"It’s not that I’m so smart, it’s just that I stay with problems longer.” – Albert Einstein
Pregame Prep (today's overview)
New Year's resolutions are a common tradition for so many people starting on January 1st; I don’t like them. I have never liked the idea that everything magically changes on this certain day, and I think the real reason is for so many years I tried to change on Jan 1 only to fail by Jan 10th (one year I didn't make it 3 days)… What I've found is consistency is more important to my success than making a big change on 'x' date, or having grand plans or huge goals.
Do you know how many times I would over indulge the week or day before starting my diet, how lazy I was leading up to my exercise program, how many times I did the exact opposite of whatever resolution I had and just thought the cold turkey method, the all or nothing attack of starting tomorrow would be a stunning success.
Ambitious and unrealistic resolutions lead us to inevitably falling short of our expectations, then we become discouraged, and we want to give up. However, consistently working toward our goals, even if it's in small baby steps, leads to long-term success. With gentle and constant reminders changes occur. It's important to remember that progress and success often come slowly, and it's the daily effort and dedication that ultimately leads to achieving our goals.
Film Review (my experience)
In January of 2022 I was sitting on the white sandy beach of a private island, surrounded by crystal clear waters, staring at a literal paradise. The purpose of the trip was planning the year and setting goals for 2022, I decided 'Abundance' would be my word for the year.
Even if you aren't privileged enough YET to lounging on a private island and dream about your goals, I think you can imagine how easy it would be to have wild dreams and grand ideas while living the life of luxury and being spoiled.
Needless to say, I was feeling confident and excited for what 2022 held in store. As the year went on, it became clear that the stock and bond markets were not going to be the source of abundance that I envisioned. In fact, they were volatile and unpredictable, and ended the year with their worst performance in almost 15 years.
Around July (my mid year review) I was disappointed and frustrated because my mind was super focused on my lack of financial abundance, and it seemed that the universe was not cooperating. The abundant ATM that was going to deliver me endless supply of cash... It never showed up! But, when I zoomed out and continued to reflect on what abundance truly meant, I had the realization that through consistent action I was making noticeable and considerable progress on many of my other goals. I just kept going!
By Jan 2023 (as I write this article) 2022 was without any doubt the best year of my life! It was my most abundant year yet! This statement has very little to do with money. I totally acknowledge financial stability is important, but there is a certain threshold where money isn't what people think it is. I'm past that point asset wise to where abundance is actually about money. In 2022 I had so many brand new life experiences: travel, relationships, new friends, new networks, and new businesses. I found a sense of fulfillment and joy in my life with the greatest appreciation for the present moment.
Consistency in my efforts to cultivate these things in my daily life were key to my abundance in 2022. As I look back on all that I had accomplished and all that I have to be grateful for, I realized how being consistent, just pushing for those small changes consistently in all areas contributed to my year of abundance!
Being consistent helps us to build good habits and routines. This framework is the support system to achieving our goals. It's easier to stick to something when it becomes a regular part of the routine. Rather than trying to make big changes all at once, small gradual progress over time adds up to impactful change.
I prefer to forget these new year resolutions that often include unrealistic goals with big aspirations, and I remember that consistency and dedication are key to achieving the results I want . Rather than making resolutions that may be hard to stick to, I focus on building consistent habits and routines that support my efforts towards achieving all my goals.
Offensive Game Plan (actions to obtain freedom)
Consistency is an important quality for all aspects of our life, both personal and professional. Consistency is about repetition (obviously), but there are some tricks I found to help make consistent action occur more easily for me:
Set specific and achievable goals: Having clear goals help you stay focused and motivated.
Make a plan: Planning out the steps you need to take breaking your goals down into smaller, more manageable tasks.
Break large goals down: Aim for 10-20% of the total, create a snowball effect where you get a little dopamine hit when you achieve each level so you want to keep going.
Create a routine: this again you may be asking? Yes! Establishing a routine helps you stay consistent by providing structure.
Track of your progress: do not just track the progress of your goal! Track the progress of following your plan. This helps you stay on track and following the plan leads to the results you want in time
Stay committed: Don't give up, stay dedicated. You will have setbacks, challenges, even failures. Do not beat yourself up, just get right back in the routine of following your plan.
Defensive Game Plan (actions to defend your freedom)
Consistency isn't always easy. I covered what works well for me, now let's discuss possible challenges below.
Lack of motivation: When you don't feel motivated or engaged try to remember the bigger picture. Why are do you have this goal?
Unrealistic Goals cause un-needed pressure: Be realistic and don't bite of more than you can chew. You eat an elephant one bite at a time.
No support system: Build a support team, it is easier to maintain consistency when you have other people helping or participating, whether it's friends, family, a coach, or a support group.
Too much change to quickly: If you're constantly facing significant changes or disruptions it will be difficult to maintain over an extended period of time
Accountability Partner/Group: you need someone to hold you accountable for your goals, such as a coach, mentor, or friend to stay motivated and on track.
Special Teams: (special exercise/skill for this week)
Sometimes consistency isn't fun, what if you reframe it by being more creative.
Get creative: Find ways to make your goal more interactive and engaging. For example, if your goal is to exercise more, try finding new and exciting ways to stay active, such as joining a sports team or trying out a new fitness class.
Make it a challenge: Set up a friendly competition with yourself or others to see who can maintain consistency for the longest period of time.
Gamify your goal: Turn your goal into a game by setting up a point system or rewards for achieving specific milestones.
Audible: (unplanned changes to the plan)
Remember that it's okay to take a break or miss a day every once in a while. One day, one week, or even a one month break won't necessarily derail your progress if you get right back to it. Sometimes taking a break is beneficial to maintaining your consistency, I know it sounds counter intuitive, but breaks help you recharge and come back to your goal with renewed energy and focus.
The key is to get back to your consistent efforts as soon as possible and not let a break turn into a long-term setback. Don't beat yourself up or feel guilty, just get back to your plan!
Post-Game Review (key takeaway)
Consistent small changes leads to huge progress over extended periods of time. By focusing on building habits and making consistent efforts towards your goals, you steadily move closer to achieving them. Having a playbook to freedom, helps you make even quicker progress by skipping levels and accelerating your growth. Make a commitment to consistent action and you will create positive, lasting changes to your life's journey to freedom and happiness.
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How do you feel about New Years Resolutions? Are you person who takes 'my' regular parking spot at the gym the first 2 weeks of January? Lets talk