There have also been medical advances in fighting cancer, HIV/AIDS and diabetes. Great political changes – USA has its first black president and Europe its first ever president. And China is warming more to the West.

In some areas things haven’t changed. The war in the near East has shifted zones, but our boys and girls are still out there risking life and limb. The greed which brought about the global recession is still apparent with top bankers continuing to get insane bonuses.

I could go on and on about all the different things which have changed or remained static in the last ten years, but that’s not the purpose of this article. What I want to talk about is goal setting.

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In a few weeks time many people will be making their New Year’s Resolutions. So what are “Resolutions”? They are dreams, aspirations, hopes and – in infrequent cases – goals. Most of us will be making lists of what we want to achieve in the New Year, be it losing weight or giving up smoking or drinking less. In most cases it goes no further than that. Very few actually commit themselves to taking the action needed to achieve their aims.

Goals on the other hand are more serious. They are almost like making vows. They require not only the right mind set, but also the right action. In a sense you could say the goals are the chickens and resolutions are the eggs. Without incubation the eggs stay eggs. Without definitive action resolutions stay resolutions.

So how can you incubate your “eggs”? Here are a few tips that will help you on your way:

1.      Life is serious. You only have one life, use it wisely. Don’t blow your chances of success by being frivolous with your life. What do you want from your life? Take time out to think about this and write down everything you want or would like to achieve. This can be absolutely anything from wealth to fame to a happy family life. I find going somewhere where I feel comfortable and relaxed helps me to focus on such things. If your home enviroment is a bit hectic then go to your favourite cafe and take the time to design the kind of life you want.

“Life is like a combination lock; your goal is to find the right numbers, in the right order, so you can have anything you want.” – Brian Tracy

2.      Goals or Resolutions? Make sure you understand the difference. As I explained above – chicken and eggs – goals are solid, resolutions/hopes/dreams, are not. You can control your goals personally, whereas with resolutions you most likely need the cooperation of others. Losing 10lbs a week is a goal. Getting promotion at work is a resolution or a hope, because it depends on your boss cooperating with you. There’s nothing wrong with having both goals and resolutions, just make sure you understand which is which.

“When the promise is clear, the price gets easy.” – Jim Rohn

3.      Have goals that excite you. Big goals excite and inspire. Small goals make you wary and cautious. If you’re going to dream, than at least dream big. “Aim for the stars to hit the moon” is a well known adage when it comes to goal setting. Only have small goals if they are part of the bigger picture. Why should you limit yourself? Take the risk and aim for the stars.

“I am planning space travel as my next big thing.” – Richard Branson

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4.      Use stepping stones to help you achieve your main goal. If you have a big goal it can seem daunting and you could even feel you will never achieve it. Breaking your goal down into more manageable steps will make it easier.  These stepping stones are immediate targets and motivate you to take action. There is great satisfaction in successfully taking each minor step leading up to your ultimate prize.

Set yourself deadlines for each step. This could be a daily task to a monthly or quarterly target. However, don’t give yourself a deadline that’s too far in the future when setting your mini goals, otherwise you will start getting lazy and procrastinate.

“Write an action plan to complete each goal…Use a calendar or planner and schedule your action plan a week at a time. Doing so will enable you to accomplish your goals.” – Zig Ziglar

For example: Say you want to write a book within the next two years. Start now by reading up on how to be a creative writer. Enrol on a writer’s course. Research the material you will need for your book and make lots of notes. You can even start writing your book now whilst you are learning the ins and outs of creative writing. Set a daily task to write for at least ten minutes each day. The important thing is TO DO something on a regular basis which will culminate in achieving your goal – in this case a completed book.

5.      Get help from others. To eat a family size pizza you would normally invite family members or friends to help you. The same goes for your goals. They don’t have to physically help you, however if you tell them what you are looking to achieve, then they will give you moral support at least. They’ll keep reminding you with questions like: “Hey, how’s your … project going?” This is another form of motivation, because to keep them updated you need to take action to be able to report something fresh.

“In my coaching, I say that “secret” goals are merely wishes or hopes or dreams. Have the courage of your convictions! Tell people about your goals.” – Philip E. Humbert Phd.

Start 2010 off by creating a list of clear, inspiring and attainable major goals you want to achieve throughout the year. Don’t forget to include some BIG goals and use a calendar to help you to create your stepping stones along the way. Invite family or friends to encourage you, to help maintain your commitment, to make sure you are taking action. Remember – You can design your own life, making it the life you truly want, if you are serious enough about it.

The basic goal-reaching principle is to understand that you go as far as you can see, and when you get there you will always be able to see farther. - Zig Ziglar