Are you setting a curriculum for your goals?

Okay, so I know the word "curriculum" is not sexy. But it's a word that's inspired me recently, and I hope you'll come to love it as much as I do. 

2013 is here and many of you are setting your goals for the year and dedicating yourself to what you want to accomplish. While writing down what you want is a great first step, more is required.

You must also set a curriculum of resources that will teach you what you need to know in order to reach your goals. If you want your life to grow in some specific way, you have to grow first; and like most things, those who are strategic about it will win.

As Jim Rohn said, “If you want to have more…you have to become more. Success is not a doing process, it is a becoming process. What you do, what you pursue, will allude you—it can be like chasing butterflies. Success is something you attract by the person you become.”

So while you're thinking about what you want this year, I want to challenge you to think about who you need to become and what you need to learn in order to reach those goals. 

I've always been an avid reader, but this year I decided to set my own "curriculum" for my goals this year. I made a list of 12 books I'm going to read and reflect on by the end of 2013 that are related to my goals and growth. For example, one of my goals is to write my second book; thus, four of the books on my list are about writing.

But Isa, I'm already reading books in college! Why would I want to read more books? You are so annoying and I hate you. 

Whoa. That was harsh. I see where you're coming from; I know you're already reading books. But I'm talking about going above and beyond. And if you're not a big reader, you can choose from any number of resources.

Okay Isa I don't hate you anymore.  

(Blogging for a few years may or may not be having some sort of effect on my level of crazy....don't judge me ;)). 

Whether you like books, ebooks, audiobooks, seminars, webinars, or online articles, there are definitely resources out there to help you grow. And public libraries still exist and are still free (something I'm constantly grateful for). 

If completing college successfully is your number one goal right now, I highly encourage you to start planning what resources you will consume this year to help you do college better. There are many to choose from (including a little diddy I wrote). 

In short: Think about how you can become better at what you want to accomplish this year, and then pick resources to help you get there. 

You will find, as I hope you are finding in college, that learning what you want to learn (i.e. setting your own "curriculum") can often become the most fun and "sexy" thing you can imagine. 

Thanks Isa, you're the best blogger in the whole world. 

I need to get out more...

;)

How to make 2013 your best year ever

Imagine that today is December 31, 2013. What would have had to happen for you to say: "2013 was my best year ever"? 

That was the question author Brian Tracy posed in a SUCCESS CD I listened to recently.

What is your answer? What would have to happen this year for you to be able to say, a year from now, that it was your best year ever?

Every year on December 31st I do an extensive New Years Eve ritual where I reflect on the past year and plan for the next. Every year I add more to the process, and every year is better than the last. 

I can honestly say today that 2012 was my best year ever. My book got published, I got to travel around the country and meet incredible college students, and I got to work from home and have my own business.

It's hard for me to believe that just a year ago those things were just dreams. But rather than just staying big dreams, last year I wrote them down and wrote a plan for what I could do to make those things happen. And it worked. 

And it can work for you too. 

Being intentional about your life and your goals really does produce results, and it's never too early to start. I encourage you to start to develop your own New Years tradition. You can read my blog from 2012 on the subject, or start from scratch on what would work best for you.

At the very least, find a nice quiet spot that inspires you and take some time to reflect on this year, what you're thankful for, and what you want to happen next year. And then, this is the most important part - reflect on what you need to do differently, every day, to make those things happen.

Happy New Year! I hope your 2013 is your best year ever.