power to create real results. . .in a way which keep you focused and allows you to see progress throughout the year and

 
2. It forces you to “get real” about how much you can achieve and where you may want to pull in outside resources to speed up your learning curve, outsource work, etc.

So, what’s next?

You have a choice.

You can take this ezine and move it to your “I’ll get to it later” folder, you can delete it, or you can use it to change your 2009 forever.

Copyright 2009 Sandra P. Martini. The Automatic Business Coach & Mentor. Get Sandra Martini’s FREE “5 Simple Steps to Putting Your Marketing on Autopilot” e-course/audio mini-workshop and her FREE small business success how-to tips at www.SandraMartini.com.

Each product and program I create is inspired by years of accumulated input from job seekers worldwide who have shared their dreams, goals and challenges with me.

Add to that my seven years as an executive recruiter studying how dozens of corporate executives make their hiring decisions and top it all off with an intimate understanding of what job search strategies work (and which do not), earned though working one-on-one with over 500 job seekers until their job search was complete.

How do I feel about my unique accumulation of experience? I feel a responsibility to advocate what really works and help as many job seekers as I can.

This is one of my primary goals for 2009.

The market climate right now demands you work wisely and strategically to meet your goals. To accomplish this, you should invest in information from an experienced and reputable source. Then prepare yourself to take action – moving forward boldly and consistently!

So, what are your career goals and/or challenges for 2009?

Small Business Coach Sandy Martini has a GREAT blog post here which details her list of things she is “letting go of” in 2009. She “warns” her list isn’t for the faint of heart. Here are the highlights:

• Vendors who don’t meet the terms of our agreement (they’ve been fired)
• Clients who want everything and yet implement nothing (yes, I’ve let a few go)
• Biz owners who fail to recognize the importance of building relationships and being authentic (we can tell when you’re being inauthentic, REALLY!)
• Companies who don’t know the meaning of customer service or who retain employees who don’t believe in it (I’m boycotting)
• Negative Nellies (I wish them well and would gleefully welcome them back into my life if they could display some optimism)
• Voicemail messages with no contact info, no real message (just “call me”) and no good time to return the call (do everyone a favor, leave a detailed message with your phone or email so we can actually get back to you)
• Ditto incoming faxes with no return contact info (DUH!)
• Sales letters which promise the world and don’t even deliver a county (we’re back to being authentic)
• “No shows” who schedule a call and don’t call or reschedule (this one shows absolutely no respect for the person being called)

I love Sandy’s list. I have a similar one. The longer I am in business for myself the more I learn that there is no one to BLAME but myself because I am the Captain of this ship – in charge and fully responsible of all the rules, boundaries and relationships.

And speaking from experieince what and who I “let in” does get to me, for better or for worse. So I opt for “the better” so my clients always get me at my best.

So, what are you letting go of for 2009?