2008 GOALS: SUCCESS IS A CHOICE

“Whatever you can do, or dream, you can begin it!
Boldness has genius, magic, and power in it.”
Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

Dave Ellis in his book, Creating Your Future, provides the reader with tools to create one’s future. He develops a process for readers to take charge of their lives and live the life of their dreams. Creating your future it not a superficial effort of year-end planning and resolutions which never seem to develop the level of commitment and ownership that result in accomplishment, but rather abandonment.

Did we start talking about setting goals in kindergarten? In high school, were you ask to project what you would be doing in the year 2000? What is different in 2008? What do you need to redefine your life? What do we need to do that will make the resolutions or commitments “stick”?

If success is a choice, it begins with an introspective process of self assessment of deciding who we are or want to be, where we want to go and what choices and means are available to us to get there. Thomas Crane uses the word of “transformational” to describe this process. It certainly signals change. It encourages the coach and the coachee to engage fully in personal and professional development to support the accomplishment of goals and objectives.

Do you know where you are going? Are you stuck? A coach can provide a process that that is:

• Data-based: It is based on objective facts; the coach shares perceptions of an event or situation in objective, behavioral terms.
• Performance-based: It is important to focus on behaviors in the context of the effect they have not on individual and organizational performance.
• Relationship focused: The quality of people’s working relationship and the context for the ability and willingness to work together effectively. Rapport, trust, and permission are essential building blocks for an effective coaching relationship.
• Slower, not faster: When used effectively, it requires people to slow down, listen more deeply, learn and become less reactive, therefore, becoming better connected.
• Dialogue required: Not telling, but asking questions, listening to answers, making suggestions, and exploring options are the key.
• Heart required: “Mutual positive regard” allows for a tone of openness, compassion, vulnerability, and humility on the part of the coach which improves the human connection.
• Humility required: Mutual dialogue and understanding is created where the coach does not have the answers, but the skills to support the learning journey of the coachee.
• Balance required: Improvement in the balance of the head and heart, performance and relationships, known and the unknown, and mind, body and spirit, so that measurable results and subjective areas of attitude and behavior all thrive.
• Self-responsibility required: Full accountability for their behavior to self and others is accepted.

The best part of creating the future is not developing a long list of things to do, but allowing yourself to dream of possibilities – to become more creative with your options. Also give yourself permission to decide what not to do. Ellis states, “Filtering your choices through a few thoughtfully chosen goals can protect you from ever-increasing demands on your time.” Values based planning enhances the ability to establish effective priorities, utilize resources efficiently, integrate your life more harmoniously, accomplish your goals, and realize your dreams.

Whatever your goals for 2008, can you read this passage and know that you will be able to create your future with commitment and know you will have success?

“The choices I’ve made in the past had a big impact on my present life.
The choices I make today will largely create my future.
If I really want to achieve a goal, I’ll make the time to do it.
I’ve set goals in the past and met them.
I deserve to have a wonderful life, and I can create that life.
I can involve my family and friends in creating my future.
I will shape my future, free from constraints of the past.
As I plan, I will remember and learn from the past.”

Dave Ellis

Remember: Success is a choice! Achieving it is a continuous process!

By Janet Bliss Mello, CSR Leadership & Life Coach

Crane, Thomas G. The Heart of Coaching. (2007). San Diego, CA. FTA Press: Crane Business Group, Inc.

Ellis, Dave. Creating Your Future. (1998).New York, NY. Houghton Mifflin Company

Leider, Richard J. & Shapiro, David A. Repacking Your Bags. (1995). New York, NY. MJF Books, Barnes & Noble Books

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