As I watched the ball drop in Time Square to usher in a New Year and new decade, I was struck with excitement and joy for the coming year. And as tradition goes, it was time to make some New Year’s Resolutions. It’s human nature to want to start the year off hopeful for creating a better future, but midnight on New Year’s Eve, amongst celebrators and good times, is not the most effective time to create a solid plan for your future. Let’s do ourselves a huge favour this year and not make any New Year’s Resolutions at the stroke of midnight: I bet they haven’t worked in the past so why would you do something that hasn’t worked before? That is the definition of insanity.

Instead, take some time in the early days of 2010 when you’re of clear and powerful mind to really think about what goals you wish to set and why. Then work on developing a real, honest and manageable plan to make them happen this year. There are no mysterious secrets to setting and achieving goals that you don’t already know, but there is a difference between intellectually knowing and physically doing. Make 2010 the year that you take all the things you know and put them into action. I guess if there is a big secret to successfully accomplishing your goals, that would be it – action.

In order to help you get started here are 14 tips to make your goals more effective this year:

1. Be honest with yourself. See reality for how it is no better, no worse.

2. Focus is power. What you focus on you get more of. Set a better focus in life.

3. Thoughts are things. As you think, so you create.

4. Write your goals down!!!

5. Put yourself in a peak physical and mental state. Perhaps put on your favorite song or dance around like no one is watching, then set your goals.

6. Start with the purpose of the goals, then the result. If the goals don’t have real meaning and purpose to you then you won’t follow through.

7. Set goals that you have as much control over as possible. Don’t leave your success to others.

8. State the goals in positive statements.

9. Measure your goals often. The more you measure the more likely you are to succeed at achieving them.

10. Break them into chunks. Create daily, weekly and monthly results that you can see progress with.

11. Make yourself accountable. Tell others; use social pressure as an advantage to keep your word and keep you moving forward.

12. Link pleasure to achieving your goals and pain to not achieving them.

13. NEVER set a goal without taking some action immediately to commit to that goal.

14. Celebrate!!! Reward yourself for completing the goal. But the completion is not the reward, do something special that will always remind you of your hard work and effort.

I will share with you one of my big goals for 2010. I will finish write my first book called “Get Extraordinary” by writing for at least 30 minutes 4 days a week until its complete. As a reward for completing my book I will take a minimum 10-day vacation to Hawaii. If I do not complete my book in 2010 I will give away all of my sports memorabilia to my friends via a lottery system.

I wish you all the best in setting and achieving your goals in 2010. If there is anything I can help you with as life coach please contact me. Or if you simply want to declare your goals to another person I would love to hear them.

Happy New Year, I wish all of you great happiness and prosperity in 2010.

Live Extraordinary!

James