If you are among the 45% of Americans who usually set New Year’s Resolutions, consider these statistics*:
- Only 8% of people are always successful in achieving their resolutions.
- 19% achieve their resolutions every other year.
- 49% have infrequent success.
- 24% NEVER succeed and have failed on every resolution every year.
I surmise that the primary reason that 3 out of 4 people almost never succeed is because they don’t have the tools required to attain their goals. Additionally, statistics show that only 2% of Americans actually document their goals. This exercise alone is directly correlated to goal attainment.
Whether you are among the 17% of Americans who infrequently set resolutions or the 38% who absolutely never set resolutions, why not set make 2012 the year to set resolutions and attain your goals?
Perhaps you’ve opted out of goal setting in the past because you lack the skills of self-confidence and powerful communications which can inhibit goal setting and attainment. Both skills are taught in the Dale Carnegie Effective Communications & Human Relations/Skills for Success course. Students of this course learn the following skills which later enable them to achieve their professional and personal goals:
1. Build Greater Self-Confidence – Each day, we encounter new risks, challenges, competition and changes which can all be overcome when we feel more self-confident.
2. Strengthen People Skills – Ever heard, “It’s not what you know; it’s who you know?” The more people we meet and the greater our people skills, the more successful we will be in life. Professionals with strong people skills know how to make a positive impression on others; win with enthusiastic cooperation vs. mere compliance and act diplomatic under pressure.
3. Enhance Communication Skills – People with strong communication skills are able to express themselves clearly and concisely; think on their feet; and are effective both one-on-one or when working with large groups.
4. Develop Leadership Skills – True leaders are able to motivate and inspire people from a variety of backgrounds to a higher level of performance. They are flexible, enthusiastic, open and approachable. Leaders are more productive than other employees because they are able to gain enthusiastic cooperation from their colleagues and team members, which typically enables them to attain company-wide goals faster.
5. Improve Your Attitude – There aren’t many things in life that we can change, however our attitude is something that we should check often and change as needed. A critical success factor in human behavior is the ability to face challenging situations with a positive attitude. It is difficult to maintain optimism if you lack stress management and problem solving skills. By obtaining these skills, you will be more focused and directed as you set clear, specific goals; avoid procrastination; and confront and solve problems with a positive attitude.
Dale Carnegie once said, “Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy.” Challenge yourself by making 2012 the year you both set and attain goals.
Hope and help are both offered by Dale Carnegie Training of Central & Southern New Jersey. We would love to connect with you on Facebook.