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Welcome to the New Year! It’s a fresh time and one filled with promise. Like the birth of a new baby, it’s a time when the canvas of life is unblemished and everything seems possible.

You can achieve anything you want and there are many secrets to achieving what "success" means to you. I'd like to share some guidance on achieving your goals and then I want to let you in on a little secret that will help ensure this year is the year of change for you.

Got Goal? Many experts embrace SMART goals.

•SPECIFIC. If your goal is to eat healthier foods, what does that mean? That you put less ketchup on your French fries? Create a goal that is specific; such as only allowing yourself to eat after 8pm once per week.

•MEASURABLE. If you want to lose weight by summer, what does that mean? That you want to weigh one less pound by swim suit season? Create a goal that is measurable; such as 20 pounds of weight loss or 4 dress sizes.

•ACHIEVABLE. If your goal is to lose 30 pounds by Memorial Day, is that really achievable for you? If you’ve previously not been successful with losing weight before, perhaps your achievable number should be more within your reach.

•REALISTIC. Okay, so maybe the 30 pounds by Memorial Day is achievable, but is it a realistic goal for you? Do you have other things on the calendar between now and Memorial Day that may cause it to be unrealistic for you to adopt all of your new habits during that time frame?

•TIMETABLE. Having a timetable on a goal creates accountability and that’s a critical element to ensure success – a time line such as Memorial Day.

Creating SMART goals will help you be successful. But I want you to consider something else just as powerful: "The Why" and "The Where." SMART goals help you to create a strong WHERE. That's a good thing. As you consider your own path ("The How To"), be sure to select a program (diet and exercise) that meets your specific needs. What works for your co-worker may not be right for your personal schedule or historical challenges.

Weight Loss 2011
But you know what? "The How To" really doesn’t matter! It doesn’t matter if you have a world class gym in your home or you have to drive 30 miles to the club each day. It doesn’t matter if you jump rope or starve yourself. If your WHY is not grounded you’ll never achieve your goal. If your WHY is not crystal clear, you will never get to WHERE you are going!

And where are you going? Is your weight loss goal a clear vision or some vague, nascent, conflicting set of parameters where you have no emotional attachment?

Get SMART goals and embrace the WHY so that you will maintain the focus and motivation to reach your destiny.