So - We just managed to get through the big holiday season, get the kids back to school, get back to our own routine when - Whoa! What the heck is that? Hearts, more chocolate...sexy lingerie even! Valentine's Day hit's full on and even that has come and gone.
Time is zipping by and I’m sure you been paying close attention to those New Year’s Resolutions.
“Oh those! Yes, well I’ve been meaning to…I mean I slipped a couple of times…well actually – ahh - no.”
Now why is that? I mean you promised yourself that this year…and there’s the issue. You promised yourself. You aren’t accountable to anybody else. Unfortunately, most of us humans have no problems breaking promises…to ourselves. It’s a bad habit that exist throughout the whole world.
I’m not a stats guy but apparently those resolutions last an average of 3 weeks; New gym memberships less than 6 weeks.
I did my own little study; Twenty five people that made New Year’s Resolutions. Promises, mostly to themselves, that they would quit smoking, lose weight, gain weight, keep the garage tidy, walk everyday and a host of others pledges. So – what’s your guess as to how many people are still holding on? 15? 12? 9? 6? 5?/ 4?3? Stop! Three it is. A whopping 12% Better than average actually. And the chances are they will succeed and continue on throughout the year and then set newer, bigger goals. The rest have already gone back to their old habits and we are only into the middle of February.
So what’s the difference in those three and the others? Want in on a little secret? ( Oooh – secrets!) They made themselves accountable. That’s it. Not exactly earth shattering is it? They took on a coach. Now that coach is not an amazing motivational speaker. No big international star. But they are accountable to him. He also got their family involved. Now things are a little different. No sneaking that extra snack. No slipping outside for a ‘quick smoke’. Now they have to answer to someone else and that’s makes a world of difference.
They’ve slipped up a few times. No biggy. They are human but they are persistent. They have it in their mind that they will succeed and now they have support. Nobody is going to hassle them – but everyone will support them and that makes a huge difference.
Accountability and persistence. Two little secrets of highly successful people all over the world. Never give up – and get some help. Never quit and when you’re down you have a hand to help you back up. Never stop trying and seek the advice of those that know how it is done. Never say never.
In all the books I’ve read about successful people – I don’t recall reading about anybody that became successful without persistence. Nobody made it by quitting. They all had help and they all kept trying. From Henry Ford to Bill Gates to Pete Shemply. Pete who? Pete Shemply – a friend of mine that tried to lose weight for years – every diet in the book – every weight loss program on the market. Nothing worked. Then he found a coach and his wife got involved. Did it make a difference? Over 50 kilos in 18 months…and it stayed off. Yep – it made a difference.
So come on – get up – start again. Regain that vision of the new you and share it with somebody. Tell them what you are going to do. Not what you would like to do, and set that plan into motion.
Accountability and persistence – the trade secrets of success…and the time to start again is…
NOW!
