Continuing Success In 2012

Have you ever heard the phrase “Gym membership dropout”? It describes the all-too-common phenomenon that plagues many well-intentioned gym-goers about this time of year. You’ve probably seen it at your local gym. The machines and classes are packed with swarms of eager-faced newcomers in January, but by mid-February, motivation has faded, New Year’s goals are all but forgotten, and the gym returns to its pre-January levels.

Is this same phenomenon happening to you with your 2012 goals?  Have you become a goal-setting drop out now that February is here and March is in sight?

Before you give up on your goals altogether, let’s look at some key ideas that will help you tweak the current goals you have or create new goals with greater meaning and compatibility.

The first key to successfully meeting your goals is to make sure the goals are compatible with what you are passionate about. As an entrepreneur, it's possible you have been so busy building your business you've forgotten or lost sight of what you are truly passionate about.

There is hope. Have you ever had an experience where time seemed to fly by and you felt absolutely lost in the moment, engaged, or even engulfed in what you were doing? Athletes refer to this when they talk about being in the “zone.” You experience a moment in which everything outside of what you are focused on disappears except for what is right in front of you.

Psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (pronounced “chick-SENT-me-high”) talks about this in his book titled Finding Flow. His theory is that all of our activities are made up of challenges and skills and they relate to one another on a continuum. When our skills and challenges are low, we experience apathy. When challenges are low and the skills needed for the tasks are high, we are relaxed. When our skills are low but the challenge is high we experience anxiety. However, when our skills are high and the challenge is also high, we experience engagement.

Think of a situation where your challenges were very high, yet you didn’t have the skills, resources, or tools you needed to get the job done. I would bet you experienced “HIGH ANXIETY.” Whereas, if you have a favorite activity that requires skill, but it’s not challenging to you such as singing, gardening, reading, or playing an instrument, that is when we feel a sense of relaxation.

Dr. Csikszentmihalyi has found that in the particular moment when your challenges and skills are both high, you will feel completely engaged. It occurs when you are fully involved in overcoming the challenge in front of you and you have the skills to be successful! Keep in mind, it is not reasonable to expect this type of engagement 100% of your day; however, knowing what those activities are will allow you to begin to identify the areas you are truly passionate about and it's in those areas you can begin to create your goals.

The second key is to be fully committed. It's important to not waste your time doing things you are not committed to. Start each day with asking yourself, "What am I really committed to do today, and is it in alignment with what is important?" Create a visual representation of your goals so they are in front of you on a daily basis. For some, this could be a list of your goals laminated and posted in a spot you look at every day. For others, you could record your goals and listen to them daily. Another option would be to create a visual presentation, in which you have pictures representing the goals you have set for yourself. Be creative!

The third and last key is to be coachable. Always have an open mind to new possibilities. Make sure you have a coach that can keep you on track to achieve your goals and your biggest dreams. “Wisdom is knowing what to do next, skill is knowing how to do it, and virtue is doing it.” -David Starr Jordan


Vickie Seitner has over 18 years of experience in management and consulting. Prior to joining Peak Advisor Alliance, she founded her own coaching company where she provided professional, business/career transition, and personal development coaching to individuals at all levels.Vickie spent over 10 years as a Vice President and Branch Manager at Charles Schwab where she doubled the size of the branch during her time there. Additionally she worked as the Chief Administrative Officer for a large not-for-profit organization where she counseled senior management, and managed all functional areas of the company. Vickie is also an accredited Coach through the International Coach Federation.