Can you go back to January with me for a minute? What were those New Year’s resolutions? What were your goals for the year? What did you want to accomplish?
Now, where are you now? Got some things you still need to or want to get done in 2022?
Good, you’ve got time.
Watch the finish of this race. It’s not how you start. It’s how you finish.
The only reason to note where you are is that it’s your starting point, so don’t sulk in your present status. Don’t look back at what coulda, shoulda, woulda been. There’s a slew of others sitting in that swamp, so make up your mind to finish strong in 2022.
Let’s get real. People won’t remember how you started or even what happened in the middle months of this year. But they will remember how you finish, so finish strong. But do you want to get more real-er? It doesn’t matter what other people think. It’s what you think and want that matters.
So here’s a tip that will make your finish-strong approach more winnable and satisfying. Finish strong for you, not for anyone else. Finish strong by reaching your goals, not because someone else did it. Finish strong by running in your lane. You have no competition but yourself. The only competition you have is who you were yesterday. Make today better than yesterday.
Become a better spouse, businessman, father, person, writer, coach, and friend. It takes the pressure off keeping up with the Joneses.
Popeye the Sailorman may have said it the best: “If I’m not me, who am I? And if I’m somebody else, why do I look like me?”
So, back to finishing strong.
Let’s ask this question: What is your most important goal for the rest of this year? What’s the one thing you need to complete, become, change or accomplish by December 31? Consider your job/business, finances, relationships, health, and spiritual goals.
Don’t choose four or five things. We need your top answer here.
You already have a deadline (December 31), so here are some questions to help you get there successfully.
- Who or what do you need to help you finish strong? This may be a spreadsheet, an app, a friend, a mentor, or something else.
- Set some mile markers (goals within your goal) to help you take the steps necessary to finish strong.
- Schedule time (you have to make time) to work on your goal, preferably at the same time every day.
- Be a bulldog with distractions. Just get rid of them. Close the door, turn off your phone, and tell people this time is sacred.
- Don’t overthink it. Just get it done. After all, done is better than perfect.
- Trust your instincts. How many times did you miss out because you didn’t act?
But here’s the biggest key to finishing strong: Pull the trigger, take the first step. Life generally operates the 80/20 rule. It’s 20% head knowledge and 80% behavior or actions. You probably know what you have to do, and you have possibly been here before, facing the obstacle or hurdle or the fear that keeps you from reaching a goal.
Now is the time to push through and into your victory. You have the time. Finish strong in ’22.
This is good!!!