My family plays a lot of games. A favorite when we have large groups is a dice game called left, right, center. We play the game with quarters that are passed to the left, right, or center (as its name implies) based on what you roll.
The quarters move around the table constantly during the game and the winner can be anyone, including the person who sat without quarters in front of them for most of the game. Thus the mantra stated often as we play, ‘It’s not over until it’s over.’
That’s how we need to look at the remainder of 2014. It’snot over until it’s over on 12/31/14. There are long weeks and days ahead to seek results and achieve your goals.
What there isn’t time for is procrastination, excuses, or blaming.
Now is the time to dig in and make your minutes and days matter.
How?
First, delete the excuses that I’ve heard over the past month:
- The holidays are coming and no one wants to talk with me
- Budgets are already used for this year
- I’m so far behind, I might as well move sales into 2015
- My manager is never available to help me
- The product sucks
Then, TODAY make the time to define what you CAN do in the next six weeks.
- Break the actions into weekly and daily activities.
- Identify an accountability partner. Someone who will check in with you at pre-determined dates to nudge you toward activity and celebrate your progress.
- Define your reward for achieving the goals you set – what is in it for you when the goals are achieved THIS year versus next?
- Execute!
These are also great ways to plan for 2015, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Focus on finishing 2014 strong which will set you up for a great start to next year.
Come on, it’s not even December 1st; you have 1/12 of the year left to focus and act to achieve your goals. 2014 is not over until it’s over on 12/31/14 at 11:59 p.m.
Your turn! What are some other actions you can take to achieve your 2014 goals? Visit the original post here and leave a comment for a chance to win a signed copy of Conversations That Sell.