9 Tips On How To Make The Most Out Of 2009

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It’s a new year, and no doubt you’ve set some goals for what you want to accomplish in the next 361 days.

Chances are they are the same things you wanted to achieve when faced with the new year in 2008.

If you don’t want to be sitting around on the 4th of January in 2010 trying to figure out how you yet again didn’t accomplish what you set out to achieve with your New Year’s Resolutions, here are a few tips.

1. Don’t pick 843 things you want to do; pick 2 or 3.  Focus is the key here…spreading yourself too thin is a recipe for disaster no matter what it is you’re trying to accomplish.
    
2. Write down the goals on paper, and be very specific.  You can’t hit an ill-defined target.  Just like in marketing, you must know exactly who your target market is if you expect to make sales.  Likewise, you must know exactly what it is you are trying to accomplish if you ever hope to do so.
    
3. Get an accountability partner or someone you are going to committ to sharing your goals with.  Ever decided to start going to the gym very early in the morning all by yourself?  How long did that last?  Heck, sometimes I don’t make to the gym in the afternoon let alone the morning if I don’t have a workout partner!  Get with someone who has a shared goal and committ to “showing up” on whatever basis is required to achieve your goal…you’ll be amazed at how someone else counting on you to showup will influence your behavior.
    
4. Map out a step-by-step gameplan you’re going to follow, including measurable milestones with timelines.  Again, be specific.  How many times a week are you going to workout?  How many blog posts are you going to write each week?  How many ads do you need to write?  What are all the advertising methods you’re going to need to use this year to reach your sales goals?
    
5. Turn that step-by-step gameplan into a daily to-do list.  It doesn’t have to be fancy – a notepad and pen will do.  But write down the 5 things you MUST accomplish each day to stay on track and on target with your gameplan.
    
6. Remove distractions when it’s time to get to work.  This one is HUGE.  It’s been said a million times, but shut off the email (and even Twitter! I know, tough one) for at least 50 minutes at a time and do NOTHING but focus on accomplishing the to-do list.  You’ll be pleasantly surprised at what you can accomplish, and the feeling of getting it done is awesome.  I promise you won’t miss your email (or Tweets) when you’re in the zone.
    
7. Don’t make excuses.  None of them are valid.
    
8. Don’t be weak.  Decide you will overcome all obstacles and just get to it.  See #7.
    
9. Take time to regularly visualize what life will be like when you accomplish your goals.  You’re doing it for a reason, right?  Remember the reason and really try to “feel” what it’ll be like when you’re done…it’ll help you get over times when you’re falling prey to #8.

There you have it.  Not rocket-science, but effective basics that apply to pretty much every area of life.

What are your goals and big plans for this year?  What are your best productivity and goal-attaining tips?  I’d love to hear them…just post them in the comments section.

To an amazing 2009!