If you truly want to achieve a dream, resolution, or daily goal you have to know 'what you intend to do and how you intend to do it'. You have to be specific. It is exhilarating to commit to a huge, undefined dream, but to succeed, you have to boil it down to its core essence, so that you have clarity of thought, intention and focus. That clarity will enable you to build a comprehensive plan that you can implement one small I use the I Resolve To. . . Formula For Success as a starting point. It's a simple, common sense way to achieve things great and small: Begin with a cherished dream, one in which you have enormous desire and interest. Turn that dream into a specific, one-sentence resolution that clearly states your intention. Make that resolution a reality with daily goals that can be achieved one small step at a time at a time, one day at a time. Dream + Resolution + Daily Goals = Success, Reward & Fulfillment Focusing on just one large, life-changing dream at a time is a critical component of any successful strategy. To do otherwise is overwhelming and a surefire way to set yourself up for frustration and failure. When you know 'what you intend to achieve and how you are going to achieve it', the daily journey is smooth, enjoyable and satisfying. Add four other key daily ingredients - planning, organization, simplicity, and implementation - and you remove the guesswork as well, replacing it with a solid system that will take you from start to finish. The Tennis Court was a great training ground for a dreamer like me. As a kid, and throughout my high school and college years, I played competitive tennis. I love tennis today as much as I did when I was a 12-year-old. Picking up my racket and hitting the court brings great joy to my life. As a youngster, I learned that you have to work hard, show up every single day, and do your very best if you want to achieve your dreams. Daily practice didn't make me or my tennis game perfect, but it did help me to hone my skills and build good habits both on and off the tennis court. The same is true whether on a court, or in virtually any endeavor that a person chooses to undertake in life. As I practiced my strokes day after day, I learned to visualize my intended goals, what I planned to achieve - all things large and small - in my game and in my life. I knew where the sweet spot was on my racket - that fabulous point when tennis ball meets racket just so, and the ball soars across the net for a winning point. I practiced hard and often so that my skills became habitual and instinctive, and so that I didn't have to think about everything that I was doing, every single second. My strokes, serve and overall game became almost automatic. I visualized my outcome from the outset, which helped me with each stroke, each point, each game, each day. I went to bed thinking and dreaming - visualizing - about hitting the sweet spot, and sending the ball across the net and inside the while lines. I learned young how important it is to visualize what you intend to achieve, to build a plan that will get you there, and to take small steps each and every day, so that you can make dreams a reality over time. I also learned early in life that every shot doesn't necessarily bring victory and every day doesn't bring success. I discovered when you make a mistake, or feel like you have failed, it isn't failure at all if you learn your lessons, move forward with pride and a positive attitude, and try to do better the next time. Sometimes finding and maintaining that spark of optimism can be really really tough, but digging deep for a positive attitude can propel you toward victory on another day. If you keep the forward momentum going each and every day - even when you feel like you can't go another step let alone another mile - and keep your eye on the prize throughout by visualizing your intended outcome, you may not always get exactly what you desire, but you will enjoy a remarkable journey. step at a time, one day at a time. Clarity will help you to visualize - to see in your mind's eye what you intend to achieve, where you want to end up - and to keep your eye on the prize throughout the journey.
Remember: I Resolve To . . . Achieve My New Year Resolutions, One Resolution, One Day At A Time For One Year. It's your choice. Do it today. Turn your resolution into reality in five simple, common sense steps: Dare To Dream, Decide, Define, Develop A Plan, and Do It Daily. Make your resolution a permanent Lifetime Resolution, something that's with you for good! Above all, Be A Resolutionista, someone who makes resolutions, keeps resolutions, and enjoys the journey! Let's Go For It!
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Kim M. Simpson - October 12, 2008
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