#Don't limit yourself trying to stick to a certain brand

[dogs-in-a-trenchcoat]

I don't normally like to piggyback off of other posts but this topic is something really dear to me. I saw a lot of like 'my art by year' posts back in my deviantart days and the one thing that always struck me is how much slower I felt I was developing than others.

Tldr up front: Time really does make massive difference but sometimes it's hard to validate that looking at others you see on the internet, everyone has a different pace, we all have different techniques that work for us and we all have different barriers. In a case where you may feel like you're hitting a wall or progressing slower than others at your age and experience level, a willingness to experiment, continuing to learn more about anatomy or how things are assembled, and overall just continuing to observe the world around you and consume art will all *also* help you where time alone may not.

Of course now I know I have aphantasia, and autism related motor skill issues, but at the time I lived and breathed drawing, I made quick progress and then hit a wall. And I hit that wall for something around 6 years. It felt like my peers started better than me and then just kept getting better while I fell behind.

My question was not so much how I got from this (approx 2002, not my first drawing but the first I have on hand)

To this (approx 2004)

To this (approx 2006)

To this (approx 2008)

My question was always more how do I get from this (approx 2012 on year 4 or 5 of drawing basically the same)

To this (approx 2016)

And eventually, where I am today (this one being from last year or early this year)

And obviously time played a factor. And there certainly was a lot of it. 20 years between the first picture and the last, in fact. And time has all but erased my motor skill issues (in regard to drawing lmao), you can see my lines and shape language become clearer and more confident. I learn from trial and error things that help with the process and get comfortable with various mediums. But what about those 5 or 6 years of stagnation? What happens when you hit a wall?

This is where my aphantasia comes in. I didn't really have access to language talking about this when I was in high school and college. I just didn't understand 3d shapes the same way my peers did. How on earth do you even imagine that people can visualize stuff when you have no real frame of reference for what that would mean or that that is even a possibility? (it's a little more complicated than that for me, but the point remains without me going on that tangent)

Either way, I just assumed I was less skilled and was doing something wrong and left it at that and I still wouldn't have the language to have discussions about this, check with friends to get a deeper understanding of what visualizing meant, and so forth, for a pretty long time after my art started evolving again.

So what changed in 2014? Well just a year prior a little show called Steven universe came out. And one little thing in it totally turned my entire process on its head.

I don't remember where the exact point in time I decided to change my under-drawing process was. I know I had been wanting to draw fanart of these characters with the kind of body diversity and strong shapes I had always wanted to draw. I was so excited by the material, so inspired by the artistry of the backgrounds and style of the show, that I fell in love with drawing again. And that ended up being exactly what I needed. The way I do my under-drawing and sketches now makes it much easier for me to understand 3d shapes without having to be able to visualize them.

These changes, and the willingness to do so, to abandon my whole process and basically relearn drawing from scratch (but sort of a new game plus deal, with the experience I already had under my belt) helped me understand the 3d shapes of the body in a way nothing else had. And I had tried a lot.

I still struggle with feeling badly about my art, feeling like I'm hitting another wall, or like it will never be what other people enjoy. But the bottom line is continuing to find joy in the process, love drawing itself, enjoy experimenting. Don't let a lofty end goal of being "good" in some definition that will always continue to outgrow you dampen your joy with drawing. If you invest the time into your art, if you have fun with it. It will come together eventually.

hey I saw that speedpaint video for Amy's 30th bday art you did and now could you please post some really old art of yours and how long you've been drawing for because I just started drawing and am getting a strange feeling I don't fully understand but feel will be alleviated by getting some perspective on how long it takes to get gud at drawing.

So I’ve been drawing my whole life, ever since I was 2 years old. And I’ve been drawing Sonic for as long as I can remember as well.

Unfortunately I can’t find any of my drawings that pre-date 2005. I am not sure if they’ve just been misplaced, or if they’re with my mom, or if they’re just gone forever. I went through a lot as a kid, including losing our home, so I don’t have a lot from when I was little.

But hopefully some of these drawings will give you some courage:

I was (and still am) obsessed with Phantom of the Opera haha

I made a bunch of weird comics. I really have no idea what is going on in half of them lol. Here are some panels from a 2005 werewolf Sonic comic:

This one is from my diary in late 2005

Here’s a mega drawing I did in 2006 so you can see how I drew Sonic characters as well as people and monsters:

I’ve posted older drawings in the past too but again I can’t find those drawings physically now. Here are some more from 2004 thru 2006:

The more you draw the more your art will evolve. Don’t give up. And please don’t destroy your old art! You should always keep your old stuff so you can see how you’ve improved!

[quinton-reviews]

What advice would you give to someone considering making video essays?

Don't be weighed down by the expectations of others. It seems these days there are now too many people assuming that if you want to make something labeled a "video essay," you have to match a certain style or tone. In many ways, it's overbearing - if you make something that has too many skits, too many jokes, that doesn't have a strong thesis outside of "this thing is bad", people say you're "failing to find a point." But if you put weeks of work into the filmmaking process and you want to call it a documentary, it feels limiting to have people insist that it's just a rant video instead of something more.

In truth, I recommend just trying to make *videos* first and trying to find your voice. No one starts off on YouTube being totally original, but as you learn the craft you will find your own brand and style. I think it is important for smaller creators to experiment, in spite of keyboard warriors being obsessed with the idea of everything under the sun needing to be new.

Starting off, your biggest struggle will be finding contentment in the experience of making videos - finding your closure. If you don't have an audience watching your stuff right away, spending weeks working on a video with 0 views can feel pointless and frustrating. Without finding a resolution for each project, you'll start to wonder why you're doing it.

So instead, find a friend in your personal life who will watch the videos with you. Make content for you and the people you know, and find contentment in that experience. And when you start to grow and gain real followers, pivot your style to match that new status quo.

Creating content for YouTube is a process of throwing things at a wall until something sticks. The big secret is the moment something sticks, you drop everything you're working on and do *that thing* five more times. This helps build trust in the algorithm and helps build your brand to new viewers finding your content. But don't write yourself into a corner - allow yourself to experiment and evolve even as you're finding success. If I didn't do that, I'd still be making drama videos about LeafyisHere. I'd be burnt out, miserable, and bitter. But because I allowed my style to evolve with my own tastes, I now am at the highest point in my career (to the loud annoyance of many people online).

But the biggest advice I can give is that if you think being a YouTuber will solve any issues in your private life, it won't. That's the biggest mistake I made starting out, I thought having this parasocial connection with other creators would fix my loneliness and anxiety. It didn't, in fact, it made things worse; and I am the only person to blame for that. I quickly learned that the most important people in my life still were (and still are) my real-life friends - people I go to bars with IRL and people I chat with on Discord - and not other creators. Sure, having this mindset has made me more isolated in many ways, but honestly I think that's the way it has to be for someone like me.

Final piece of advice - create your YouTube channel with a secret email you never post about online. It makes it much harder to dox and hack you. Peace out!

[thatmcgwords]

“No one starts out knowing how one plus one equals two. One thing highly successful people do is dream big, start small no matter the lack of resources, and then keep improving over time.”

A great mark of success is that you never stop learning. ~ Duncan Clark

“So, what makes Alibaba stand out this much? Three things, which Jack Ma calls the iron triangle: ecommerce, logistics, and finance.”

“Nothing makes e–commerce more reliable than a quick and efficient delivery system. Alibaba knows this well.”

You may start losing customers when people know your business doesn't handle their online transactions with utmost priority. ~ Duncan Clark

Alibaba operates on six value systems called the Six Vein Spirit Sword. They are: customer first, teamwork, embrace change, integrity, passion, and commitment. ~ Duncan Clark

“If you're the founder or executive of a company, it will be difficult to separate your personality from the company's culture. You will always shape and influence the work culture your employees will find themselves in because you're the major decision maker. As such, it's necessary to be a person of character. Be inspiring, exciting, positive, and motivating.”

“When you venture into a business that is not very common, you will have difficulty making progress. This is because people can seldom tell the value of your product or service. If you find yourself in such a situation, the only way out is to invest massively in awareness campaigns.”

“The first thing to learn from Jack Ma about dreams is you can never go beyond them. If you dream small, you will indefinitely put in small effort and that will lead to small achievements. But big dreams will inspire you to break limits.”

“The second lesson is to start where you are, with the experience and resources that you've got.”

“The third lesson is similar to the second: do not copy your competitors because you don't know the whole story. Find what works for you and stick to it.”

Patience and good strategies are two important factors that will take you far in business. ~ Duncan Clark

“We can learn a couple of things from Jack Ma's strategy. The first is the element of surprise. Jack Ma started the plan for Taobao, his consumer ecommerce business, underground”

“The second lesson from Jack Ma about beating a strong competitor is doing things differently. No one will patronize your new business when they don't see how it is different from the existing brand that they love and trust. Two things that made Taobao different from eBay are pricing and communication. EBay charged merchants some amount for product listing, whereas Taobao made it free for anyone to put up their product or service on the site.”

You should learn from your competitor but never copy. Copy and you die. ~ Jack Ma

“It takes persistence and grit to found and run a successful company. You will encounter challenges along the way, no doubt, but commitment to your initial dream is what will keep you going during tough times.

Most entrepreneurs start their business without a well documented business vision. This is a risky thing to do. Challenges and difficult times are bound to come in business, it's easy to give in when you don't have a written vision for your business. The vision you pen down before starting the business is one of the things you will rely on for motivation when the going gets tough.

In business, you're almost certain to have competitors. There are two ways to deal with them. First is to use the element of surprise. The second is developing a solid business strategy that includes meeting essential customer needs that your competitors are neglecting.”

“Try this

If you've started a business or plan on doing so, there's one important exercise to carry out. Write down your vision for that business. Make it as detailed as it can be. Next, place it somewhere you can see it regularly. This will help keep you motivated”

https://headway.onelink.me/9USK?pid=app_referral&af_web_dp=https%3A%2F%2Fweb.get-headway.com%2Fbook%2F&c=highlight&af_siteid=highlights

[outforawalkb1tch]

How to Adult from a neurodiverse perspective. Some tips might also be helpful for anyone with mental illness that makes adulting harder.

It's going to be hard but try to stick to a certain area when cleaning instead zip zooming around doing things here and there. It's going to be a lot more satisfying to have one thing done fully then multiple things partially done.

Go to an area in your home and put away x many things that are in the wrong area.

If I'm having an especially hard time staying on one task I'll either tell myself ok I'm gonna wash the dishes (or whatever task it is for you) for x many more minutes or x many songs before I take a short break.

I try my best to make cleaning tasks more game like like I'm not just picking up dirty laundry off the floor into the basket I'm playing laundry basket ball! Making little games like this for cleaning will help make cleaning fun and something you want to do.

Make sure your breaks are actually short put a timer on your phone if you need to.

If you can't take a shower or bath for whatever reason get two washcloths. Get one washcloth wet and soapy, wash yourself. Get the other washcloth just wet and go over yourself again. I would do this a lot coming home super late from visiting family and my mom would call this a rag bath.

Try your best to fold your clothes out of the dryer to avoid wrinkles so that no matter what your wearing you'll look better put together.

If you struggle with this I suggest getting a clothes steamer its like an iron except theres no ironing board to set up and all that jazz that comes with a regular iron. Just fill this baby up with water and use on your clothes while they're hanging and watch the wrinkles go away.

If your having a hard time washing your clothes all together get a fabric fabreze and spray it on your clothes. This isn't a replacement for washing them but it certainly helps the smell if you're stuggling to get your laundry done. Make sure its fabric though regular fabreze won't help your clothes as well.

If you have delicates that your afraid the dryer might ruin let them air dry by hanging them on the shower curtain rack. Or if you have the room to do so invest in something like this:

Make your bed every day. This is just a good habbit to be in. Along with that make sure to freshen your sheets at least once every 2 months. Having more than one pair of sheets also helps with this because even if you can't get to washing your current sheets you could always just replace them with a different clean sheets and get around to cleaning the other sheets some other time.

Vitamins are great just generally but especially helpful if your sensory issues make it hard to eat certain healthy foods.

When making important phone calls make sure you already have a pen and paper so you can write down things you need to remember on the spot, instead of either scrambling for a pen and paper or thinking you'll remember then forget. Also sometimes it is good to have a bullet point list if you need to remember what exactly to say to this person istead of going uhhh umm and such.

When someone tells you an important date for something write it down right afterwards. Writing it right on the calendar were I can see it works better than using the calendar on my phone for myself as I usually forget about it until the day of if its just on my phone whereas if its on my paper calendar I see it a lot since I check my calendar a lot but this might be opposite for you so do whichever one works better

If you have long hair learn cute hairstyles other than just a messy bun. Its fun to switch it up from braids to pigtails to spacebuns or whatever. I'm putting this as a tip because I have long hair and whenever I am having a bad hair day, my hair is greasy or just do not have the energy to properly do my hair I would always opt for the messy bun. But you know what ? That gets boring and there's no age limit on braids or whatever no matter whatever other people state. Plus imo braids hide greasy hair better than buns.

Remember to clean your skin, but also being to harsh with rubbing your face with the cleaner or picking at your face can actually cause more problems! You want your face to not be too oily but also not too dry.

You can tell if your getting enough water by your pee color if its clear or really light yellow your doing good on keeping yourself hydrated if its yellow or darker you need some more water.

Contrary to popular belief/s coffee and cigarettes are not breakfast, and they cost as much as a real breakfast would. Please eat real food instead of bean and sugar soup and nicotine.

Make a budget, ask for help if needed as budget making can be kinda confusing, but make a budget and stick to it. This one has made my life so much better. Be the "crazy" coupon lady if you need to be to stick to it. Be a stickler with the lights and water if you need to be to stick to it.

Speaking of budget the dollar store and the generic grocery store version of things are your friends. The dollar store is a go to for kitchen stuff, cleaning stuff, snacks, some self grooming stuff, and even some of there frozen food and pantry food is pretty decent. They also have plenty of other stuff so honestly if I need anything I usually check there first before another store. Whatever they don't have that I need I can usually find a generic cheaper brand at the grocery store and most the time its absolutely no different than the big brands!

Buy clothes that fit NOW. Don't waste money on clothes that are smaller for inspiration for losing weight. (Or vice versa if you're trying to gain weight) Its important to have fashionable clothes that fit you at the weight you are now because if you don't you'll be stuck in boring sweats and sad because of it. I know. I've been there.

[hoochy-coo]

But this whole relatability schtick is a facade and an illusion. A celebrity and a regular person can never be the same, the socioeconomic difference plays a huge part. I don't know why people can't acknowledge that anymore. I would never look for likeness or sameness to live vicariously through someone that will never walk in my shoes for a single day, and probably would never want to.

Even regular people, who either came from struggle or were relatively average, who suddenly rose into fame, they slowly lose that " relatable " air about them, and youtubers are the first example for this, the reason youtubers are so popular is because the whole idea of it, being a regular person who goes to college/highschool/ or has a run of the mill 9 to 5 job, creating youtube videos that are entertaining or about things they like is so appealing towards the consumer, because you it feels REAL. It feels like a nice next door neighbor, or an eccentric classmate that you like.

But then like everything in life, when the youtuber rises up to fame and starts getting all these brand deals, starts living this lavish lifestyle, they normally change! And that OKAY! Just imagine you are young and you've never had shit and now your literally living in LA and the bank account is stacked, hell I would change 180 degree too, anyone would! My point is, even those celebs/influencers that may have been like you at some point, when they rise to fame, they are not like you anymore and it doesn't matter how hard they try, it's the reality of it.

We should stop expecting humans to be anything less and other than humans. You will save yourself so much heartbreak if you just don't try to force relatbility where is none okay? So stop commenting on your favorite youtubers comments like " SINCE YOU MOVED TO LA YOU CHANGED! " SINCE YOU GOT 6 MILLION FOLLOWERS YOU CHANGED ! " of course they changed, it would be abnormal for them not to change!

And stop applauding these celebrities for doing " normal people " things, like, it's some sort of achievement for them " omg they eat from macdonalds " " omg they wore 5 dollar shirt, soooo humble ". They're still living in their gated community in beverly hills, and that's it.

Please don’t think I disagree with you guys that celebs dressing down is fake and boring, because I completely agree! I just understand why they do it from a marketing perspective, that’s all! Social media has truly blurred the lines for GP, and now agents/teams feel like they have no choice but to promote the celebs in a way that is public-friendly. 

I think this whole shtick of appearing ‘relatable’ and ‘normal’ is especially big with the younger demographic so it’s the celebs that have a big teenage fanbase that are laying it on thick. Imo the core issue is that we’re getting more and more celebs who have a very limited set of skills but have a strong pull with the public due to their “vibe” or social media presence. For example, SelGo’s career is largely reliant on her fanbase. No hate or shade but she’s mediocre at everything, so whenever she releases a project, she and her team are depending on her fans to go support it instead of banking on said project to pick up steam with the GP. If anything, I think she’s the most well-marketed star to come out of that lineup of Disney child stars. She’s teen/kid-friendly but she media plays just enough to make headlines with the older crowd as well. Celebs like that probably feel the need to present as relatable to an extent because if their teen fans don’t feel like they can ‘click’ with them, then they’ll lose interest and ditch them for a newer, younger star popping up every couple of months. That’s probably why industry juggernauts like Bey and Rih don’t give a fuck about appearing regular. Like sure, they’ll eat McDonalds and have a bad hair day once in a while but they don’t go out of their way to show that to us. They know their relevancy doesn’t hinge on fan support because the public is behind them. 

In terms of Youtubers/influencers, I think that’s a bit different. With celebs, we see them come up as a part of the Hollywood machine - they’re managed, they’ve got a team, they’re media-trained, etc. We know on a subconscious level that they’re ‘packaged’ but with influencers, they pull in an audience by being the more approachable/relatable sector of fame. People consume Youtube in an entirely different than they do Hollywood. They’re supposed to give us two different things but now, all these influencers are pushing to integrate into the industry like they are too, Hollywood. So if people started following an influencer because they feel like they could empathize with them in some way, and they lose that as they start to grow then I think it makes sense that people would lose interest. I do agree that it’s natural for these people to change after some success and money and that people should stop commenting under their content like they’re shocked by that. With that being said, if you can no longer connect with them or any level then what’s the point? Unless you were watching purely for the content, there are a hundred other influencers who are pumping out the same type of videos as they are. The market is oversaturated and as viewers, you can basically have your pick of who you’d watch next after you’re ‘over’ a certain influencer because they’ve ‘changed.’ With celebs (the successful ones I mean), at least they’ve developed a distinct selling point that you can’t find with anyone else so people stick around because they may feel like they won’t get that with other celebs.

[alyssa-orowane]

Fantasy tropes to avoid (and ideas to reinvent them)

Hello aspiring writers of Tumblr! How is it going?

This is my first post on here and I decided to dedicate it not only to the genre I am writing in, fantasy, but also to a crucial topic, which relates and affects every genre in different ways.

TROPES.

It's lazy to build stories on something that has already been written a million times before. I don't like tropes at all as a reader. If I wanted to read the same stereotyped story all over again I would just stick to the previous book I have read with that same plot, so I would also spare myself the trouble of learning the unpronounceable names of these new stereotyped characters.

On the other hand, as a writer it might be tempting to give in and use tropes. "Why not? After all everybody uses them and I am already SO busy writing the actual chapters of my story."

I tell you what: every time a trope threatens to slide into your story, crush the page and throw it across the room, yelling:

Seriously, though: tropes are just general, undeveloped ideas. That's what you need to do, develop them. In this way only will you ever be able to unleash their hidden potential.

Without further ado, may I present you three of the most common fantasy tropes and hints to reimagine them.

*Keep in mind that this is only my personal view on the subject and you can either agree or disagree with it.

1. The chosen one

This one is the most obvious one and I am also quite sure that you expected to find it on the list. Interesting, Watson: I guess that it makes this article stereotyped too…

Well we all know those characters. Those characters that were meant to be the one. The prophecies had spoken about them long before they were even born. They might as well be the only one capable of using magic or wielding a certain weapon. This character is either the only one who pushes forward the storyline or that one protagonist who does everything except choosing anything actively in the plot. There is no in between. Either way, they only possess notable qualities. Of course there is no trace of flaws. I mean, they are the hero.

Have a side-kick (or co-protagonist) be the chosen one instead

A great idea, if you really want to insert this trope in your story, is to use it to your advantage and surprise the reader with it. Who could ever expect that the protagonist was actually never the chosen one? Or that another character is the chosen one from the start?

To see this trope well recreated I recommend watching the BBC TV series "Merlin" in which a young sorcerer, Merlin himself, must help the future heir to the throne, the prince Arthur Pendragon, to fulfill his destiny and become the greatest king who has ever lived. Arthur has no clue of what has been foretold, nor that he even is at the centre of a prophecy. All of Merlin and Arthur's choices will determine either the glorious success or the tragic failure of the quest; all of this while Merlin hides his powers from Arthur and everyone else as magic is condemned in Camelot.

2. Overused fantasy Races

...which translates mostly into putting Elves, Dwarves, Trolls, dragons and any of the Tolkenian elements and creatures in your own story. Now, don't get me wrong. Tolkien is one of my favourite authors, hence I am always captivated by those fantasy novels that display these Races in their stories. But I don't want to read a copy, I want to read your own masterpiece.

That's exactly why you should:

Redesign the well-known fantasy Races and adapt them to your world and to your theme or just create brand new ones

Personally, I absolutely LOVE to craft new fantasy Races. I believe that it adds depth and realism to the world-building (which does not consist only of geography). Each civilisation brings their culture, their traditions to your story and that's what makes a world truly breathe. In my opinion, the purpose of fantasy is not to focus just on the epic deeds narrated or on endless battles enriched with magic and legends, though those are very important part of this genre and they must be just as equally developed. The reason why I write fantasy is to spread awareness around the vast variety of themes that coexist in our society nowadays, in the first place global warming, the racism that still today people experience, LGBTQ characters which are often unrepresented both in literary fiction and TV. What better genre than fantasy is there to represent diversity and multiculturalism? On these latter points I will never not be thanking and loving the works of Steven Erikson which are part of the high-fantasy series "Malazan Book of the Fallen". Diversity and the brand new variety of intriguing Races are a huge part of what makes Malazan such an awesome fantasy series. I refer to Steven Erikson as the main inspiration of my writing and I recommend you to give a try to his books, if you have the chance. I warn you though, that it is not any light or easy reading.

The other option might be to reinvent the well-known Races. Tolkien himself did not "invent" the Elves of Middle Earth, rather he made a legend of his own after having studied the myths and ballads of ancient civilities. Then he developed their language, their history and their culture as if they were a real existing population. Every single aspect of Tolkien's worldbuilding can be read in his Silmarillion. I think it is a must-read for anyone who is looking forward to reinvent the traditional fantasy Races or just to know more about them.

3. Unfailing magic systems

Magic can be anything you want. That doesn't mean, however, that it should be your escape point: stuff in your story should happen because of your characters, not only because of magic as it is simpler to put it that way. A magic system should be rational and engaging. The reader needs to be able to understand exactly how, when and why does magic work in your world. No, the answer should not be "because it's fantasy."

Set rules, limits and costs to the magic in your world

How do character gain magic abilities? Is magic accessible to everyone or is it elitist? Is it taught in specialised schools or is it something that resonates from within? Are wizards free to practice magic or is it banned? Or maybe are there only specific areas of magic that are prohibited? What is its source? Does magic come from higher beings or are spells more powerful the stronger the mage's will? Does magic need a catalyst (such as a talisman, a weapon etc.) to be casted? If not, do wizard recite spells? Do they need to trace specific symbols? Otherwise is it necessary to make specific hand gestures in order to release their powers? Does it exist only one system for all mages to use or are there multiple kinds? Last but not least, what are magic users in your world called? It's all up to you to decide. Ask questions and let each question lead you to another one. You need to know exactly how your magic system works and so does the reader.

What I love about crafting magic systems is the freedom to establish the boundaries and the natural laws that apply to your world, as magic is a huge part of the story if you're writing fantasy. Well, this could also lead to another question: is your world actually ruled by magic forces or do magic abilities have just a marginal role in the world building?

Remember that magic should not be used as an excuse to fill eventual plot holes in your story. Your magic system should function correctly and it should always stay true to itself. In other words, it must be believable.

And I can hear you thinking "but it‘s magic!"

Then guess what? You need to make the readers believe that magic is real!

First of all, set the rules, the limits and the costs that apply to your system. Having done that, you'll have finished most of the work that concerns the use of magic in your world. Most, not all. If you are a bit of a perfectionist like I am, consider the importance of developing your system furthermore by asking yourself questions, such as the one I have written above.

Rules: decide what makes your system work and what magic can be casted for.

Limits: decide what kind of tasks your magic system cannot perform.

Costs: decide from what kind of source is magic obtained from and, literally, what does it cost to mages to obtain their magic from this source (as Rumpelstiltskin of OUAT wisely says: "all magic comes with a price.")

The most excellent and well-rounded magic systems I have ever come across are the ones created by Brandon Sanderson in this "Mistborn" trilogy: allomancy, feruchemy and hemalurgy. All three magic system permit the magicians to use a wide range of abilities based on the metals they can "burn". Magic originates in the Shards and from Preservation and Ruin, two god-like beings. If you're already interested, I definitely recommend you to check Sanderson's novels out: they are a useful resource of inspiration.

I hope this post has somehow given you the inspiration to go and write right now. 
If you have questions about some of the points or requests for the next articles, don't be shy and send me a message! I will try to cover your topic as soon as possible and as best as I can (and I will also tag your profile, if you agree). 
Thank you all for your attention. Bisous^^

[emk-irl]

Tips before you start betting on sports

In order to have a chance of winning , it is good to have a plan of action , as well as to know the sports you are going to bet on. In this regard, here we will give you some useful tips for your betting that you can apply:

Choose the right bookmaker for you. This is extremely important. To do this, check the betting sites on the Internet until you find bookmakers that offer you profitable bonuses, extras and high odds. It is also essential that the site is licensed by the State Gambling Commission and has a good reputation. Big brands usually won't let you down;

Estimate how much money you can spend on bets in advance . Never spend all your money or more than you have on bets. Make a betting budget and stick to it.

Create a tactic. Instead of betting randomly on any sport, it is better to pick sports that you follow and like and apply the knowledge you have about the teams and their players. That way you have maximum chances to win. Have a plan for your actions in any event;

Don't try to make up your betting losses . By investing a larger amount than what you have lost, you will not help yourself. In most cases, such tactics certainly lead to bankruptcy and many negative emotions;

Before you start betting, familiarize yourself with 메이저사이트 betting by reading predictions and everything about the sports you are interested in . Even if you think you know enough, there is always something to learn, and there are plenty of sports experts who can help you. Listen to them on radio, TV and the Internet. Big names in sports can give you important information to use. Find and verify your information only from credible sources;

Remember, there are no sure bets. If someone offers you such, be more cautious and reasonable;

Take advantage of the available sports markets . Don't limit yourself to just one type of bet and use many and varied markets. There are those for almost every sporting event. Diversify your bets by experimenting with the markets on offer;

If you have transferred a certain amount to your account, do not spend it in full . It is not a good idea to spend your entire account on bets. This will surely affect your mood and peace of mind. Always leave a predetermined amount in the account;

Bet with measure by predicting in advance what budget you can afford . Sports betting is a form of entertainment and should not be viewed as a source of income. Realizing this will save you a lot of trouble . Set aside money for other important things in your life, don't gamble all your winnings from games;

Decide which sports you are good at and only bet on them. If you are passionate about football or basketball, there is no point in betting on tennis or other sports just because there are no matches at the moment. Given that you are competent in certain sports, do not risk betting on others. Better wait for matches of the sports you care about to appear;

Learn professional betting strategies and apply them. On the Internet you will find many professional betting strategies that are completely free. You can browse them and use the ones you like;

When you bet, do so impartially. Even though you have favorite teams and players, you have to be realistic about their current state. Find out if they have a chance to win and bet on the teams you think will win even if they are not your favourites. Do not be led by emotions when betting as they are most likely to lead you astray. Make your assessment of an event sober;

If you decide to take advantage of a bonus from a bookmaker, check the rules for receiving it in detail . Many people think that after receiving a bonus, they can immediately withdraw it. Remember that all bonuses are subject to certain wagering terms and conditions that you must meet before you can claim them. This applies to both casino games and 메이저사이트 betting;

Bet by following the rules of the betting sites you use. Do not allow yourself to abuse the terms and conditions of the betting sites you are registered with. This will get you into a lot of trouble with them and the law.

Don't fixate solely on profit. To look at sports matches objectively and soberly, do not let obsessive thoughts of profit cloud your thoughts. Try to apply what you have learned about the sport and be as thorough as possible in making your final opinion;

Use the "cash out" option if necessary . This is a feature to close the bet and it is available on many of the sports betting sites. Take advantage of it when you need to cut your losses and make a profit;

Instead of betting on many sports competitions, it is better to choose a few of them. Long selections very often end in failure. Choose only a few sports events in which you think you have a better chance of winning;

Find your mistakes and keep a notebook . You can also benefit from losses so that they are not in vain if you learn from your mistakes. Assess where you went wrong and write it down in a special journal of your 메이저사이트 betting. This way you can avoid making the same mistakes in the future and get better at betting. Take time to review this journal and learn from it;

Use additional support materials such as statistics, standings, news about sports teams and players. They can be invaluable to you. The information in them will serve you to make an unbiased and motivated decision based on real facts;

Avoid questionable meetings that are known to be at risk of becoming a victim of corruption. Do not bet on such matches and tournaments because you risk losing a lot of funds;

Set goals and build a strategy to achieve them. Think carefully about how much you expect to earn and build a working tactic on how to realize this. Use your knowledge, keep yourself informed about the current status of the teams and players you follow. Apply expert advice and team statistics;

Do not use alcohol during your bets . As you know, alcohol is a psychotropic substance that will certainly impair your correct predictions and judgment for a given race;

Look for the surprise. Sometimes to win more you have to look for the surprise and not stop at odds like 1.10, 1.20 and even 1.50 which are considered hard. Often just such odds fail;

Sign up at various online betting sites. We recommend that you register with several betting sites, choosing well-known companies in Bulgaria, so that you have a choice. If you have registration in only one site , this will hardly be enough for you and more or less limits you;

[robertshugartca]

Lingerie is downright beautiful, but it can also be downright...

Lingerie is downright beautiful, but it can also be downright terrifying. For some, it takes the world of undergarments to a completely unexplored place. Garter belts? Teddies? Balconettes? Chemises? Yes, there is way more to educate yourself on than simply bras and underwear. Since there’s always cause for celebration, we figured some of you might be considering slipping into something a little lacy in the coming weeks, and we want to be sure you do it with complete confidence.

Allison Beale, brand director of Journelle , was kind enough to inform us of the dos and don'ts when it comes to tackling these often intimidating underpinnings. Whether it’s your first time wearing lingerie or you consider it part of your daily wardrobe, we can guarantee that Beale’s tips cover it all.

Scroll to see what this expert has to say about wearing and buying lingerie!

“My first bit of advice would be to head to your local independent lingerie boutique for a fitting. There will be fit experts on hand, and you’ll get the best and most knowledgeable service. Second of all, don’t get too hung up on your size. Bra fitting and lingerie as a whole are about finding styles and sizes that fit well and look great. It’s important to ensure there’s no gaping at the cup and that the band is snug against your back as the majority of support comes from the band. "Don’t stress about your measured size. Wear what feels best on you; it will look the best on you, I promise.” “If you’re a lingerie newbie, begin to invest in great-fitting, great-looking sets (and yes, go for the set rather than just the bra) to build your wardrobe: a T-shirt bra, a plunge bra, and definitely an unlined lace demi. These will be your lingerie workhorses, so to speak, so be sure to take special care of them. If you’re an advanced lingerie lover, go for the wow factor. There’s nothing like purchasing an over-the-top set complete with suspenders, a super-sleek bodysuit, or cheeky ouvert bottoms that you’ve fallen in love with and simply must have. It doesn’t have to be a splurge, just something over-the-top and unexpected, and maybe not 100% practical. I promise it will continue to delight long after you’ve unwrapped it. "Don’t go straight for the three-piece garter set. Start slow and figure out your tastes and level of comfort. Then go all in!” “When shopping for lingerie, there are so many things to look out for! There’s of course the technical standpoint—does it fit correctly, are the fabrics high quality, is the construction solid—but going beyond that is the je ne sais quoi of the garment, which is so important to lingerie. That is where beautiful laces and silks, special embellishments, unique design, and construction come into the picture. "Don’t be afraid of a little whimsy. If you love the plunge bra with aubergine lace, get it. You’ll feel fantastic every time you wear it.” “Lingerie is the first thing you put on in the morning; you need to love it. And in order to love it, you need to look great in it and know you look great in it. That comes from fit and style, but also attachment to certain pieces. It begins with loving what you’re wearing. I promise the right lingerie set—one you love—will make you taller. "Don’t forget that lingerie is FOR YOU. Purchase and wear only the styles that make you feel incredible.” “I can’t say this enough: Hand-washing your lingerie is the absolute best care you can give it. It may sound tedious, but it’s actually not. Fill the sink basin with lukewarm water and add a capful of delicate lingerie wash; I’m partial to the signature Linden Lingerie Wash ($18) we created with The Laundress, as those girls know how to care for delicates. Then, swish your pieces around in the water a bit, rinse, gently squeeze out the water, and lay flat to dry. "Bras can be stored in a drawer; place them behind each and take care to ensure clasps are hooked and cups are not twisted or turned inside out. Chemises and special pieces should be hung on hangers made specifically for delicate fabrics so as not to snag sheer mesh, lace, or embellishments. "Don’t, under any circumstance, stick your lingerie in the dryer.” “Lingerie is somewhat like fashion in that there are certain pieces or styles that lend themselves to the changing seasons. Right now, it’s sweater weather and a great time to try out heavier laces, embellished styles, or even bodysuits. Our Journelle Gemma bodysuit has been featured heavily in my fall and winter wardrobe this year beneath sweaters and shirtdresses and peeking out from silk blouses. It’s also stocking season, and there’s no better time to try out suspenders, stockings, or stay-ups. I urge you to trade in your tights for stockings and suspenders for just one evening and see if you feel different. "Don’t limit yourself to only neutral tones — be bold!” This purple is irresistible. A teddy you’ll have for a lifetime.  Available in sizes XS to L. You can’t go wrong with red. Bright hues for the win. A simple bralette you can layer underneath anything.  The most perfect set there ever was.  This one is almost too pretty to wear.  Frills will always win our hearts.  Wear this underneath your next cocktail dress when you want to feel extra-special.  Available in sizes XS to L.  Delicate yet practical.  La Perla anything makes us weak in the knees. This seamless high waist will do wonders underneath any article of clothing.  Available in sizes S to L.  An unexpected color for a traditional piece. No words for how stunning this is.  Wear this to bed, lounging, or for that special someone. Supportive and pretty. What more could you ask for? All you need now are a pair of thigh-highs, no? This post was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated. Up next, six fashion items everyone is renting .

Opening Image: @shopjournelle

source https://gothify1.tumblr.com/post/182288197115

[gothify1]

Lingerie is downright beautiful, but it can also be downright terrifying. For some, it takes the world of undergarments to a completely unexplored place. Garter belts? Teddies? Balconettes? Chemises? Yes, there is way more to educate yourself on than simply bras and underwear. Since there's always cause for celebration, we figured some of you might be considering slipping into something a little lacy in the coming weeks, and we want to be sure you do it with complete confidence. Allison Beale, brand director of Journelle , was kind enough to inform us of the dos and don'ts when it comes to tackling these often intimidating underpinnings. Whether it's your first time wearing lingerie or you consider it part of your daily wardrobe, we can guarantee that Beale's tips cover it all. Scroll to see what this expert has to say about wearing and buying lingerie! "My first bit of advice would be to head to your local independent lingerie boutique for a fitting. There will be fit experts on hand, and you'll get the best and most knowledgeable service. Second of all, don't get too hung up on your size. Bra fitting and lingerie as a whole are about finding styles and sizes that fit well and look great. It's important to ensure there's no gaping at the cup and that the band is snug against your back as the majority of support comes from the band. "Don't stress about your measured size. Wear what feels best on you; it will look the best on you, I promise." "If you're a lingerie newbie, begin to invest in great-fitting, great-looking sets (and yes, go for the set rather than just the bra) to build your wardrobe: a T-shirt bra, a plunge bra, and definitely an unlined lace demi. These will be your lingerie workhorses, so to speak, so be sure to take special care of them. If you're an advanced lingerie lover, go for the wow factor. There's nothing like purchasing an over-the-top set complete with suspenders, a super-sleek bodysuit, or cheeky ouvert bottoms that you've fallen in love with and simply must have. It doesn't have to be a splurge, just something over-the-top and unexpected, and maybe not 100% practical. I promise it will continue to delight long after you've unwrapped it. "Don't go straight for the three-piece garter set. Start slow and figure out your tastes and level of comfort. Then go all in!" "When shopping for lingerie, there are so many things to look out for! There's of course the technical standpoint—does it fit correctly, are the fabrics high quality, is the construction solid—but going beyond that is the je ne sais quoi of the garment, which is so important to lingerie. That is where beautiful laces and silks, special embellishments, unique design, and construction come into the picture. "Don't be afraid of a little whimsy. If you love the plunge bra with aubergine lace, get it. You'll feel fantastic every time you wear it." "Lingerie is the first thing you put on in the morning; you need to love it. And in order to love it, you need to look great in it and know you look great in it. That comes from fit and style, but also attachment to certain pieces. It begins with loving what you're wearing. I promise the right lingerie set—one you love—will make you taller. "Don't forget that lingerie is FOR YOU. Purchase and wear only the styles that make you feel incredible." "I can't say this enough: Hand-washing your lingerie is the absolute best care you can give it. It may sound tedious, but it's actually not. Fill the sink basin with lukewarm water and add a capful of delicate lingerie wash; I'm partial to the signature Linden Lingerie Wash ($18) we created with The Laundress, as those girls know how to care for delicates. Then, swish your pieces around in the water a bit, rinse, gently squeeze out the water, and lay flat to dry. "Bras can be stored in a drawer; place them behind each and take care to ensure clasps are hooked and cups are not twisted or turned inside out. Chemises and special pieces should be hung on hangers made specifically for delicate fabrics so as not to snag sheer mesh, lace, or embellishments. "Don't, under any circumstance, stick your lingerie in the dryer." "Lingerie is somewhat like fashion in that there are certain pieces or styles that lend themselves to the changing seasons. Right now, it's sweater weather and a great time to try out heavier laces, embellished styles, or even bodysuits. Our Journelle Gemma bodysuit has been featured heavily in my fall and winter wardrobe this year beneath sweaters and shirtdresses and peeking out from silk blouses. It's also stocking season, and there's no better time to try out suspenders, stockings, or stay-ups. I urge you to trade in your tights for stockings and suspenders for just one evening and see if you feel different. "Don't limit yourself to only neutral tones — be bold!" This purple is irresistible. A teddy you'll have for a lifetime.  Available in sizes XS to L. You can't go wrong with red. Bright hues for the win. A simple bralette you can layer underneath anything.  The most perfect set there ever was.  This one is almost too pretty to wear.  Frills will always win our hearts.  Wear this underneath your next cocktail dress when you want to feel extra-special.  Available in sizes XS to L.  Delicate yet practical.  La Perla anything makes us weak in the knees. This seamless high waist will do wonders underneath any article of clothing.  Available in sizes S to L.  An unexpected color for a traditional piece. No words for how stunning this is.  Wear this to bed, lounging, or for that special someone. Supportive and pretty. What more could you ask for? All you need now are a pair of thigh-highs, no? This post was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated. Up next, six fashion items everyone is renting . Opening Image: @shopjournelle

[robertomessi311-blog]

Don't Let Your Goals Fizzle Out! – 5 Reasons Goals Fail, and What You Can Do To Make Yours Succeed

It's become a yearly ritual for many: Set ambitious goals for the New Year, tackle them enthusiastically for a few weeks, and then give up on them completely by March.

This is a vicious cycle that encourages you to feel bad about yourself, and feel as though you'll never get out of your rut.

Whether you are setting goals for your finances, or whether you are attempting to substantially improve your life, the yearly attempt (and subsequent failure) associated with resolutions can be frustrating.

If you're ready to break the cycle, it helps to understand why you fail, and what you can do to create success in your life.

Here are 5 Reasons Goals Fail - and What You Can Do to Overcome the Pitfalls of Resolution-Setting and Succeed This Year:

1. Your Goal Ignores Reality

Too often, we have high-flown ideas of what we can become with just the right goal.

Unfortunately, this often leads to setting unrealistic goals.

While it would be great to pay off $35,000 in debt this year, the reality is that you aren't likely to accomplish that goal if you make $40,000 a year.  You're going to need to make major sacrifices in terms of what you spend on, and you're going to have to come up with ways to make more money.

The same is true of losing weight, going back to school, or any number of goals that you might set.

Your goals need to be grounded in the reality of where you are right now and what you can reasonably hope to accomplish by the end of the year.  Honestly evaluate the situation, and figure out what you can actually do.  You can still set stretch goals that require you to push yourself a little bit, but you still need to be realistic.

Your resolutions need to be achievable.

Without achievable goals, you eventually give up when you realize the futility of your efforts.  You don't want that to happen, so create realistic goals, and set realistic benchmarks that you can use to measure progress throughout the year.  You'll be more likely to stay motivated to reach your goal.

2. Your Goal Focuses on a Process, Rather than a Result

In the past, my fitness goals have included things like, “swim for 30 minutes three times a week” or “kickbox for 20 minutes a day.”  While those are specific goals that are, in fact, achievable, they focus on a process instead of a result.

What if I don't feel like kickboxing today?  What if my son is sick and I have to stay home instead of driving to the pool?

It's easy to be defeated by the process, whether I stop swimming after 15 minutes, I only go twice a week, or I don't go at all.  The same is true of money goals or any other goals.

If you focus too much on some sort of process that you have to complete to be successful, you are less likely to follow through with your resolution for a sustained period of time.

Instead of focusing on the process, focus on the end result.

What result are you trying to achieve?  Maybe I want to reduce my waist size by three inches or lose 10 pounds.  That result doesn't rely on a specific process.  Maybe I change my eating habits so that I have less junk food in my diet.  Or, instead of getting hung up on whether or not I made it to the pool, I ride the stationary bike if I can't get out of the house.

When you focus on a result, and what it takes to achieved that desired objective, you are more likely to stick with your resolutions.  You can substitute different actions and behaviors that can offer the same result over time.

This works with money, as well.

Instead of saying that you want to put $458.33 each month into your retirement account, you can say that you want to be in a position to max out your IRA by the end of the year.  This doesn't require that you put $458.33 each month without fail from the beginning; it means that you build up to that over the course of the year.  At the end of the year, you'll have a result: You'll be set up to max out your IRA.  However, you do this by making gradual changes, either spending less or earning more (or doing both) and gradually increasing what you set aside.

Focus on the end result, and break it down so that you are looking at the big picture, rather fretting about the process.

3. Your Goals are Too Vague

One of the main pieces of advice that goal-setting gurus offer is that you should be specific.

If your goal is to “get healthy” or “save money,” chances are that you are going to fail at some point.

What, specifically, would make you healthier?  Do you want to bring your cholesterol down to a certain (realistic) level?  Would you like to increase your lean muscle mass by a specific amount?  What are you saving money for?  Do you want to save up $5,000 for a family vacation?  Are you planning to save up $15,000 for a down payment on a house?

Really think about what you want to accomplish with your goals.  Be specific.

Without some sort of specific goal, you have no way of knowing how much progress you have made, or how to tell when you've accomplished your objective.  Don't forget, though, that you do want to keep the overall result in mind.  If you haven't quite reached the exact and specific goal you have set, but you are still in line with the general result you want by the end of the year, that's still a win.  You can keep working on it moving forward.

Set realistically specific goals, and make sure to break your goals down into smaller, bite-sized chunks that can be digested by you as you move forward.  That way, you can measure your progress along the way and stay excited about what you've achieved.  Being able to see your progress can create good feelings that encourage you to do even more to reach your goals in the future.

4. You Get Hung Up on Time Limits for Your Goals

One of the big reasons that your New Year's resolutions are likely to fail is that you get too hung up on time limits.

While a brand new year is a great time for reflection, and a good time to set goals, the reality is that you don't have to limit yourself to a year to reach your goals.  The idea behind setting goals is to make a true improvement in your life, not create some mad dash to a finish line.

If you get hung up on time limits for the accomplishment of your goals, you are more likely to make sweeping changes that last for only a short time before you revert.

In order for goals to truly improve your life, you have to be able to assimilate them into your lifestyle.  Even if your goal is to run a half-marathon in a certain period of time, the reality is that, as you work toward achieving that goal, you make changes in your life that are likely to “stick,” as long as you approach it as a long-term journey, rather than something you have to accomplish by a certain date.

Once you achieve a goal like that, you can tweak it for the next goal.

Your goal-setting should be more about improving your life so that you create long-term habits, rather than encouraging you to do something and then stop once the goal is reached.  Don't get hung up on having something done by the end of the year.  Instead, focus on the result, and work toward it consistently.  It might take you two years to save up your desired down payment for a home, but that's ok.

And, once you do reach your specific goal, make sure you have another goal to replace it with and take advantage of the good habits you have been building up.

Once you have enough for a down payment, you can set a new goal to build up your emergency fund, contribute to a retirement account, or set up a college fund for your children.

The idea is to keep improving, so you want to build on your successes for the next big goal.

5. You Set Too Many Goals

One of the biggest reasons that you fail at your goals is that you set too many.

Just as you aren't likely to see solid results from multi-tasking, you are unlikely to see the results you want if you set too many goals at once.

This ties into number four.  Instead of setting a whole bunch of goals, pick one or two major goals to be working toward at a time.  Once you have achieved one of your goals, have something else to be working toward.  You should be focusing on bigger goals that can be broken down into manageable and measurable steps.  That way, you are actually improving your life and creating habits that result in long-term life success and satisfaction.

Don't overwhelm yourself with all of the things you should be doing.

Instead, think of the most important one or two things you want to accomplish first, and then create plans to tackle those items.  Then, move on to a new goal.  Don't limit yourself by time, either.  If you finish a goal in August, start working on a new goal - even though it isn't a new year.  View it as a journey, and you'll be more likely to make steady progress.

Here's what Leo Babauta, author of the popular blog zenhabits.net says about forming one habit at a time:

Habit change is difficult, even with just one habit. If you do more than one habit at a time, you're setting yourself up for failure. Keep it simple, allow yourself to focus, and give yourself the best chance for success. Btw, this is why New Year's resolutions often fail - people try to tackle more than one change at a time.

Other Tips for Succeeding with Your Goals

As you work on overcoming the stumbling blocks often associated with goal setting, there are a few other tips to keep in mind.  Staying motivated can be difficult, even if you can see the positive changes and progress that you are making in your life.

Here are some other strategies you can employ to help you succeed at your goals:

Make it public: Sharing your goal with others can create an incentive to succeed.  It adds a layer of accountability to your efforts.  Even if you just share it with two or three people who can be your “accountability buddies” and check up on you from time to time, the fact that you know that others are watching to see your progress can keep you motivated.

Join a group: It can help to join a community with similar goals.  You can receive support and encouragement from those who are taking the journey with you.  It can also be a good way to get insight into tricks and tips that can help you with your specific goal.  Having that support system can keep you motivated, even during the toughest of times.

Put your money where your mouth is: Make a bet.  Studies conducted by the founders of the goal-setting web site Stickk.com found that when money is on the line, people were more likely to stick with their goals.  If you have a financial consequence associated with your failure, you are more likely to succeed, if just to avoid the financial hit you'll take.  Of course, this is counterproductive if you can't afford the consequence.  It should be something that's painful, but not devastating to you.

Work with someone: This is similar to making it public and joining a group.  Find a buddy who has the same goal as you.  This works especially well if you have a significant other or a family.  You can all work together, encouraging each other.  And when you reach your joint goal, you can all celebrate together.  Any journey is more fun and fulfilling when you have others to come with you, and celebrate with you.

Glen's note on Goals: One thing I find critical in setting successful goals is to make doing the goal as easy as possible.  Back in 2007 I set a goal to run the NYC Marathon.  As part of my training I had to do one long run every week.  This meant waking up early on the weekends to get my run in.  There was no way I was going to wake up early and start bumbling around getting ready to run.  I had to have a plan before-hand or I'd be lazy and not go.  So by Friday afternoon every week I made sure to map out my miles for my long run.  I'd chart a course to make sure I'd get the required distance in.  This gave me a specific direction for my runs and it eliminated the decision of where to run when I woke up.  To further help me in my groggy morning state I also made sure to have my running clothes set aside as well as my water bottle(s) for the run.  This way I could wake up, get ready, and get out of the house.  If I left myself with too much thinking and preparation in the morning I KNOW I would have gotten too lazy to head out.

We can make financial goals easier too.

Tools like Quicken can help you plan out goals and track them.  Setting up automatic savings and investing takes the thought out of putting money away for your goals.

Know your tendencies and build plans into your goals to make sure you stay on top of your intentions.

Final Word On Making Your Goals Succeed

There's no reason to let goal-setting get you down.   Change the way you approach your resolutions, and there is a good chance that you will see more success this year - and in the years to come.

Where have you failed at goals?  Where have you succeeded?  Share your stories in the comments!

Bonus to help you with your goals and habits: Here's Google's Matt Cutts talking about trying new things for 30 days.

And here's Jerry Seinfeld's “Don't break the chain” motivation and productivity technique (via Lifehacker): Jerry Seinfeld's Productivity Secret

Copyright © Free From Broke - A Personal Finance Blog Please visit for more great content!

Don't Let Your Goals Fizzle Out! – 5 Reasons Goals Fail, and What You Can Do To Make Yours Succeed

[shumparker1953-blog]

Don't Let Your Goals Fizzle Out! – 5 Reasons Goals Fail, and What You Can Do To Make Yours Succeed

It's become a yearly ritual for many: Set ambitious goals for the New Year, tackle them enthusiastically for a few weeks, and then give up on them completely by March.

This is a vicious cycle that encourages you to feel bad about yourself, and feel as though you'll never get out of your rut.

Whether you are setting goals for your finances, or whether you are attempting to substantially improve your life, the yearly attempt (and subsequent failure) associated with resolutions can be frustrating.

If you're ready to break the cycle, it helps to understand why you fail, and what you can do to create success in your life.

Here are 5 Reasons Goals Fail - and What You Can Do to Overcome the Pitfalls of Resolution-Setting and Succeed This Year:

1. Your Goal Ignores Reality

Too often, we have high-flown ideas of what we can become with just the right goal.

Unfortunately, this often leads to setting unrealistic goals.

While it would be great to pay off $35,000 in debt this year, the reality is that you aren't likely to accomplish that goal if you make $40,000 a year.  You're going to need to make major sacrifices in terms of what you spend on, and you're going to have to come up with ways to make more money.

The same is true of losing weight, going back to school, or any number of goals that you might set.

Your goals need to be grounded in the reality of where you are right now and what you can reasonably hope to accomplish by the end of the year.  Honestly evaluate the situation, and figure out what you can actually do.  You can still set stretch goals that require you to push yourself a little bit, but you still need to be realistic.

Your resolutions need to be achievable.

Without achievable goals, you eventually give up when you realize the futility of your efforts.  You don't want that to happen, so create realistic goals, and set realistic benchmarks that you can use to measure progress throughout the year.  You'll be more likely to stay motivated to reach your goal.

2. Your Goal Focuses on a Process, Rather than a Result

In the past, my fitness goals have included things like, “swim for 30 minutes three times a week” or “kickbox for 20 minutes a day.”  While those are specific goals that are, in fact, achievable, they focus on a process instead of a result.

What if I don't feel like kickboxing today?  What if my son is sick and I have to stay home instead of driving to the pool?

It's easy to be defeated by the process, whether I stop swimming after 15 minutes, I only go twice a week, or I don't go at all.  The same is true of money goals or any other goals.

If you focus too much on some sort of process that you have to complete to be successful, you are less likely to follow through with your resolution for a sustained period of time.

Instead of focusing on the process, focus on the end result.

What result are you trying to achieve?  Maybe I want to reduce my waist size by three inches or lose 10 pounds.  That result doesn't rely on a specific process.  Maybe I change my eating habits so that I have less junk food in my diet.  Or, instead of getting hung up on whether or not I made it to the pool, I ride the stationary bike if I can't get out of the house.

When you focus on a result, and what it takes to achieved that desired objective, you are more likely to stick with your resolutions.  You can substitute different actions and behaviors that can offer the same result over time.

This works with money, as well.

Instead of saying that you want to put $458.33 each month into your retirement account, you can say that you want to be in a position to max out your IRA by the end of the year.  This doesn't require that you put $458.33 each month without fail from the beginning; it means that you build up to that over the course of the year.  At the end of the year, you'll have a result: You'll be set up to max out your IRA.  However, you do this by making gradual changes, either spending less or earning more (or doing both) and gradually increasing what you set aside.

Focus on the end result, and break it down so that you are looking at the big picture, rather fretting about the process.

3. Your Goals are Too Vague

One of the main pieces of advice that goal-setting gurus offer is that you should be specific.

If your goal is to “get healthy” or “save money,” chances are that you are going to fail at some point.

What, specifically, would make you healthier?  Do you want to bring your cholesterol down to a certain (realistic) level?  Would you like to increase your lean muscle mass by a specific amount?  What are you saving money for?  Do you want to save up $5,000 for a family vacation?  Are you planning to save up $15,000 for a down payment on a house?

Really think about what you want to accomplish with your goals.  Be specific.

Without some sort of specific goal, you have no way of knowing how much progress you have made, or how to tell when you've accomplished your objective.  Don't forget, though, that you do want to keep the overall result in mind.  If you haven't quite reached the exact and specific goal you have set, but you are still in line with the general result you want by the end of the year, that's still a win.  You can keep working on it moving forward.

Set realistically specific goals, and make sure to break your goals down into smaller, bite-sized chunks that can be digested by you as you move forward.  That way, you can measure your progress along the way and stay excited about what you've achieved.  Being able to see your progress can create good feelings that encourage you to do even more to reach your goals in the future.

4. You Get Hung Up on Time Limits for Your Goals

One of the big reasons that your New Year's resolutions are likely to fail is that you get too hung up on time limits.

While a brand new year is a great time for reflection, and a good time to set goals, the reality is that you don't have to limit yourself to a year to reach your goals.  The idea behind setting goals is to make a true improvement in your life, not create some mad dash to a finish line.

If you get hung up on time limits for the accomplishment of your goals, you are more likely to make sweeping changes that last for only a short time before you revert.

In order for goals to truly improve your life, you have to be able to assimilate them into your lifestyle.  Even if your goal is to run a half-marathon in a certain period of time, the reality is that, as you work toward achieving that goal, you make changes in your life that are likely to “stick,” as long as you approach it as a long-term journey, rather than something you have to accomplish by a certain date.

Once you achieve a goal like that, you can tweak it for the next goal.

Your goal-setting should be more about improving your life so that you create long-term habits, rather than encouraging you to do something and then stop once the goal is reached.  Don't get hung up on having something done by the end of the year.  Instead, focus on the result, and work toward it consistently.  It might take you two years to save up your desired down payment for a home, but that's ok.

And, once you do reach your specific goal, make sure you have another goal to replace it with and take advantage of the good habits you have been building up.

Once you have enough for a down payment, you can set a new goal to build up your emergency fund, contribute to a retirement account, or set up a college fund for your children.

The idea is to keep improving, so you want to build on your successes for the next big goal.

5. You Set Too Many Goals

One of the biggest reasons that you fail at your goals is that you set too many.

Just as you aren't likely to see solid results from multi-tasking, you are unlikely to see the results you want if you set too many goals at once.

This ties into number four.  Instead of setting a whole bunch of goals, pick one or two major goals to be working toward at a time.  Once you have achieved one of your goals, have something else to be working toward.  You should be focusing on bigger goals that can be broken down into manageable and measurable steps.  That way, you are actually improving your life and creating habits that result in long-term life success and satisfaction.

Don't overwhelm yourself with all of the things you should be doing.

Instead, think of the most important one or two things you want to accomplish first, and then create plans to tackle those items.  Then, move on to a new goal.  Don't limit yourself by time, either.  If you finish a goal in August, start working on a new goal - even though it isn't a new year.  View it as a journey, and you'll be more likely to make steady progress.

Here's what Leo Babauta, author of the popular blog zenhabits.net says about forming one habit at a time:

Habit change is difficult, even with just one habit. If you do more than one habit at a time, you're setting yourself up for failure. Keep it simple, allow yourself to focus, and give yourself the best chance for success. Btw, this is why New Year's resolutions often fail - people try to tackle more than one change at a time.

Other Tips for Succeeding with Your Goals

As you work on overcoming the stumbling blocks often associated with goal setting, there are a few other tips to keep in mind.  Staying motivated can be difficult, even if you can see the positive changes and progress that you are making in your life.

Here are some other strategies you can employ to help you succeed at your goals:

Make it public: Sharing your goal with others can create an incentive to succeed.  It adds a layer of accountability to your efforts.  Even if you just share it with two or three people who can be your “accountability buddies” and check up on you from time to time, the fact that you know that others are watching to see your progress can keep you motivated.

Join a group: It can help to join a community with similar goals.  You can receive support and encouragement from those who are taking the journey with you.  It can also be a good way to get insight into tricks and tips that can help you with your specific goal.  Having that support system can keep you motivated, even during the toughest of times.

Put your money where your mouth is: Make a bet.  Studies conducted by the founders of the goal-setting web site Stickk.com found that when money is on the line, people were more likely to stick with their goals.  If you have a financial consequence associated with your failure, you are more likely to succeed, if just to avoid the financial hit you'll take.  Of course, this is counterproductive if you can't afford the consequence.  It should be something that's painful, but not devastating to you.

Work with someone: This is similar to making it public and joining a group.  Find a buddy who has the same goal as you.  This works especially well if you have a significant other or a family.  You can all work together, encouraging each other.  And when you reach your joint goal, you can all celebrate together.  Any journey is more fun and fulfilling when you have others to come with you, and celebrate with you.

Glen's note on Goals: One thing I find critical in setting successful goals is to make doing the goal as easy as possible.  Back in 2007 I set a goal to run the NYC Marathon.  As part of my training I had to do one long run every week.  This meant waking up early on the weekends to get my run in.  There was no way I was going to wake up early and start bumbling around getting ready to run.  I had to have a plan before-hand or I'd be lazy and not go.  So by Friday afternoon every week I made sure to map out my miles for my long run.  I'd chart a course to make sure I'd get the required distance in.  This gave me a specific direction for my runs and it eliminated the decision of where to run when I woke up.  To further help me in my groggy morning state I also made sure to have my running clothes set aside as well as my water bottle(s) for the run.  This way I could wake up, get ready, and get out of the house.  If I left myself with too much thinking and preparation in the morning I KNOW I would have gotten too lazy to head out.

We can make financial goals easier too.

Tools like Quicken can help you plan out goals and track them.  Setting up automatic savings and investing takes the thought out of putting money away for your goals.

Know your tendencies and build plans into your goals to make sure you stay on top of your intentions.

Final Word On Making Your Goals Succeed

There's no reason to let goal-setting get you down.   Change the way you approach your resolutions, and there is a good chance that you will see more success this year - and in the years to come.

Where have you failed at goals?  Where have you succeeded?  Share your stories in the comments!

Bonus to help you with your goals and habits: Here's Google's Matt Cutts talking about trying new things for 30 days.

And here's Jerry Seinfeld's “Don't break the chain” motivation and productivity technique (via Lifehacker): Jerry Seinfeld's Productivity Secret

Copyright © Free From Broke - A Personal Finance Blog Please visit for more great content!

Don't Let Your Goals Fizzle Out! – 5 Reasons Goals Fail, and What You Can Do To Make Yours Succeed

[sundaysandthorm-blog]

Don't Let Your Goals Fizzle Out! – 5 Reasons Goals Fail, and What You Can Do To Make Yours Succeed

It's become a yearly ritual for many: Set ambitious goals for the New Year, tackle them enthusiastically for a few weeks, and then give up on them completely by March.

This is a vicious cycle that encourages you to feel bad about yourself, and feel as though you'll never get out of your rut.

Whether you are setting goals for your finances, or whether you are attempting to substantially improve your life, the yearly attempt (and subsequent failure) associated with resolutions can be frustrating.

If you're ready to break the cycle, it helps to understand why you fail, and what you can do to create success in your life.

Here are 5 Reasons Goals Fail - and What You Can Do to Overcome the Pitfalls of Resolution-Setting and Succeed This Year:

1. Your Goal Ignores Reality

Too often, we have high-flown ideas of what we can become with just the right goal.

Unfortunately, this often leads to setting unrealistic goals.

While it would be great to pay off $35,000 in debt this year, the reality is that you aren't likely to accomplish that goal if you make $40,000 a year.  You're going to need to make major sacrifices in terms of what you spend on, and you're going to have to come up with ways to make more money.

The same is true of losing weight, going back to school, or any number of goals that you might set.

Your goals need to be grounded in the reality of where you are right now and what you can reasonably hope to accomplish by the end of the year.  Honestly evaluate the situation, and figure out what you can actually do.  You can still set stretch goals that require you to push yourself a little bit, but you still need to be realistic.

Your resolutions need to be achievable.

Without achievable goals, you eventually give up when you realize the futility of your efforts.  You don't want that to happen, so create realistic goals, and set realistic benchmarks that you can use to measure progress throughout the year.  You'll be more likely to stay motivated to reach your goal.

2. Your Goal Focuses on a Process, Rather than a Result

In the past, my fitness goals have included things like, “swim for 30 minutes three times a week” or “kickbox for 20 minutes a day.”  While those are specific goals that are, in fact, achievable, they focus on a process instead of a result.

What if I don't feel like kickboxing today?  What if my son is sick and I have to stay home instead of driving to the pool?

It's easy to be defeated by the process, whether I stop swimming after 15 minutes, I only go twice a week, or I don't go at all.  The same is true of money goals or any other goals.

If you focus too much on some sort of process that you have to complete to be successful, you are less likely to follow through with your resolution for a sustained period of time.

Instead of focusing on the process, focus on the end result.

What result are you trying to achieve?  Maybe I want to reduce my waist size by three inches or lose 10 pounds.  That result doesn't rely on a specific process.  Maybe I change my eating habits so that I have less junk food in my diet.  Or, instead of getting hung up on whether or not I made it to the pool, I ride the stationary bike if I can't get out of the house.

When you focus on a result, and what it takes to achieved that desired objective, you are more likely to stick with your resolutions.  You can substitute different actions and behaviors that can offer the same result over time.

This works with money, as well.

Instead of saying that you want to put $458.33 each month into your retirement account, you can say that you want to be in a position to max out your IRA by the end of the year.  This doesn't require that you put $458.33 each month without fail from the beginning; it means that you build up to that over the course of the year.  At the end of the year, you'll have a result: You'll be set up to max out your IRA.  However, you do this by making gradual changes, either spending less or earning more (or doing both) and gradually increasing what you set aside.

Focus on the end result, and break it down so that you are looking at the big picture, rather fretting about the process.

3. Your Goals are Too Vague

One of the main pieces of advice that goal-setting gurus offer is that you should be specific.

If your goal is to “get healthy” or “save money,” chances are that you are going to fail at some point.

What, specifically, would make you healthier?  Do you want to bring your cholesterol down to a certain (realistic) level?  Would you like to increase your lean muscle mass by a specific amount?  What are you saving money for?  Do you want to save up $5,000 for a family vacation?  Are you planning to save up $15,000 for a down payment on a house?

Really think about what you want to accomplish with your goals.  Be specific.

Without some sort of specific goal, you have no way of knowing how much progress you have made, or how to tell when you've accomplished your objective.  Don't forget, though, that you do want to keep the overall result in mind.  If you haven't quite reached the exact and specific goal you have set, but you are still in line with the general result you want by the end of the year, that's still a win.  You can keep working on it moving forward.

Set realistically specific goals, and make sure to break your goals down into smaller, bite-sized chunks that can be digested by you as you move forward.  That way, you can measure your progress along the way and stay excited about what you've achieved.  Being able to see your progress can create good feelings that encourage you to do even more to reach your goals in the future.

4. You Get Hung Up on Time Limits for Your Goals

One of the big reasons that your New Year's resolutions are likely to fail is that you get too hung up on time limits.

While a brand new year is a great time for reflection, and a good time to set goals, the reality is that you don't have to limit yourself to a year to reach your goals.  The idea behind setting goals is to make a true improvement in your life, not create some mad dash to a finish line.

If you get hung up on time limits for the accomplishment of your goals, you are more likely to make sweeping changes that last for only a short time before you revert.

In order for goals to truly improve your life, you have to be able to assimilate them into your lifestyle.  Even if your goal is to run a half-marathon in a certain period of time, the reality is that, as you work toward achieving that goal, you make changes in your life that are likely to “stick,” as long as you approach it as a long-term journey, rather than something you have to accomplish by a certain date.

Once you achieve a goal like that, you can tweak it for the next goal.

Your goal-setting should be more about improving your life so that you create long-term habits, rather than encouraging you to do something and then stop once the goal is reached.  Don't get hung up on having something done by the end of the year.  Instead, focus on the result, and work toward it consistently.  It might take you two years to save up your desired down payment for a home, but that's ok.

And, once you do reach your specific goal, make sure you have another goal to replace it with and take advantage of the good habits you have been building up.

Once you have enough for a down payment, you can set a new goal to build up your emergency fund, contribute to a retirement account, or set up a college fund for your children.

The idea is to keep improving, so you want to build on your successes for the next big goal.

5. You Set Too Many Goals

One of the biggest reasons that you fail at your goals is that you set too many.

Just as you aren't likely to see solid results from multi-tasking, you are unlikely to see the results you want if you set too many goals at once.

This ties into number four.  Instead of setting a whole bunch of goals, pick one or two major goals to be working toward at a time.  Once you have achieved one of your goals, have something else to be working toward.  You should be focusing on bigger goals that can be broken down into manageable and measurable steps.  That way, you are actually improving your life and creating habits that result in long-term life success and satisfaction.

Don't overwhelm yourself with all of the things you should be doing.

Instead, think of the most important one or two things you want to accomplish first, and then create plans to tackle those items.  Then, move on to a new goal.  Don't limit yourself by time, either.  If you finish a goal in August, start working on a new goal - even though it isn't a new year.  View it as a journey, and you'll be more likely to make steady progress.

Here's what Leo Babauta, author of the popular blog zenhabits.net says about forming one habit at a time:

Habit change is difficult, even with just one habit. If you do more than one habit at a time, you're setting yourself up for failure. Keep it simple, allow yourself to focus, and give yourself the best chance for success. Btw, this is why New Year's resolutions often fail - people try to tackle more than one change at a time.

Other Tips for Succeeding with Your Goals

As you work on overcoming the stumbling blocks often associated with goal setting, there are a few other tips to keep in mind.  Staying motivated can be difficult, even if you can see the positive changes and progress that you are making in your life.

Here are some other strategies you can employ to help you succeed at your goals:

Make it public: Sharing your goal with others can create an incentive to succeed.  It adds a layer of accountability to your efforts.  Even if you just share it with two or three people who can be your “accountability buddies” and check up on you from time to time, the fact that you know that others are watching to see your progress can keep you motivated.

Join a group: It can help to join a community with similar goals.  You can receive support and encouragement from those who are taking the journey with you.  It can also be a good way to get insight into tricks and tips that can help you with your specific goal.  Having that support system can keep you motivated, even during the toughest of times.

Put your money where your mouth is: Make a bet.  Studies conducted by the founders of the goal-setting web site Stickk.com found that when money is on the line, people were more likely to stick with their goals.  If you have a financial consequence associated with your failure, you are more likely to succeed, if just to avoid the financial hit you'll take.  Of course, this is counterproductive if you can't afford the consequence.  It should be something that's painful, but not devastating to you.

Work with someone: This is similar to making it public and joining a group.  Find a buddy who has the same goal as you.  This works especially well if you have a significant other or a family.  You can all work together, encouraging each other.  And when you reach your joint goal, you can all celebrate together.  Any journey is more fun and fulfilling when you have others to come with you, and celebrate with you.

Glen's note on Goals: One thing I find critical in setting successful goals is to make doing the goal as easy as possible.  Back in 2007 I set a goal to run the NYC Marathon.  As part of my training I had to do one long run every week.  This meant waking up early on the weekends to get my run in.  There was no way I was going to wake up early and start bumbling around getting ready to run.  I had to have a plan before-hand or I'd be lazy and not go.  So by Friday afternoon every week I made sure to map out my miles for my long run.  I'd chart a course to make sure I'd get the required distance in.  This gave me a specific direction for my runs and it eliminated the decision of where to run when I woke up.  To further help me in my groggy morning state I also made sure to have my running clothes set aside as well as my water bottle(s) for the run.  This way I could wake up, get ready, and get out of the house.  If I left myself with too much thinking and preparation in the morning I KNOW I would have gotten too lazy to head out.

We can make financial goals easier too.

Tools like Quicken can help you plan out goals and track them.  Setting up automatic savings and investing takes the thought out of putting money away for your goals.

Know your tendencies and build plans into your goals to make sure you stay on top of your intentions.

Final Word On Making Your Goals Succeed

There's no reason to let goal-setting get you down.   Change the way you approach your resolutions, and there is a good chance that you will see more success this year - and in the years to come.

Where have you failed at goals?  Where have you succeeded?  Share your stories in the comments!

Bonus to help you with your goals and habits: Here's Google's Matt Cutts talking about trying new things for 30 days.

And here's Jerry Seinfeld's “Don't break the chain” motivation and productivity technique (via Lifehacker): Jerry Seinfeld's Productivity Secret

Copyright © Free From Broke - A Personal Finance Blog Please visit for more great content!

Don't Let Your Goals Fizzle Out! – 5 Reasons Goals Fail, and What You Can Do To Make Yours Succeed

[slippark30-blog]

Don't Let Your Goals Fizzle Out! – 5 Reasons Goals Fail, and What You Can Do To Make Yours Succeed

It's become a yearly ritual for many: Set ambitious goals for the New Year, tackle them enthusiastically for a few weeks, and then give up on them completely by March.

This is a vicious cycle that encourages you to feel bad about yourself, and feel as though you'll never get out of your rut.

Whether you are setting goals for your finances, or whether you are attempting to substantially improve your life, the yearly attempt (and subsequent failure) associated with resolutions can be frustrating.

If you're ready to break the cycle, it helps to understand why you fail, and what you can do to create success in your life.

Here are 5 Reasons Goals Fail - and What You Can Do to Overcome the Pitfalls of Resolution-Setting and Succeed This Year:

1. Your Goal Ignores Reality

Too often, we have high-flown ideas of what we can become with just the right goal.

Unfortunately, this often leads to setting unrealistic goals.

While it would be great to pay off $35,000 in debt this year, the reality is that you aren't likely to accomplish that goal if you make $40,000 a year.  You're going to need to make major sacrifices in terms of what you spend on, and you're going to have to come up with ways to make more money.

The same is true of losing weight, going back to school, or any number of goals that you might set.

Your goals need to be grounded in the reality of where you are right now and what you can reasonably hope to accomplish by the end of the year.  Honestly evaluate the situation, and figure out what you can actually do.  You can still set stretch goals that require you to push yourself a little bit, but you still need to be realistic.

Your resolutions need to be achievable.

Without achievable goals, you eventually give up when you realize the futility of your efforts.  You don't want that to happen, so create realistic goals, and set realistic benchmarks that you can use to measure progress throughout the year.  You'll be more likely to stay motivated to reach your goal.

2. Your Goal Focuses on a Process, Rather than a Result

In the past, my fitness goals have included things like, “swim for 30 minutes three times a week” or “kickbox for 20 minutes a day.”  While those are specific goals that are, in fact, achievable, they focus on a process instead of a result.

What if I don't feel like kickboxing today?  What if my son is sick and I have to stay home instead of driving to the pool?

It's easy to be defeated by the process, whether I stop swimming after 15 minutes, I only go twice a week, or I don't go at all.  The same is true of money goals or any other goals.

If you focus too much on some sort of process that you have to complete to be successful, you are less likely to follow through with your resolution for a sustained period of time.

Instead of focusing on the process, focus on the end result.

What result are you trying to achieve?  Maybe I want to reduce my waist size by three inches or lose 10 pounds.  That result doesn't rely on a specific process.  Maybe I change my eating habits so that I have less junk food in my diet.  Or, instead of getting hung up on whether or not I made it to the pool, I ride the stationary bike if I can't get out of the house.

When you focus on a result, and what it takes to achieved that desired objective, you are more likely to stick with your resolutions.  You can substitute different actions and behaviors that can offer the same result over time.

This works with money, as well.

Instead of saying that you want to put $458.33 each month into your retirement account, you can say that you want to be in a position to max out your IRA by the end of the year.  This doesn't require that you put $458.33 each month without fail from the beginning; it means that you build up to that over the course of the year.  At the end of the year, you'll have a result: You'll be set up to max out your IRA.  However, you do this by making gradual changes, either spending less or earning more (or doing both) and gradually increasing what you set aside.

Focus on the end result, and break it down so that you are looking at the big picture, rather fretting about the process.

3. Your Goals are Too Vague

One of the main pieces of advice that goal-setting gurus offer is that you should be specific.

If your goal is to “get healthy” or “save money,” chances are that you are going to fail at some point.

What, specifically, would make you healthier?  Do you want to bring your cholesterol down to a certain (realistic) level?  Would you like to increase your lean muscle mass by a specific amount?  What are you saving money for?  Do you want to save up $5,000 for a family vacation?  Are you planning to save up $15,000 for a down payment on a house?

Really think about what you want to accomplish with your goals.  Be specific.

Without some sort of specific goal, you have no way of knowing how much progress you have made, or how to tell when you've accomplished your objective.  Don't forget, though, that you do want to keep the overall result in mind.  If you haven't quite reached the exact and specific goal you have set, but you are still in line with the general result you want by the end of the year, that's still a win.  You can keep working on it moving forward.

Set realistically specific goals, and make sure to break your goals down into smaller, bite-sized chunks that can be digested by you as you move forward.  That way, you can measure your progress along the way and stay excited about what you've achieved.  Being able to see your progress can create good feelings that encourage you to do even more to reach your goals in the future.

4. You Get Hung Up on Time Limits for Your Goals

One of the big reasons that your New Year's resolutions are likely to fail is that you get too hung up on time limits.

While a brand new year is a great time for reflection, and a good time to set goals, the reality is that you don't have to limit yourself to a year to reach your goals.  The idea behind setting goals is to make a true improvement in your life, not create some mad dash to a finish line.

If you get hung up on time limits for the accomplishment of your goals, you are more likely to make sweeping changes that last for only a short time before you revert.

In order for goals to truly improve your life, you have to be able to assimilate them into your lifestyle.  Even if your goal is to run a half-marathon in a certain period of time, the reality is that, as you work toward achieving that goal, you make changes in your life that are likely to “stick,” as long as you approach it as a long-term journey, rather than something you have to accomplish by a certain date.

Once you achieve a goal like that, you can tweak it for the next goal.

Your goal-setting should be more about improving your life so that you create long-term habits, rather than encouraging you to do something and then stop once the goal is reached.  Don't get hung up on having something done by the end of the year.  Instead, focus on the result, and work toward it consistently.  It might take you two years to save up your desired down payment for a home, but that's ok.

And, once you do reach your specific goal, make sure you have another goal to replace it with and take advantage of the good habits you have been building up.

Once you have enough for a down payment, you can set a new goal to build up your emergency fund, contribute to a retirement account, or set up a college fund for your children.

The idea is to keep improving, so you want to build on your successes for the next big goal.

5. You Set Too Many Goals

One of the biggest reasons that you fail at your goals is that you set too many.

Just as you aren't likely to see solid results from multi-tasking, you are unlikely to see the results you want if you set too many goals at once.

This ties into number four.  Instead of setting a whole bunch of goals, pick one or two major goals to be working toward at a time.  Once you have achieved one of your goals, have something else to be working toward.  You should be focusing on bigger goals that can be broken down into manageable and measurable steps.  That way, you are actually improving your life and creating habits that result in long-term life success and satisfaction.

Don't overwhelm yourself with all of the things you should be doing.

Instead, think of the most important one or two things you want to accomplish first, and then create plans to tackle those items.  Then, move on to a new goal.  Don't limit yourself by time, either.  If you finish a goal in August, start working on a new goal - even though it isn't a new year.  View it as a journey, and you'll be more likely to make steady progress.

Here's what Leo Babauta, author of the popular blog zenhabits.net says about forming one habit at a time:

Habit change is difficult, even with just one habit. If you do more than one habit at a time, you're setting yourself up for failure. Keep it simple, allow yourself to focus, and give yourself the best chance for success. Btw, this is why New Year's resolutions often fail - people try to tackle more than one change at a time.

Other Tips for Succeeding with Your Goals

As you work on overcoming the stumbling blocks often associated with goal setting, there are a few other tips to keep in mind.  Staying motivated can be difficult, even if you can see the positive changes and progress that you are making in your life.

Here are some other strategies you can employ to help you succeed at your goals:

Make it public: Sharing your goal with others can create an incentive to succeed.  It adds a layer of accountability to your efforts.  Even if you just share it with two or three people who can be your “accountability buddies” and check up on you from time to time, the fact that you know that others are watching to see your progress can keep you motivated.

Join a group: It can help to join a community with similar goals.  You can receive support and encouragement from those who are taking the journey with you.  It can also be a good way to get insight into tricks and tips that can help you with your specific goal.  Having that support system can keep you motivated, even during the toughest of times.

Put your money where your mouth is: Make a bet.  Studies conducted by the founders of the goal-setting web site Stickk.com found that when money is on the line, people were more likely to stick with their goals.  If you have a financial consequence associated with your failure, you are more likely to succeed, if just to avoid the financial hit you'll take.  Of course, this is counterproductive if you can't afford the consequence.  It should be something that's painful, but not devastating to you.

Work with someone: This is similar to making it public and joining a group.  Find a buddy who has the same goal as you.  This works especially well if you have a significant other or a family.  You can all work together, encouraging each other.  And when you reach your joint goal, you can all celebrate together.  Any journey is more fun and fulfilling when you have others to come with you, and celebrate with you.

Glen's note on Goals: One thing I find critical in setting successful goals is to make doing the goal as easy as possible.  Back in 2007 I set a goal to run the NYC Marathon.  As part of my training I had to do one long run every week.  This meant waking up early on the weekends to get my run in.  There was no way I was going to wake up early and start bumbling around getting ready to run.  I had to have a plan before-hand or I'd be lazy and not go.  So by Friday afternoon every week I made sure to map out my miles for my long run.  I'd chart a course to make sure I'd get the required distance in.  This gave me a specific direction for my runs and it eliminated the decision of where to run when I woke up.  To further help me in my groggy morning state I also made sure to have my running clothes set aside as well as my water bottle(s) for the run.  This way I could wake up, get ready, and get out of the house.  If I left myself with too much thinking and preparation in the morning I KNOW I would have gotten too lazy to head out.

We can make financial goals easier too.

Tools like Quicken can help you plan out goals and track them.  Setting up automatic savings and investing takes the thought out of putting money away for your goals.

Know your tendencies and build plans into your goals to make sure you stay on top of your intentions.

Final Word On Making Your Goals Succeed

There's no reason to let goal-setting get you down.   Change the way you approach your resolutions, and there is a good chance that you will see more success this year - and in the years to come.

Where have you failed at goals?  Where have you succeeded?  Share your stories in the comments!

Bonus to help you with your goals and habits: Here's Google's Matt Cutts talking about trying new things for 30 days.

And here's Jerry Seinfeld's “Don't break the chain” motivation and productivity technique (via Lifehacker): Jerry Seinfeld's Productivity Secret

Copyright © Free From Broke - A Personal Finance Blog Please visit for more great content!

Don't Let Your Goals Fizzle Out! – 5 Reasons Goals Fail, and What You Can Do To Make Yours Succeed

[marysmithston90-blog]

Don't Let Your Goals Fizzle Out! – 5 Reasons Goals Fail, and What You Can Do To Make Yours Succeed

It's become a yearly ritual for many: Set ambitious goals for the New Year, tackle them enthusiastically for a few weeks, and then give up on them completely by March.

This is a vicious cycle that encourages you to feel bad about yourself, and feel as though you'll never get out of your rut.

Whether you are setting goals for your finances, or whether you are attempting to substantially improve your life, the yearly attempt (and subsequent failure) associated with resolutions can be frustrating.

If you're ready to break the cycle, it helps to understand why you fail, and what you can do to create success in your life.

Here are 5 Reasons Goals Fail - and What You Can Do to Overcome the Pitfalls of Resolution-Setting and Succeed This Year:

1. Your Goal Ignores Reality

Too often, we have high-flown ideas of what we can become with just the right goal.

Unfortunately, this often leads to setting unrealistic goals.

While it would be great to pay off $35,000 in debt this year, the reality is that you aren't likely to accomplish that goal if you make $40,000 a year.  You're going to need to make major sacrifices in terms of what you spend on, and you're going to have to come up with ways to make more money.

The same is true of losing weight, going back to school, or any number of goals that you might set.

Your goals need to be grounded in the reality of where you are right now and what you can reasonably hope to accomplish by the end of the year.  Honestly evaluate the situation, and figure out what you can actually do.  You can still set stretch goals that require you to push yourself a little bit, but you still need to be realistic.

Your resolutions need to be achievable.

Without achievable goals, you eventually give up when you realize the futility of your efforts.  You don't want that to happen, so create realistic goals, and set realistic benchmarks that you can use to measure progress throughout the year.  You'll be more likely to stay motivated to reach your goal.

2. Your Goal Focuses on a Process, Rather than a Result

In the past, my fitness goals have included things like, “swim for 30 minutes three times a week” or “kickbox for 20 minutes a day.”  While those are specific goals that are, in fact, achievable, they focus on a process instead of a result.

What if I don't feel like kickboxing today?  What if my son is sick and I have to stay home instead of driving to the pool?

It's easy to be defeated by the process, whether I stop swimming after 15 minutes, I only go twice a week, or I don't go at all.  The same is true of money goals or any other goals.

If you focus too much on some sort of process that you have to complete to be successful, you are less likely to follow through with your resolution for a sustained period of time.

Instead of focusing on the process, focus on the end result.

What result are you trying to achieve?  Maybe I want to reduce my waist size by three inches or lose 10 pounds.  That result doesn't rely on a specific process.  Maybe I change my eating habits so that I have less junk food in my diet.  Or, instead of getting hung up on whether or not I made it to the pool, I ride the stationary bike if I can't get out of the house.

When you focus on a result, and what it takes to achieved that desired objective, you are more likely to stick with your resolutions.  You can substitute different actions and behaviors that can offer the same result over time.

This works with money, as well.

Instead of saying that you want to put $458.33 each month into your retirement account, you can say that you want to be in a position to max out your IRA by the end of the year.  This doesn't require that you put $458.33 each month without fail from the beginning; it means that you build up to that over the course of the year.  At the end of the year, you'll have a result: You'll be set up to max out your IRA.  However, you do this by making gradual changes, either spending less or earning more (or doing both) and gradually increasing what you set aside.

Focus on the end result, and break it down so that you are looking at the big picture, rather fretting about the process.

3. Your Goals are Too Vague

One of the main pieces of advice that goal-setting gurus offer is that you should be specific.

If your goal is to “get healthy” or “save money,” chances are that you are going to fail at some point.

What, specifically, would make you healthier?  Do you want to bring your cholesterol down to a certain (realistic) level?  Would you like to increase your lean muscle mass by a specific amount?  What are you saving money for?  Do you want to save up $5,000 for a family vacation?  Are you planning to save up $15,000 for a down payment on a house?

Really think about what you want to accomplish with your goals.  Be specific.

Without some sort of specific goal, you have no way of knowing how much progress you have made, or how to tell when you've accomplished your objective.  Don't forget, though, that you do want to keep the overall result in mind.  If you haven't quite reached the exact and specific goal you have set, but you are still in line with the general result you want by the end of the year, that's still a win.  You can keep working on it moving forward.

Set realistically specific goals, and make sure to break your goals down into smaller, bite-sized chunks that can be digested by you as you move forward.  That way, you can measure your progress along the way and stay excited about what you've achieved.  Being able to see your progress can create good feelings that encourage you to do even more to reach your goals in the future.

4. You Get Hung Up on Time Limits for Your Goals

One of the big reasons that your New Year's resolutions are likely to fail is that you get too hung up on time limits.

While a brand new year is a great time for reflection, and a good time to set goals, the reality is that you don't have to limit yourself to a year to reach your goals.  The idea behind setting goals is to make a true improvement in your life, not create some mad dash to a finish line.

If you get hung up on time limits for the accomplishment of your goals, you are more likely to make sweeping changes that last for only a short time before you revert.

In order for goals to truly improve your life, you have to be able to assimilate them into your lifestyle.  Even if your goal is to run a half-marathon in a certain period of time, the reality is that, as you work toward achieving that goal, you make changes in your life that are likely to “stick,” as long as you approach it as a long-term journey, rather than something you have to accomplish by a certain date.

Once you achieve a goal like that, you can tweak it for the next goal.

Your goal-setting should be more about improving your life so that you create long-term habits, rather than encouraging you to do something and then stop once the goal is reached.  Don't get hung up on having something done by the end of the year.  Instead, focus on the result, and work toward it consistently.  It might take you two years to save up your desired down payment for a home, but that's ok.

And, once you do reach your specific goal, make sure you have another goal to replace it with and take advantage of the good habits you have been building up.

Once you have enough for a down payment, you can set a new goal to build up your emergency fund, contribute to a retirement account, or set up a college fund for your children.

The idea is to keep improving, so you want to build on your successes for the next big goal.

5. You Set Too Many Goals

One of the biggest reasons that you fail at your goals is that you set too many.

Just as you aren't likely to see solid results from multi-tasking, you are unlikely to see the results you want if you set too many goals at once.

This ties into number four.  Instead of setting a whole bunch of goals, pick one or two major goals to be working toward at a time.  Once you have achieved one of your goals, have something else to be working toward.  You should be focusing on bigger goals that can be broken down into manageable and measurable steps.  That way, you are actually improving your life and creating habits that result in long-term life success and satisfaction.

Don't overwhelm yourself with all of the things you should be doing.

Instead, think of the most important one or two things you want to accomplish first, and then create plans to tackle those items.  Then, move on to a new goal.  Don't limit yourself by time, either.  If you finish a goal in August, start working on a new goal - even though it isn't a new year.  View it as a journey, and you'll be more likely to make steady progress.

Here's what Leo Babauta, author of the popular blog zenhabits.net says about forming one habit at a time:

Habit change is difficult, even with just one habit. If you do more than one habit at a time, you're setting yourself up for failure. Keep it simple, allow yourself to focus, and give yourself the best chance for success. Btw, this is why New Year's resolutions often fail - people try to tackle more than one change at a time.

Other Tips for Succeeding with Your Goals

As you work on overcoming the stumbling blocks often associated with goal setting, there are a few other tips to keep in mind.  Staying motivated can be difficult, even if you can see the positive changes and progress that you are making in your life.

Here are some other strategies you can employ to help you succeed at your goals:

Make it public: Sharing your goal with others can create an incentive to succeed.  It adds a layer of accountability to your efforts.  Even if you just share it with two or three people who can be your “accountability buddies” and check up on you from time to time, the fact that you know that others are watching to see your progress can keep you motivated.

Join a group: It can help to join a community with similar goals.  You can receive support and encouragement from those who are taking the journey with you.  It can also be a good way to get insight into tricks and tips that can help you with your specific goal.  Having that support system can keep you motivated, even during the toughest of times.

Put your money where your mouth is: Make a bet.  Studies conducted by the founders of the goal-setting web site Stickk.com found that when money is on the line, people were more likely to stick with their goals.  If you have a financial consequence associated with your failure, you are more likely to succeed, if just to avoid the financial hit you'll take.  Of course, this is counterproductive if you can't afford the consequence.  It should be something that's painful, but not devastating to you.

Work with someone: This is similar to making it public and joining a group.  Find a buddy who has the same goal as you.  This works especially well if you have a significant other or a family.  You can all work together, encouraging each other.  And when you reach your joint goal, you can all celebrate together.  Any journey is more fun and fulfilling when you have others to come with you, and celebrate with you.

Glen's note on Goals: One thing I find critical in setting successful goals is to make doing the goal as easy as possible.  Back in 2007 I set a goal to run the NYC Marathon.  As part of my training I had to do one long run every week.  This meant waking up early on the weekends to get my run in.  There was no way I was going to wake up early and start bumbling around getting ready to run.  I had to have a plan before-hand or I'd be lazy and not go.  So by Friday afternoon every week I made sure to map out my miles for my long run.  I'd chart a course to make sure I'd get the required distance in.  This gave me a specific direction for my runs and it eliminated the decision of where to run when I woke up.  To further help me in my groggy morning state I also made sure to have my running clothes set aside as well as my water bottle(s) for the run.  This way I could wake up, get ready, and get out of the house.  If I left myself with too much thinking and preparation in the morning I KNOW I would have gotten too lazy to head out.

We can make financial goals easier too.

Tools like Quicken can help you plan out goals and track them.  Setting up automatic savings and investing takes the thought out of putting money away for your goals.

Know your tendencies and build plans into your goals to make sure you stay on top of your intentions.

Final Word On Making Your Goals Succeed

There's no reason to let goal-setting get you down.   Change the way you approach your resolutions, and there is a good chance that you will see more success this year - and in the years to come.

Where have you failed at goals?  Where have you succeeded?  Share your stories in the comments!

Bonus to help you with your goals and habits: Here's Google's Matt Cutts talking about trying new things for 30 days.

And here's Jerry Seinfeld's “Don't break the chain” motivation and productivity technique (via Lifehacker): Jerry Seinfeld's Productivity Secret

Copyright © Free From Broke - A Personal Finance Blog Please visit for more great content!

Don't Let Your Goals Fizzle Out! – 5 Reasons Goals Fail, and What You Can Do To Make Yours Succeed

[manuelmahar12-blog]

Don't Let Your Goals Fizzle Out! – 5 Reasons Goals Fail, and What You Can Do To Make Yours Succeed

It's become a yearly ritual for many: Set ambitious goals for the New Year, tackle them enthusiastically for a few weeks, and then give up on them completely by March.

This is a vicious cycle that encourages you to feel bad about yourself, and feel as though you'll never get out of your rut.

Whether you are setting goals for your finances, or whether you are attempting to substantially improve your life, the yearly attempt (and subsequent failure) associated with resolutions can be frustrating.

If you're ready to break the cycle, it helps to understand why you fail, and what you can do to create success in your life.

Here are 5 Reasons Goals Fail - and What You Can Do to Overcome the Pitfalls of Resolution-Setting and Succeed This Year:

1. Your Goal Ignores Reality

Too often, we have high-flown ideas of what we can become with just the right goal.

Unfortunately, this often leads to setting unrealistic goals.

While it would be great to pay off $35,000 in debt this year, the reality is that you aren't likely to accomplish that goal if you make $40,000 a year.  You're going to need to make major sacrifices in terms of what you spend on, and you're going to have to come up with ways to make more money.

The same is true of losing weight, going back to school, or any number of goals that you might set.

Your goals need to be grounded in the reality of where you are right now and what you can reasonably hope to accomplish by the end of the year.  Honestly evaluate the situation, and figure out what you can actually do.  You can still set stretch goals that require you to push yourself a little bit, but you still need to be realistic.

Your resolutions need to be achievable.

Without achievable goals, you eventually give up when you realize the futility of your efforts.  You don't want that to happen, so create realistic goals, and set realistic benchmarks that you can use to measure progress throughout the year.  You'll be more likely to stay motivated to reach your goal.

2. Your Goal Focuses on a Process, Rather than a Result

In the past, my fitness goals have included things like, “swim for 30 minutes three times a week” or “kickbox for 20 minutes a day.”  While those are specific goals that are, in fact, achievable, they focus on a process instead of a result.

What if I don't feel like kickboxing today?  What if my son is sick and I have to stay home instead of driving to the pool?

It's easy to be defeated by the process, whether I stop swimming after 15 minutes, I only go twice a week, or I don't go at all.  The same is true of money goals or any other goals.

If you focus too much on some sort of process that you have to complete to be successful, you are less likely to follow through with your resolution for a sustained period of time.

Instead of focusing on the process, focus on the end result.

What result are you trying to achieve?  Maybe I want to reduce my waist size by three inches or lose 10 pounds.  That result doesn't rely on a specific process.  Maybe I change my eating habits so that I have less junk food in my diet.  Or, instead of getting hung up on whether or not I made it to the pool, I ride the stationary bike if I can't get out of the house.

When you focus on a result, and what it takes to achieved that desired objective, you are more likely to stick with your resolutions.  You can substitute different actions and behaviors that can offer the same result over time.

This works with money, as well.

Instead of saying that you want to put $458.33 each month into your retirement account, you can say that you want to be in a position to max out your IRA by the end of the year.  This doesn't require that you put $458.33 each month without fail from the beginning; it means that you build up to that over the course of the year.  At the end of the year, you'll have a result: You'll be set up to max out your IRA.  However, you do this by making gradual changes, either spending less or earning more (or doing both) and gradually increasing what you set aside.

Focus on the end result, and break it down so that you are looking at the big picture, rather fretting about the process.

3. Your Goals are Too Vague

One of the main pieces of advice that goal-setting gurus offer is that you should be specific.

If your goal is to “get healthy” or “save money,” chances are that you are going to fail at some point.

What, specifically, would make you healthier?  Do you want to bring your cholesterol down to a certain (realistic) level?  Would you like to increase your lean muscle mass by a specific amount?  What are you saving money for?  Do you want to save up $5,000 for a family vacation?  Are you planning to save up $15,000 for a down payment on a house?

Really think about what you want to accomplish with your goals.  Be specific.

Without some sort of specific goal, you have no way of knowing how much progress you have made, or how to tell when you've accomplished your objective.  Don't forget, though, that you do want to keep the overall result in mind.  If you haven't quite reached the exact and specific goal you have set, but you are still in line with the general result you want by the end of the year, that's still a win.  You can keep working on it moving forward.

Set realistically specific goals, and make sure to break your goals down into smaller, bite-sized chunks that can be digested by you as you move forward.  That way, you can measure your progress along the way and stay excited about what you've achieved.  Being able to see your progress can create good feelings that encourage you to do even more to reach your goals in the future.

4. You Get Hung Up on Time Limits for Your Goals

One of the big reasons that your New Year's resolutions are likely to fail is that you get too hung up on time limits.

While a brand new year is a great time for reflection, and a good time to set goals, the reality is that you don't have to limit yourself to a year to reach your goals.  The idea behind setting goals is to make a true improvement in your life, not create some mad dash to a finish line.

If you get hung up on time limits for the accomplishment of your goals, you are more likely to make sweeping changes that last for only a short time before you revert.

In order for goals to truly improve your life, you have to be able to assimilate them into your lifestyle.  Even if your goal is to run a half-marathon in a certain period of time, the reality is that, as you work toward achieving that goal, you make changes in your life that are likely to “stick,” as long as you approach it as a long-term journey, rather than something you have to accomplish by a certain date.

Once you achieve a goal like that, you can tweak it for the next goal.

Your goal-setting should be more about improving your life so that you create long-term habits, rather than encouraging you to do something and then stop once the goal is reached.  Don't get hung up on having something done by the end of the year.  Instead, focus on the result, and work toward it consistently.  It might take you two years to save up your desired down payment for a home, but that's ok.

And, once you do reach your specific goal, make sure you have another goal to replace it with and take advantage of the good habits you have been building up.

Once you have enough for a down payment, you can set a new goal to build up your emergency fund, contribute to a retirement account, or set up a college fund for your children.

The idea is to keep improving, so you want to build on your successes for the next big goal.

5. You Set Too Many Goals

One of the biggest reasons that you fail at your goals is that you set too many.

Just as you aren't likely to see solid results from multi-tasking, you are unlikely to see the results you want if you set too many goals at once.

This ties into number four.  Instead of setting a whole bunch of goals, pick one or two major goals to be working toward at a time.  Once you have achieved one of your goals, have something else to be working toward.  You should be focusing on bigger goals that can be broken down into manageable and measurable steps.  That way, you are actually improving your life and creating habits that result in long-term life success and satisfaction.

Don't overwhelm yourself with all of the things you should be doing.

Instead, think of the most important one or two things you want to accomplish first, and then create plans to tackle those items.  Then, move on to a new goal.  Don't limit yourself by time, either.  If you finish a goal in August, start working on a new goal - even though it isn't a new year.  View it as a journey, and you'll be more likely to make steady progress.

Here's what Leo Babauta, author of the popular blog zenhabits.net says about forming one habit at a time:

Habit change is difficult, even with just one habit. If you do more than one habit at a time, you're setting yourself up for failure. Keep it simple, allow yourself to focus, and give yourself the best chance for success. Btw, this is why New Year's resolutions often fail - people try to tackle more than one change at a time.

Other Tips for Succeeding with Your Goals

As you work on overcoming the stumbling blocks often associated with goal setting, there are a few other tips to keep in mind.  Staying motivated can be difficult, even if you can see the positive changes and progress that you are making in your life.

Here are some other strategies you can employ to help you succeed at your goals:

Make it public: Sharing your goal with others can create an incentive to succeed.  It adds a layer of accountability to your efforts.  Even if you just share it with two or three people who can be your “accountability buddies” and check up on you from time to time, the fact that you know that others are watching to see your progress can keep you motivated.

Join a group: It can help to join a community with similar goals.  You can receive support and encouragement from those who are taking the journey with you.  It can also be a good way to get insight into tricks and tips that can help you with your specific goal.  Having that support system can keep you motivated, even during the toughest of times.

Put your money where your mouth is: Make a bet.  Studies conducted by the founders of the goal-setting web site Stickk.com found that when money is on the line, people were more likely to stick with their goals.  If you have a financial consequence associated with your failure, you are more likely to succeed, if just to avoid the financial hit you'll take.  Of course, this is counterproductive if you can't afford the consequence.  It should be something that's painful, but not devastating to you.

Work with someone: This is similar to making it public and joining a group.  Find a buddy who has the same goal as you.  This works especially well if you have a significant other or a family.  You can all work together, encouraging each other.  And when you reach your joint goal, you can all celebrate together.  Any journey is more fun and fulfilling when you have others to come with you, and celebrate with you.

Glen's note on Goals: One thing I find critical in setting successful goals is to make doing the goal as easy as possible.  Back in 2007 I set a goal to run the NYC Marathon.  As part of my training I had to do one long run every week.  This meant waking up early on the weekends to get my run in.  There was no way I was going to wake up early and start bumbling around getting ready to run.  I had to have a plan before-hand or I'd be lazy and not go.  So by Friday afternoon every week I made sure to map out my miles for my long run.  I'd chart a course to make sure I'd get the required distance in.  This gave me a specific direction for my runs and it eliminated the decision of where to run when I woke up.  To further help me in my groggy morning state I also made sure to have my running clothes set aside as well as my water bottle(s) for the run.  This way I could wake up, get ready, and get out of the house.  If I left myself with too much thinking and preparation in the morning I KNOW I would have gotten too lazy to head out.

We can make financial goals easier too.

Tools like Quicken can help you plan out goals and track them.  Setting up automatic savings and investing takes the thought out of putting money away for your goals.

Know your tendencies and build plans into your goals to make sure you stay on top of your intentions.

Final Word On Making Your Goals Succeed

There's no reason to let goal-setting get you down.   Change the way you approach your resolutions, and there is a good chance that you will see more success this year - and in the years to come.

Where have you failed at goals?  Where have you succeeded?  Share your stories in the comments!

Bonus to help you with your goals and habits: Here's Google's Matt Cutts talking about trying new things for 30 days.

And here's Jerry Seinfeld's “Don't break the chain” motivation and productivity technique (via Lifehacker): Jerry Seinfeld's Productivity Secret

Copyright © Free From Broke - A Personal Finance Blog Please visit for more great content!

Don't Let Your Goals Fizzle Out! – 5 Reasons Goals Fail, and What You Can Do To Make Yours Succeed

[willisvjohnson1973-blog]

Don't Let Your Goals Fizzle Out! – 5 Reasons Goals Fail, and What You Can Do To Make Yours Succeed

It's become a yearly ritual for many: Set ambitious goals for the New Year, tackle them enthusiastically for a few weeks, and then give up on them completely by March.

This is a vicious cycle that encourages you to feel bad about yourself, and feel as though you'll never get out of your rut.

Whether you are setting goals for your finances, or whether you are attempting to substantially improve your life, the yearly attempt (and subsequent failure) associated with resolutions can be frustrating.

If you're ready to break the cycle, it helps to understand why you fail, and what you can do to create success in your life.

Here are 5 Reasons Goals Fail - and What You Can Do to Overcome the Pitfalls of Resolution-Setting and Succeed This Year:

1. Your Goal Ignores Reality

Too often, we have high-flown ideas of what we can become with just the right goal.

Unfortunately, this often leads to setting unrealistic goals.

While it would be great to pay off $35,000 in debt this year, the reality is that you aren't likely to accomplish that goal if you make $40,000 a year.  You're going to need to make major sacrifices in terms of what you spend on, and you're going to have to come up with ways to make more money.

The same is true of losing weight, going back to school, or any number of goals that you might set.

Your goals need to be grounded in the reality of where you are right now and what you can reasonably hope to accomplish by the end of the year.  Honestly evaluate the situation, and figure out what you can actually do.  You can still set stretch goals that require you to push yourself a little bit, but you still need to be realistic.

Your resolutions need to be achievable.

Without achievable goals, you eventually give up when you realize the futility of your efforts.  You don't want that to happen, so create realistic goals, and set realistic benchmarks that you can use to measure progress throughout the year.  You'll be more likely to stay motivated to reach your goal.

2. Your Goal Focuses on a Process, Rather than a Result

In the past, my fitness goals have included things like, “swim for 30 minutes three times a week” or “kickbox for 20 minutes a day.”  While those are specific goals that are, in fact, achievable, they focus on a process instead of a result.

What if I don't feel like kickboxing today?  What if my son is sick and I have to stay home instead of driving to the pool?

It's easy to be defeated by the process, whether I stop swimming after 15 minutes, I only go twice a week, or I don't go at all.  The same is true of money goals or any other goals.

If you focus too much on some sort of process that you have to complete to be successful, you are less likely to follow through with your resolution for a sustained period of time.

Instead of focusing on the process, focus on the end result.

What result are you trying to achieve?  Maybe I want to reduce my waist size by three inches or lose 10 pounds.  That result doesn't rely on a specific process.  Maybe I change my eating habits so that I have less junk food in my diet.  Or, instead of getting hung up on whether or not I made it to the pool, I ride the stationary bike if I can't get out of the house.

When you focus on a result, and what it takes to achieved that desired objective, you are more likely to stick with your resolutions.  You can substitute different actions and behaviors that can offer the same result over time.

This works with money, as well.

Instead of saying that you want to put $458.33 each month into your retirement account, you can say that you want to be in a position to max out your IRA by the end of the year.  This doesn't require that you put $458.33 each month without fail from the beginning; it means that you build up to that over the course of the year.  At the end of the year, you'll have a result: You'll be set up to max out your IRA.  However, you do this by making gradual changes, either spending less or earning more (or doing both) and gradually increasing what you set aside.

Focus on the end result, and break it down so that you are looking at the big picture, rather fretting about the process.

3. Your Goals are Too Vague

One of the main pieces of advice that goal-setting gurus offer is that you should be specific.

If your goal is to “get healthy” or “save money,” chances are that you are going to fail at some point.

What, specifically, would make you healthier?  Do you want to bring your cholesterol down to a certain (realistic) level?  Would you like to increase your lean muscle mass by a specific amount?  What are you saving money for?  Do you want to save up $5,000 for a family vacation?  Are you planning to save up $15,000 for a down payment on a house?

Really think about what you want to accomplish with your goals.  Be specific.

Without some sort of specific goal, you have no way of knowing how much progress you have made, or how to tell when you've accomplished your objective.  Don't forget, though, that you do want to keep the overall result in mind.  If you haven't quite reached the exact and specific goal you have set, but you are still in line with the general result you want by the end of the year, that's still a win.  You can keep working on it moving forward.

Set realistically specific goals, and make sure to break your goals down into smaller, bite-sized chunks that can be digested by you as you move forward.  That way, you can measure your progress along the way and stay excited about what you've achieved.  Being able to see your progress can create good feelings that encourage you to do even more to reach your goals in the future.

4. You Get Hung Up on Time Limits for Your Goals

One of the big reasons that your New Year's resolutions are likely to fail is that you get too hung up on time limits.

While a brand new year is a great time for reflection, and a good time to set goals, the reality is that you don't have to limit yourself to a year to reach your goals.  The idea behind setting goals is to make a true improvement in your life, not create some mad dash to a finish line.

If you get hung up on time limits for the accomplishment of your goals, you are more likely to make sweeping changes that last for only a short time before you revert.

In order for goals to truly improve your life, you have to be able to assimilate them into your lifestyle.  Even if your goal is to run a half-marathon in a certain period of time, the reality is that, as you work toward achieving that goal, you make changes in your life that are likely to “stick,” as long as you approach it as a long-term journey, rather than something you have to accomplish by a certain date.

Once you achieve a goal like that, you can tweak it for the next goal.

Your goal-setting should be more about improving your life so that you create long-term habits, rather than encouraging you to do something and then stop once the goal is reached.  Don't get hung up on having something done by the end of the year.  Instead, focus on the result, and work toward it consistently.  It might take you two years to save up your desired down payment for a home, but that's ok.

And, once you do reach your specific goal, make sure you have another goal to replace it with and take advantage of the good habits you have been building up.

Once you have enough for a down payment, you can set a new goal to build up your emergency fund, contribute to a retirement account, or set up a college fund for your children.

The idea is to keep improving, so you want to build on your successes for the next big goal.

5. You Set Too Many Goals

One of the biggest reasons that you fail at your goals is that you set too many.

Just as you aren't likely to see solid results from multi-tasking, you are unlikely to see the results you want if you set too many goals at once.

This ties into number four.  Instead of setting a whole bunch of goals, pick one or two major goals to be working toward at a time.  Once you have achieved one of your goals, have something else to be working toward.  You should be focusing on bigger goals that can be broken down into manageable and measurable steps.  That way, you are actually improving your life and creating habits that result in long-term life success and satisfaction.

Don't overwhelm yourself with all of the things you should be doing.

Instead, think of the most important one or two things you want to accomplish first, and then create plans to tackle those items.  Then, move on to a new goal.  Don't limit yourself by time, either.  If you finish a goal in August, start working on a new goal - even though it isn't a new year.  View it as a journey, and you'll be more likely to make steady progress.

Here's what Leo Babauta, author of the popular blog zenhabits.net says about forming one habit at a time:

Habit change is difficult, even with just one habit. If you do more than one habit at a time, you're setting yourself up for failure. Keep it simple, allow yourself to focus, and give yourself the best chance for success. Btw, this is why New Year's resolutions often fail - people try to tackle more than one change at a time.

Other Tips for Succeeding with Your Goals

As you work on overcoming the stumbling blocks often associated with goal setting, there are a few other tips to keep in mind.  Staying motivated can be difficult, even if you can see the positive changes and progress that you are making in your life.

Here are some other strategies you can employ to help you succeed at your goals:

Make it public: Sharing your goal with others can create an incentive to succeed.  It adds a layer of accountability to your efforts.  Even if you just share it with two or three people who can be your “accountability buddies” and check up on you from time to time, the fact that you know that others are watching to see your progress can keep you motivated.

Join a group: It can help to join a community with similar goals.  You can receive support and encouragement from those who are taking the journey with you.  It can also be a good way to get insight into tricks and tips that can help you with your specific goal.  Having that support system can keep you motivated, even during the toughest of times.

Put your money where your mouth is: Make a bet.  Studies conducted by the founders of the goal-setting web site Stickk.com found that when money is on the line, people were more likely to stick with their goals.  If you have a financial consequence associated with your failure, you are more likely to succeed, if just to avoid the financial hit you'll take.  Of course, this is counterproductive if you can't afford the consequence.  It should be something that's painful, but not devastating to you.

Work with someone: This is similar to making it public and joining a group.  Find a buddy who has the same goal as you.  This works especially well if you have a significant other or a family.  You can all work together, encouraging each other.  And when you reach your joint goal, you can all celebrate together.  Any journey is more fun and fulfilling when you have others to come with you, and celebrate with you.

Glen's note on Goals: One thing I find critical in setting successful goals is to make doing the goal as easy as possible.  Back in 2007 I set a goal to run the NYC Marathon.  As part of my training I had to do one long run every week.  This meant waking up early on the weekends to get my run in.  There was no way I was going to wake up early and start bumbling around getting ready to run.  I had to have a plan before-hand or I'd be lazy and not go.  So by Friday afternoon every week I made sure to map out my miles for my long run.  I'd chart a course to make sure I'd get the required distance in.  This gave me a specific direction for my runs and it eliminated the decision of where to run when I woke up.  To further help me in my groggy morning state I also made sure to have my running clothes set aside as well as my water bottle(s) for the run.  This way I could wake up, get ready, and get out of the house.  If I left myself with too much thinking and preparation in the morning I KNOW I would have gotten too lazy to head out.

We can make financial goals easier too.

Tools like Quicken can help you plan out goals and track them.  Setting up automatic savings and investing takes the thought out of putting money away for your goals.

Know your tendencies and build plans into your goals to make sure you stay on top of your intentions.

Final Word On Making Your Goals Succeed

There's no reason to let goal-setting get you down.   Change the way you approach your resolutions, and there is a good chance that you will see more success this year - and in the years to come.

Where have you failed at goals?  Where have you succeeded?  Share your stories in the comments!

Bonus to help you with your goals and habits: Here's Google's Matt Cutts talking about trying new things for 30 days.

And here's Jerry Seinfeld's “Don't break the chain” motivation and productivity technique (via Lifehacker): Jerry Seinfeld's Productivity Secret

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Don't Let Your Goals Fizzle Out! – 5 Reasons Goals Fail, and What You Can Do To Make Yours Succeed