Are you part of the 9%>

Are you part of the 9%?

As I often do, let’s start with some numbers…
52% of Americans set a goal to exercise more – the most popular New Year’s resolution.
23% of them quit in the first week.
ONLY 9% of them keep the goal. 

America's Top New Year's Resolutions

I doubt that the 91% started with the mindset, “this will be fine for a few weeks, and then I will give up and quit.” So why do they fail?
I hope you and your team have set personal and professional goals for 2023. Chances are that over half of you have a goal to “exercise more” in that list.
I’m right there with you. And I’m betting that exercising more isn’t going to improve your practice bottom line, but that’s probably on your list too.
How can you secure yourselves a spot in the 9%?

A few more numbers…
The 14% of people with goals are ten times more successful than those without any.
Only 3% of them write their goals down.
That 3% are three times more likely to be successful.
Is it as simple as the old adage from my father of “write it down and sign it”?
Write it down and post it somewhere you can see it regularly. Creating accountability for yourself with a daily visual reminder is far more successful than an idea that swirled around in your head for a few hours on December 31st.  Using S.M.A.R.T. goal setting as a guideline, especially for those who have never written them down before, can help. Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound. A coach of mine recently provided a new perspective: If your goal is to run a 5K, the first step may not be what you think. Start stretching? Go for a ten-minute walk?
Nope, just PUT ON YOUR SHOES.
The next day, get your running shorts and shirt on. The next day, map out your route. As Dr. Leo Marvin taught us, SMART goals require you to take baby steps along the way.
Dr. Leo Marvin and Bob Wiley