Skip The Resolutions. Let’s Set Goals.

I stopped making New Year’s resolutions a long time ago. Simply because I never kept them. You all know it’s the same routine every year. The gym is packed all of January and February and then about halfway through March you can finally get on a machine without having to wait. It’s because behind those resolutions, we never define exactly why it will add value to our life or make us happy. “I want to lose 10 pounds”. Okay great, but what will losing 10 pounds do for you? Because if you have insecurities or emotional pain that you think is going to magically disappear when you weigh less and go down a size in jeans, you’re nuts. Also, in order to lose 10 pounds, you will need to dive into your current habits, and then develop a monthly, weekly, and daily strategy. Yeah, I know. This is why I never kept my resolutions past March either.

I have become a little obsessed with living my best life. Go ahead and roll your eyes, because that’s a term that you probably see on bumper stickers or every other millennial’s Instagram caption. But it’s true. This past year I got a little taste of what it feels like to operate on my highest level which led to insurmountable breakthroughs, accomplishments, and growth. I had to work hard to break habits and implement new ones; ones that I still struggle with and resist on a daily basis. But the one thing that I have figured out that works is setting a goal, defining why it is important, and then making a plan for every single day. So a few months ago I set a goal to start each and every day with a positive mindset. I began studying how others do it. This meant digging into the habits of all of the most “successful” and happy (there are a lot of people out there who reach insurmountable wealth but don’t truly enjoy it) people in the world. As these individuals have proven, I knew that if I was going to achieve my goal, I needed a plan.

Did you know that Bill Gates reads 50 book a year, Mark Cuban reads three hours per day, and Warren Buffet spends 80% of his day reading? Well, there’s one place to start. I committed to starting the day by reading something positive, journaling what I was grateful for, and then setting my intention. I knew that if I was going to actually stick to this, I needed some accountability, so I pulled my team in on it, and we began doing this together every day. Why am I talking about a goal of a morning routine and not a number of clients or level of income that I want to achieve? Because I know that none of that is worth anything unless I am in a good place. I know that when I reach those numbers (because yes, there are goals for those too), I don’t want to say “that’s it?”. I also know that when I am operating from a place of a positive mindset I put out my best work, operate from a level of abundance, and am able to consistently over deliver on client work. Remember, when you set a goal, you must define why it’s important…

As you look ahead one year from now… Yes, I know 2019 is just about to start, but I really want you to look ahead. What are the things that you want to be able to say that you did, habits that you formed, or goals that you crushed? Write that down. Now you will need to define why in the world those things matter to you, and why they help you to become the best version of yourself. Then make a plan. Monthly, weekly, daily, and maybe even hour by hour.

For those who need a little extra direction, I am sharing what my team, including myself, went through to set our 2019 goals. I truly hope that this next year is one of the most influential, mind blowing, happy, healthy, and successful years of your entire life. Cheers to 2019. 

- Lauren Walsh 

LW BRANDING 2019 GOAL SETTING
1. What are the top 3 things that you personally want to accomplish in 2019?
2. What are the top 3 things that you want to accomplish professionally in 2019?
3. Now break down each of those 6 and jot down 1 action item that you will start to develop as a habit or implement NOW that will start to bring you closer to each goal. 
4. What is 1 thing that you want to accomplish in the next 30 days? 60 days? 90 days?
5. What is 1 thing for each of those 3 that you will start to do or implement now that will help you get closer to achieving each one?
6. What is your intention for the year?
7. What is one healthy habit that you want to conquer in 2019? 
8. Imagine 365 days from now. As you sit down and reflect on your year what are the key takeaways or areas of growth that you are discussing?