How To Be Successful in the New Year

January 1, 2014

I can hardly believe another year has come and gone! Im sitting here on the first day of 2014 reflecting on the past year and planning for more great things to come over the next 365 days!

First, thank you so much for being on this journey with me! I am beyond grateful for the many blessings Ive received over the past year. Ive successfully completed my first year in business, grown my readership and following, launched an online membership program, added online coaching groups to my offerings, and I was named the Womens Fitness Association Fitness Throwdown Champion!

My successes havent come without hardships and challenges, but I learned some valuable lessons Id like to share with you.

Stop being afraid. I have always feared failure and when I decided to leave an awesome job to start my own business I was scared as hell! I worried about how I would get clients, pay bills, run a business without a business background, and what I would do if it didnt work out. Despite all of those fears, I never quit trying. I kept my mind focused on possibilities and what actions I needed to take next to move forward. I looked for opportunities to work with those who knew more than me, who had been there, done that, and who could help me when I didnt have a clue what I was doing. I learned to look at failure as a learning opportunity and that without risk there is no reward!

Have a plan. Once I decided to stop being afraid, I had to have a plan for how I was going to accomplish my goals. Ill be the first to tell you that my plans have changed a few times along the way, and that is ok. The point is that I had a plan, a set of action steps to take, and then I evaluated what worked and what didnt and adjusted the plan accordingly. Part of that plan included identifying any gaps that existed between where I was and where I wanted to be and then figuring out how to fill those gaps. I can tell you that more often than not, I needed some help filling those gaps! I reached out for help and I was willing to pay for it. What choice did I have, really? If part of my plan involved something that I couldnt do on my own, then I needed to find someone to help me. It was either that or just quit and give up (which is easy to do when things get hard). Quitting is not an option for me. It never has been. My parents taught me to follow through, that you dont just quit because you dont like something or things arent going your way. You have to give 100% effort. You have to genuinely try and give things a chance. Then, if they really arent working out you can adjust and change directions. There is a difference between quitting and adjusting. Quitters never win, but winners know how to make adjustments to their plans so that they can keep moving forward!

Think big. By surrounding myself with positive people and taking advantage of every opportunity to learn from other professionals, from my successes, and from my mistakes, I gained a new confidence in my ability to do great things. I began thinking why not instead of what if and that shift was game-changing. I learned that we often keep ourselves small when we dont have to. No one else is going to give us permission to be great. We just have to DECIDE that we are great, OWN that truth, and commit to sharing our gifts and talents with the world.

Invest in yourself. I have spent a lot of money and time the past year and a half on coaches, books, trainings, and continuing education. Some people have questioned why I choose to work with coaches and spend money on personal and professional development. I tell them this is the key to success. The lessons, insights, knowledge, friends, partnerships, and confidence Ive gained have been invaluable. Im a better coach, trainer, business woman, and human being because I choose to invest in myself. In return, others have chosen to invest in me! Ive grown my business, retained clients, gained new clients, entered into business partnerships, and made more money. I saved myself a lot of money, frustration, and time by not trying to figure everything out on my own. The more I invest in myself, the more I have to contribute to the world and the bigger my return on that investment.

Take massive action. If there is one sure way to fail, it is by doing nothing. Sitting on the sidelines and waiting for a sign that its the right time to go after what you want is what keeps you stuck where you are. If you want more for yourself and your life then you have to take action. And it cant be half-assed! You can take baby steps in the beginning, but eventually you are going to have to put your big pants on and jump in the big pond with both feet! Is it scary? YES! Is it worth it? You bet! You can have plans, big thoughts and dreams, and invest in yourself all day long, but at the end of the day if you arent willing to TAKE ACTION then you will just be left feeling like a victim because all the time, money, plans, and dreams didnt turn into reality. Successful people take action and if they fail, they learn, they adjust, and they take action again.

I hope 2013 was a year full of accomplishments for you and that you have taken the time to reflect on where youve been, where you want to go, and how you will get there. I hope you can appreciate your blessings and your setbacks and use them to help you start 2014 with a clear mind and open heart.

Id love to hear about the lessons you learned in 2013! Drop me a line and share them with me

One more thing: If you want help with getting your health and fitness (mind and body) under control in 2014 then check out my Resolution Solution Challenge and my Beyond Fitness Friends Lifestyle Club. I would be honored to be a part of your plan to improve your health and fitness and create the life you want!