Well, I want to take a moment and wish you a Happy New Year! At the moment, everyone is excited about 2019. The gyms are running over with new members, grocery stores are filled with people that have committed to new diets, and life coaches are in high demand as people are ready to live their dreams in 2019. While I am not against being excited, I know from experience that the euphoria will diminish and most people will revert back to the same bad habits. The reality is that it takes more than emotions or good intentions to change your life. I want to have a very open and honest conversation with you about what it will take for you to thrive in 2019.
- You do not need to make resolutions but you must make a decision. At this point in the year, everyone is making resolutions. As you know, losing weight and living a more healthy lifestyle is always at the top of the list. Honestly, I do not have a problem with making resolutions. On the other hand, I do not make resolutions because they do not work. I have devoted my entire life to helping individuals fulfill purpose and maximize their greatest potential. I have written seven books and developed leaders all over the world. If you want to make 2019 the greatest year of your life, then you need to make a quality decision this year. What do I mean by a quality decision? You need to decide what you want and commit to seeing that thing become a reality in your life. I know from personal experience that when I make quality decisions I shift the trajectory of my life. Resolutions are nothing more than hopes and aspirations. On the other hand, decisions have to be owned and require personal responsibility. Decisions are pivotal to the transformation of your life.
- You must be committed to making this the greatest year of your life. After you have made a decision, the next step is to make a commitment to follow through with your decisions. Commitment is the bridge between desire and reality. Most people get excited about having a desire. However, if you want to go the distance you must be willing to make a commitment. After all, I have discovered that you will only complete what you are willing to commit yourself to. Commitment is the investment that you must make to see your dreams become a reality. Most people fail because they dream of success but they never dedicate themselves to success. If you are tired of making resolutions and not seeing results in your life, then I challenge you to make commitments in 2019. Commitment is taking responsibility for the results you produce. The things that you are vested in prove what you value. Why not invest in the things that will improve the quality of your life? Your commitments will determine your concentration and influence the course of your life.
- You must be a person of discipline. It is great to make a decision and to commit yourself to living a greater life. However, the thing that has separated me from others is my discipline. Disciplines are the habits that we establish in our lives. Unfortunately, most people have bad habits and those habits have been developed over time. What I have discovered is that some things have to be unlearned in order to live an uncommon life. Most people think that ambition and positive affirmations will compensate for a lack of discipline in their lives. Unfortunately, discipline is not magical but it is about mastery. Discipline is essentially doing the work that will set you apart and cause you to be world-class in every area of your life. While most people set resolutions, I have disciplined myself to be a person of mastery. I am recognized around the world as a thought leader. However, it was the decades of training, development and sacrifice that have produced excellence in my life. You have to be willing to do what others will not in order to experience a life that few people will ever enjoy. Make 2019 the year that you stop taking shortcuts and develop the disciplines that will empower you to thrive. A man with discipline will always outpace and outperform a man with ambition. Ambition without discipline will ultimately lead to the abortion of your dreams.
- You must establish strong accountability in your life. I am sure you have never read an article quite like this one. Most people are giving you warm and fuzzy motivational messages. I am not saying that there is anything wrong with inspirational messages. However, I know that it takes more than inspiration to improve your life. I am not telling you something that I pulled out of a book. I am telling you truths and strategies that have proven to be true in my life and the lives of my clients. If you want to thrive in 2019, then you need to take radical steps and make radical shifts. Nothing will accelerate your success track like accountability. Accountability provides you with mentors and coaches that have already been where you are trying to go. More importantly, accountability safeguards you against self-destructing. When I established strong accountability in my life, I found myself more focused and dedicated to my goals. I knew I had to provide updates to my mentors and it totally shifted the way that I viewed my goals and dreams. It is one thing to write down your vision and set goals for the year. On the other hand, sharing your goals with mentors and coaches is a game changer. Accountability will bring a stronger sense of responsibility and integrity to your life. I challenge you this year to find an accountability partner. It is one of the best decisions you can ever make. Accountability increases your learning curve and multiplies your effectiveness exponentially.