Saturday, December 30, 2006

Resolution - Weight Loss

Readers are making weight loss goals for 2007! Feel free to weigh in with your goal (and other resolutions are welcome too) and I will offer some online coaching to help you achieve success. I'll use the "pound-a-week" plan as an example. Start by making a list of ways you know you have lost weight successfully in the past. In the next column, list the barriers to using that particular method. You can choose the method that has the fewest possible barriers, or the one with the barriers that are most easily overcome. Then start a chart or matrix where you will keep track of your progress. This is the progress of working the plan - and also of the weight goal. The idea is that you can see how you are doing sooner rather than later. The better (more timely and accurate information) the feedback chart, the more helpful it will be as a tool for assessing your success. When you see there is a problem, you will be able to take action right away. For example, if your goal is to drink 8 glasses of water a day, you can tell on the first day if you met the goal. If you missed the goal, create a plan for success the next day that improves your chances. The goal might be to drink 5 by 10 a.m. Then the rest of the day is leisurely sipping. What will you do to lose the pound a week? (i.e., Exercise, increase water, reduce portion size, low carb, specific diet plan, etc.) You will start with one strategy with a plan of increasing the strategies you use over time to assure that you can continue to lose weight. Tell us what has worked for you when you wanted to lose weight.

Friday, December 29, 2006

Resolution Style

New Year’s Resolutions

What is your style of approaching the New Year? Maybe you like to select one colossal “should” and claim that it is your New Year’s resolution. Maybe you have a list of “would be good” improvements to tackle. Today a friend said this was a time to reflect on the past year and check the focus for the future. Maybe you’ve given up on resolutions all together.

Goals can help us achieve something important and they affirm our efficacy at living the life we want. Sometimes resolutions are difficult because they are too big, too daunting, already reflect something we are averse to doing, … ________________ (fill in the blank for yourself).

This year, make a goal that will bring you joy to accomplish. One year I asked a youngster if they had any New Year’s resolutions. After a short Q & A about the word resolution, my young friend proclaimed that this year “I will go to Build-A-Bear Workshop and two movies.” These are resolutions likely to happen because they will bring joy. Also, they were simple, attainable and represented hopes that were not common experiences for this child.

Is there something that would bring you joy in 2007 that you are unlikely to achieve without making it a goal? This blog will be my goal in 2007. It is a place to publish thoughts on goal setting, leadership and the value of coaching. I hope you will join the discussion.

Saturday, December 23, 2006

Resolutions

2007 is just around the bend. One of my goals was to start a blog for the New Year. It is important to have goals that seem meaningful. If you share your goals, I can provide some online coaching to help everyone achieve their New Years Resolution(s)! So... let the Blog begin!