We are well into February and by now you are just over a month into your new goals and new year’s resolutions. How are they going? If you are like most people, it’s probably going like it did last year. The excitement and motivation to really do something different or better, has waned and you’ve started to miss a few times, maybe more than a few. Maybe you have stopped all together. You are not alone. In fact, you are in the majority! Research shows that only about 3% of people who set goals actually accomplish them. But that doesn’t mean you can’t succeed.

So, if you are serious about goals and doing something you’ve never done before, here are five things anyone can do to increase the likelihood of succeeding in accomplishing your goals.

1. Simplify, simplify, simplify! The fact is, the more goals you have the less likely it is that you will actually accomplish them. So, prioritize and focus on the few, one to three if goal setting is still something new or 4-6 if you’ve been successful in the past already. The key is focus!
2. You gotta wanna! If your goals are not based on something you really feel passionate about, chances are they won’t happen. So, either quit deceiving yourself or find a real reason to work on your goal.
3. Invest in it. Look, when something costs you money, you are a lot more likely to do it. That’s why people that pay for training, a coach, memberships etc. are a lot more likely to keep working on their goals. But invest wisely, don’t throw money away. Remember, you gotta wanna!
4. Measure yourself. You get what you measure, plain and simple. Chuck Coonradt said “People will pay for the privilege of working harder than they will work when they are paid!” And it’s true. People pay to enter races, competitions, etc. and they work harder at that than at their jobs. But make sure that you measuring the real indicator(s) of progress, that it is visible, and that you measure on a regularly. Better yet…share it with someone, which takes us to the last point.
5. Peer accountability. Follow through which is critical, is more likely to happen if you are accountable to someone. So, ask someone to be your ‘coach’ get partner or a group to do it with or discuss your progress with. However you choose to do it, make sure you are accountable to someone that will not go easy on you.

Try at least two of these simple strategies and get back on track. You absolutely can. Why? Because YOU were born to succeed.

Also, please share your best tip for how to accomplish your goals. What’s worked for you? Or just ask a question!