#718
What are you doing for “you” this year?
It’s the New Year — Oh boy! Oh boy! New leaf. New opportunities. New goals. New resolutions. New beginnings, and new determinations. Oh yeah, bring it on!
Just a second, Sparky. Before you start up the new mountain, why not take a look at who’s mountain you’re climbing — yours or theirs.
Most people are guided, led, told, or demanded by their company or boss, what their goals or objectives are. They are important objectives for the company, for your job security, for your career, and for your income, BUT, are they the ones that you want to achieve?
Probably not. Those are the ones you HAVE to achieve.
Now, before every boss and CEO in America jumps on me, I’m not suggesting that people rebel or ignore their corporate or career responsibility. I am suggesting that each of you take more time to look at what you’re achieving in terms of YOURSELF.
Here are a few thoughts to get your personal achievement on the right track, so that this year will be your best personal year.
1. Concentrate on what you want — not just what they want. What’s important to others may not be as important to you. Achieve your personal goals at the same time you’re achieving your work and career goals.
YOUR LAMENT: “I gave you the best years of my life.”
MY REPLY: What were you thinking? Why are you giving anyone your best years?
NEW YEAR’S OPPORTUNITY: Have the best year of YOUR life.
2. Spend more time alone. Invest some quality time with yourself. Walking, reading, and thinking. Personal time. TV is nice, and tempting, but it takes you away from striving to be your BEST. Ever hear a multi-millionaire say, “I got here by watching TV.” No, and neither will you. Keep in mind, while you’re watching TV, I’m writing columns and books.
3. Do things that make you a better person. Learn something new every day. Study something for an hour a day. If you devote an hour a day to anything, at the end of five years, you’ll be a world class expert at it. If five years seems like a long time, think how fast this year went by. Exercise (my downfall) creates new thoughts and new ideas. It also makes you feel better.
4. Do things that make you feel good. Exceptions being drinking, drugging and smoking. They may make you feel good, but they’ll rob you of health, clear thinking, and success. Self-indulge. Make yourself feel great more often.
5. Donate something to someone. Money, time, resources. Try to give it as directly (one-to-one) as possible. If you want to donate to the Red Cross, donate blood. If you want to donate to hurricane victims, find a family and send them a check. I just gave a college class a seminar on sales in the real world, and what they needed to do to prepare for graduation. The students loved it, but not as much as I loved sharing the information. Everyone needs help of some kind. When you help others directly, it brings to focus the adage, “It is far better to give than it is to receive.”
5.5 The bathroom mirror is your reality. Take advantage of it. Answer to yourself every morning and evening. The bathroom is the one place you’re alone with yourself at least twice a day. Early in the morning, and late at night. Face yourself, and admit where you are. Face yourself, and resolve where you’re going. If you need help, put up a few Post-it Notes as (painful) reminders.
GREAT NEWS: Everything above is something you can do. Starting today. At no cost. And it’s all in your favor. Here’s a clue to get you moving: You already know what to do, all you have to do is take action.
IDEA: Wake up one hour earlier. This will give you the hour of clear thinking you need (provided you went to bed sober the night before). Morning time is the best for ideas and accomplishments.
DECIDE, DON’T CHOOSE: Some people call it “choices.” Bad term. The word is “decisions.” And you have to make more of them in favor of yourself. Make decisions that move you in the direction of success, not in the direction of the television.’
Happy YOU Year!
I have a list of affirmations that will help you achieve better and faster. Go to www.gitomer.com — register if you’re a first time user — and enter AFFIRMATIONS in the GitBit box.
Jeffrey Gitomer, author of The Sales Bible, and The Little Red Book of Selling. President of Charlotte-based Buy Gitomer, he gives seminars, runs annual sales meetings, and conducts internet training programs on selling and customer service at www.trainone.com. He can be reached at 704/333-1112 or e-mail to salesman@gitomer.com
c 2006 All Rights Reserved – Don’t even think about reproducing this document without written
permission from Jeffrey H. Gitomer and Buy Gitomer 704/333-1112
