Make Your New Year’s Resolutions Stick

The New Year is the perfect time to turn the page and start from scratch. Whether you are looking to change something in your business or personal life, there is no better time to start than the first of January. As the ball drops on New Year’s Eve, millions of people vow to make changes – both big and small. By the time the Super Bowl is played – some six weeks later – most people have already resorted back to their old self. It is not that people don’t have the desire or willpower to make changes; they simply lack direction. Making resolutions without an action plan is basically just wishing. Wishing will not get you where you want to go. As the New Year approaches, vow to take action, and to make your resolutions stick. Here are 4 tips to help you get your New Year off on the right foot:

1. Accept Hurdles: The most common source of derailment for any goal is a hurdle, or obstacle if you will. Regardless of what you are trying to do, you need to accept it will not be easy. Every successful real estate investor faces challenges at some point or another, whether it is finding deals, dealing with business partners, losing deals or taking on bad tenants. It is how you respond to this adversity that makes all the difference. Whatever your goals or changes for the New Year may be, they will not come without some challenges.

2. Take Action: It is not enough to say that you want to close five deals a month next year. You need to write out a detailed plan for how you are going to achieve it. Start by asking the most basic question: what do I need to do to make this happen? This could be anything from expanding your educational base to reaching out to different people. After you write down what you need to do, write down how you plan on achieving it. The more detailed and specific you are, the greater chance that you will achieve your goal. You may need to visit ten new real estate companies a day. You may need to attend networking meetings or join an investment club. In most cases, there will be some sacrifice involved to get where you want to go. The higher you set the bar, the more action you will need to take. Don’t just write down what you want, write down how you plan on getting there.

3. Keep Goals Realistic: There is nothing wrong with shooting for the moon. You can’t be huge unless you think big. However, you should consider keeping your resolutions in line with reality. Most new investors want to close as many deals as possible in their first 60 days. When this doesn’t happen, they become annoyed and frustrated. In reality, things often don’t go the way you plan. Instead of making lofty goals that aren’t likely to be attained, try making smaller ones. Even the smallest amount of success can lead to more action. Once you get into a pattern of crossing things off your list, you feel confident and want to do more. Instead of getting discouraged and quitting, you will likely feel good about yourself and end up doing more. Big goals are great, but start by taking baby steps.

4. Surround Yourself with Like-minded People: Any personal or business change is never easy. You need all of the help and motivation you can get. During this time of transition, it is important to surround yourself with like-minded, positive people. You probably have enough doubt on your own without hearing from negative people. These people will tell you how hard things are or how crazy you are for trying. They are looking to bring you down with them. On the flip-side, positive people who have been in your shoes offer support and motivation. They will pick you up when you are veering off track. They won’t make it easy on you to quit. They will put you in the best position to stick things out. There are often a handful of times when you can either continue working towards your goals or give up. Having the right people around you during these times can be what you need to stay committed. Ultimately, the choice is up to you, but having the right people around you helps.