As I completed my re-write of my “Nothing Changes Without A Change” expose I started to think about New Year’s Resolutions and why most people have given up before the end of January. 

I love Kate Bush’s voice on the track below (I find many songs motivate me as I work – you may like to play the video below while you read this post). The lyrics really sum up this post, for example, “I never thought I could fail” – unfailing belief in your success is THE key to success.

The first reason is that not enough importance has been placed on the resolution (to resolve simply means to decide to do something) and the word should be a New Year’s Commitment. If you commit to doing something there’s a far greater chance that it will happen rather than if you just decide to do it. But…

If we assume a start has been made (no smoking, no chocolate, new business, more exercise, clear debt etc etc) why is it that so few people actually achieve what they set out to do? How do we find a way to succeed?

The major reason is that there is no plan! Without a plan to follow there is no way of measuring success and thus no way of knowing when adjustments have to be made.

If you started a journey with just your destination in mind but no knowledge of the direction to take, no map and no knowledge of how far you have to go it would be inevitable that you’d give up. Indeed you are likely to be heading in the wrong direction anyway!

So the way to succeed is to to have a plan, not any old plan but a proven success strategy, that you commit to following. 

The next step is to make sure you stay on track and don’t give up. Believe without a doubt that you will achieve the goal you have set. Don’t get distracted or discouraged. Just keep believing and working towards your goal until it is achieved.

That all sounds easy but in practice? One of the major reasons why people give up too soon is a lack of belief in what they are doing. A few difficulties along the way are then used as “evidence” to reinforce the “belief” that the product is no good, it will never work, I’m too old, young, fat, thin – the list of excuses is endless. Catch your self talk and put a stop to any negativity immediately.

Here’s my 5 step checklist to ensure success.

Key Step #1: Put skepticism aside – if you join a club or buy a product thinking, “It probably
won’t work, but I’ll give it a try…”, then you’re already doomed to fail. Believe totally in your ability to  make it a success

Key Step #2: Give 100% effort – don’t think about a “backup plan if this doesn’t work”. You need to commit yourself to *making* it work – there is no other option if you want success.

Key Step #3: Find someone who is already doing what you want and follow their plan to the letter – don’t try to take short cuts or make minor adjustments… do exactly what has been *proven* to work and you will succeed!

Key Step #4: Finish what you start – don’t even think about another project until you’re successful at what you’re doing right now.

Key Step #5: Believe in what you’re doing! This could be the most important key of all and it runs full circle to Key Step #1 – don’t ever allow self-doubt to hold you back from achieving your dreams. If you follow the plan, believe in yourself, and give 100% effort, you will succeed.

You may recall that last year I started using the Affiliate Cash Secrets system (simplicity itself) and in the spirit of “Don’t Give Up” I thought you may like to be inspired by one of the success stories.

To your success in 2008 – if you haven’t made any New Year’s Resolutions – good…

Make a Year 2008 Commitment and follow it through to success.