| Here's an idea inspired by President Bill Clinton. In | | | | commitment certificate, type in your goals, print it |
| 2005 President Clinton set up the Clinton Global | | | | out (I suggest you make several copies) and |
| Initiative (CGI) to "help turn good intentions into | | | | place them in strategic locations around your |
| real actions and results." For as Caroline Myss said, | | | | home and office. In this way you will have a |
| "You cannot change anything in your life with | | | | constant reminder of what you have set out to |
| intention alone, which can become a | | | | achieve. You may even want to frame your |
| watered-down, occasional hope that you'll get to | | | | certificates as a demonstration of the seriousness |
| tomorrow. Intention without action is useless." | | | | of your commitment. |
| The CGI focuses on four areas: | | | | Once you've achieved your goal(s) update your |
| 1. Education, | | | | certificates. You may want to write a new list of |
| 2. Energy and climate change, | | | | goals or you may simply want to place a big tick |
| 3. Global health, and | | | | or star next to the goal you have achieved. This |
| 4. Poverty alleviation | | | | will further motivate you. This approach may |
| At the CGI's Annual Meeting, each member | | | | seem basic but it does work and you want to |
| makes a commitment to take action. What's | | | | achieve your goals, don't you? |
| more their commitments are declared publicly and | | | | In addition to this, schedule meetings with your |
| each member's commitment is documented in the | | | | accountability partner(s). Hopefully they will have |
| form of a certificate which they sign. If members | | | | made their commitment certificates as well. Use |
| do not carry out their commitment they are no | | | | these meetings to review your goals, to discuss |
| longer eligible to remain in the CGI. It is the | | | | any challenges you may be facing and what would |
| ultimate form of accountability. | | | | help to keep you on track and on target. |
| It is an established fact that writing down your | | | | These meetings do not have to be in person and |
| goals helps you to achieve them. It's like issuing | | | | so there is no excuse not to hold them. It's a |
| yourself a contract. However, when you share | | | | good idea to actually schedule a series of dates |
| your goal with at least one other person, | | | | and times for these meetings in advance so that |
| particularly if you specifically ask that person to | | | | they become a fixture in your calendar. |
| hold you accountable, then it gives you added | | | | There's just one caution I'd like to add. Some |
| impetus to achieve that goal. For members of the | | | | individuals will take this idea and use it to help |
| CGI, the eyes of the world are upon them and so | | | | them achieve MEGA goals; others will play it safe |
| when they announce their pledges it is a serious | | | | and, because they know they have to be |
| undertaking. | | | | accountable. They will choose goals that they feel |
| The commitments of the CGI members had an | | | | confident they can comfortably achieve. I strongly |
| unexpected effect. Members of the general public | | | | recommend that you scrap the latter idea. |
| started to send in their commitments. This was | | | | Bob Proctor says that if a goal doesn't both |
| totally unsolicited and as commitments continued | | | | excite you and scare you it is not worthy of you. |
| to be submitted the CGI decided to formalise | | | | Goals are supposed to stretch you. When striving |
| these commitments as well. Consequently, you | | | | towards a truly worthwhile goal you will feel |
| can now visit MyCommitment.org and submit your | | | | uncomfortable at times because you will have to |
| commitment to make positive change in any of | | | | step beyond your comfort zone. Einstein said that |
| the aforementioned areas. It demonstrates the | | | | you cannot solve a problem at the level at which |
| power of the 'ordinary' person to make significant | | | | it was created. Similarly, you will have to evolve |
| change locally, nationally and even internationally. | | | | to a new level in order to achieve a worthy goal. |
| "I am only one; but still I am one. I cannot do | | | | Goal achievement is about who you become as a |
| everything, but still I can do something. I will not | | | | result of pursuing your goals. It's not just about |
| refuse to do the something I can do." | | | | the achievement of the goal itself. |
| Helen Keller | | | | So raise the bar. Make a commitment to achieve |
| So here's how you can stay committed to your | | | | something truly outstanding so that in a year's |
| New Year's Resolutions or indeed any goals you | | | | time, when you look back at your |
| set. Don't just write them down on a piece of | | | | accomplishments, instead of regret for what |
| paper that might not see the light of day for | | | | might have been you will feel a tremendous sense |
| weeks, if not months. Design your own special | | | | of pride. |