Photo by Justin Kern

This is the time of year when most people make “New Year’s Resolutions.” We say we’re going to lose weight, quit smoking, stick to a budget, or resolve some other problem we have.

But, as most of us know, saying we’re going to make a change isn’t enough. We actually need to set specific goals to make it happen.

I talked with personal development superstar Brian Tracy on the power of setting goals.

Brian Tracy is one of America's leading authorities on the development of human potential and personal effectiveness. He addresses more than 400,000 men and women each year on the subjects of personal and professional development.

Brian has a B. Comm., and M.A., and is the Chairman of Brian Tracy International, a human resource company based in San Diego, California, with affiliates throughout America and in 31 other countries worldwide.

Prior to founding Brian Tracy International, Brian was the Chief Operating Officer of a development company with $265 million in assets and $75 million in annual sales. He has had successful careers in sales and marketing, investments, real estate development and syndication, importation, distribution, and management consulting. He has conducted high-level consulting assignments with several billion-dollar-plus corporations in strategic planning and organizational development.

Brian Tracy has produced more than 300 different audio and video learning programs covering the entire spectrum of human and corporate performance. These programs, researched and developed for more than 25 years, are some of the most effective learning tools in the world.

TS: Thanks for talking with us today, Brian.
BT: You are most welcome.
TS: I imagine that people often ask you if you “always knew” that you would be successful. What do you say to them?
BT: (laughs). Yes, I get that a lot. To answer the question, no. I didn’t have a clue. I was sleeping in my car at one point in my life. I’d be lying if I said that I knew I was destined for something greater. I was more concerned about putting money in my pocket and food in my stomach than filled with some sense of destiny.
TS: So, the people who are just starting in business shouldn’t worry if they don’t have some great sense of destiny?
BT: No, not at all. That’s not where success comes from. Success comes from setting a goal, and then taking steps to achieve it. I knew I had the power within me to make it happen; I just had to learn how.
TS: Exactly.
BT: So, I made it my mission to study success. That’s what your readers are doing now, studying success. If they learn what successful people do, and then take the same actions, success is inevitable.
TS: I couldn’t agree more. How should people set goals?
BT: It’s like this. Say you have a goal to earn a million dollars. Without a plan, that goal is just a dream. The distance between where you are now and that million dollars is too great. You have to make a plan of action.
TA: How does someone bridge that gap?
BT: The way to bridge the gap between where you are now and where you want to be is to break it down into smaller steps. Ask yourself, “How much money do I need to make each month to have a million dollars in a year?” Break it down further. “How many new sales does that translate to?” You might decide that you need 100 new customers. You may not know how to get 10 new customers, but the chances are, you know how to get one new customer. Well, then get out there and focus on getting one. You may be intimidated to think of getting 100 customers, but getting one is manageable.
TS: So, the key to success is to set a goal, and then break it down into manageable steps.
BT: Yes, exactly. And stay focused. Consistent action toward your goal is the key to success. I like to strive to be 1/10th of 1% better every day. If, every day you are better than the day before, you are moving toward your goal. You have to put in many, many tiny efforts that nobody sees or appreciates before you achieve anything worthwhile. It’s not magic. It’s consistent action.
TS: Thank you so much for sharing with our readers today.
BT: My pleasure.

So, there you have it. Whatever your New Year’s Resolution is, make a plan to achieve the goal, break it down into manageable steps, and take consistent action every day.

And don’t forget my special offer…

Happy New Year, everyone! Let’s make 2012 our best year yet.

Traci