2012: No excuses.

Oh boy, hold onto your seats!  We are three days away from 2012. Does that mean the world is ending? By far. It means the new world is beginning.

How do you want to wake up on January 1st?  Do you want to be refreshed? Strong? Willing to go the distance for your dreams? Or are you going to wake up lazy, tired and hungover?  If you really want to kick some ass in 2012 it's not going to be all glitter and glam. It's going to take discipline and follow-through and navigating a new world full of equal parts danger and opportunity. Are you up for the challenge of a lifetime?

Everything is Different Now

What you thought you knew you don't. What used to work doesn't. We, as a society, don't know which way is up. Making a living, or getting a job has new rules. Finding a place in this world is anything but easy. What about those 500 "friends" on facebook? Do you really know them? Do really have friends at all? Do you want more work or money but are unwilling to leave your computer screen?  Some people like to blame the economy, the recession, or the (fill in the blank). But there is no power in blame. Finger pointing creates a loss of power. It's time that each and every one of us face reality. Discipline and determination go a long way. Sitting around gets you no where.  The trick is to start with small steps and stay consistent.

Steps to Staying Stuck

1) Stay scared 2) Be a cynic 3) Be a pessimist but claim you are a realist 4) Believe you are wiser 5) Feel secretly superior 6) Do nothing to change your life other than bitch 7) Use the term "i told you so"

Steps to Getting Shit Done: Repetition and Consistency.

1) Find the fire in your belly.  With all of today's (and tomorrows) technology the competition is fierce. However, that means there is an equal level of opportunity. Knowing what you love to do, and doing it is your advantage. Passion trumps everything. 2) It's time to enjoy the twists and turns of failure, to accept yourself, to love each precious moment and to stay on top of your game. I'm starting my year with a big dose of self acceptance and a solid routine of health care, personal development and discipline. 3) Start listening to the masters and don't just listen once. Listen again and again and again. Some of the most successful people in the world live on repetition. They listen or read the same books 20, 35, or 60 times until they have mastered their craft. I've recently become a huge fan of Darren Hardy's work. Check out this, and this, and this.

Here's the real trick: small, seemingly inconsequential steps make a huge difference if they are done with consistency. Consistency is key. True success is not attained in an instant, nor it is glamorous. It's laborious, tedious, and difficult. Taking small steps, each day, to achieve big rewards mean that you have to stay on track. The good news is that anyone can do this.

What are three small things that you can start doing now that could change your life?

Here are three little things that will make a huge difference for me:

1)  Going to bed early and getting up early everyday and establishing a morning routine (I'll write more about my morning routine next week.) The key is to be up at 6:45am NO MATTER WHAT.  If I'm tired, I get up. No excuses. Then to bed by 10pm. (More time during the day means easier time management.)

2) Exercise 4-5 times a week. Cardio 4 times, plus some yoga and strength training. Even 15 minutes a day makes a difference. My goal is 15 - 55 minutes. No excuses. (When our bodies are healthy we have more mental clarity, better moods, and accomplish more. It starts with the body/mind connection.)

3) Step out of my comfort zone in small ways: by going to a new networking group, hanging out with new people, running in a different neighborhood, etc. Each week I have to do one thing out of my comfort zone. No excuses. (This process is easy to forget. It's important to get out into the world and out into new places. We get complacent and that holds us back.)

Tracking

Talking about this is good and dandy, but tracking my progress is even more important. I'll keep writing back and reporting to you weekly to see how this experiment goes.

So answer me this: what are three small things you can change that would make a BIG difference in 2012?

(and don't forget to cick the like button and pass this on!)

Comments

[jason z]

getting up earlier, putting small amounts of money into saving every year, doing a little bit everyday on the 4 projects i have going that i think could produce success and real results financially and artistically

[jason z]

revision, small amounts of money saying every week

[CAELAN HUNTRESS]

I'm takin Tshombe's goal setting course tomorrow! (www.claimyournewyear.com)

See, I really want 2012 to kick ass. Having somebody hand me a workbook and say, 'Here, use this to plan out your year,' that's what I need to focus on the vision, and not get tripped up in how to implement it.

I'm taking inspiration from you, ZigZag, and I'll be posting my resolutions for all the internet to see. Easiest way to accountability: declare your intentions loud, and then follow through or fuck up.

[Andrea]

Some of my goals are exactly the same as yours. I have a few other things to add in there, but the getting up earlier and going to bed on time is really what everything else hinges on. If I can do that then it is easier to exercise and do my other self-care like journalling/soul-writing, take my vitamins with breakfast etc. And easier to do everything with repetition and consistency. And blogging accountability is a great idea!! Thank you! I am going to import my old blog to my site and resurrect it. I'll let you know when I'm set up!

[php]

I love this - although it is not enough to love it. Must be it. Be it. Thank you, Ms Z.

[zigzag]

Hey there! I didn't see these comments til now. Thanks for posting.

I really appreciate comments and giving me some feedback. I'm looking forward to a successsful new year and celebrating virtually with all of you!! Thanks Andrea, Caelan, and Jason and ...php!