New Year Coming? The One Big Question

Want to listen to this week’s edition of Ultra Successful? Click here or scroll to the bottom of the post to tune in.

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You master the outside world, by mastering yourself. 

So you tell yourself that you have things you’re going to do in the coming year. That’s nice…but what are you *actually* going to do – and how will you take action? 

The big question you need to answer is this: What will make this year different as opposed to any other year? 

I have asked this question to countless people in many different settings over the years, and I’ve watched them fall down. It happens again and again, and it’s probably happened to you: 

• People will say they’ll really stop smoking this time…but what will make it different from the other times you’ve tried?

• People will tell me that *this year* they’ll really grow their business...but how is it different from the other times you’ve said that?  

• People will say they’re “ready” to lose weight/land the promotion/launch that product/make it big…but what are you doing that’s different from other times you’ve wanted to do the same?

Here is the hard truth: If you don’t know what will make this year different, then it won’t be any different than the others you’ve had. 

Don’t tell me you’ll suddenly “care more,” “get super dedicated,” or “really drill down” — those aren’t real differentiators. You’ve probably even told yourself those things before - neither of us are buying it. There has to be a real reason…something compelling. 

It’s time to really think about what will make this year different. Why it will be the year you’ll take the actions you need to take and make things genuinely what you imagine in your head. 

You are the most essential part of why this year will succeed or fail…so instead of looking outward or listing goals, let’s turn inward. This edition will explore what makes people *really* dig in, give you a better way to approach pursuing what you want, and share how you can make things happen…for real, this time. 

Your Warning: How Dreams Die

In my experience, dreams die not because of anything large or dramatic but because of the small things. It can be inconvenient to take action, disrupt the ease of life, or do something that isn’t compelling for one reason or another. People will find an excuse for the things that they, deep down, don’t want to bother to do. Besides, you stay like most people by behaving in this way. Big talk, big dreams, and eventually convincing yourself (and those around you) why not doing those things was in your best interest. 

You first must decide that you do not want this to be you. If you have not yet decided this, then there is no point in reading further. Decide.

If you’re happy where you are? That’s fine.
But if you have decided you don’t want to end up with regret, then let’s conquer next year.