It’s been said that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and one person worth modeling and resolving to be more like this year..is the jolly guy in the red suit…Santa!

Whatever you may think constitutes “naughty and nice,” there’s little doubt about the power of “making a list and checking it twice.”

Checklists are effective for at least three primary reasons…

1) Writing your goals and new year resolutions down and listing each of the actions needed to successfully achieve them…allows you to take all kinds of good but often scattered thoughts and intentions and organize them.

This action reduces stress, conserves energy and focuses your attention.

2) Listing all of the actions needed to successfully achieve your goals allows you to break up large, complex and challenging goals or projects into smaller and more reasonable chunks of work.

This action builds confidence and clarity while guiding your behavior.

3) Putting your goals and action plans into the form of a checklist allows you to accelerate your win rate. You’ll go further much faster when you know what you want, why you want it, how you’re going to achieve it and by when.

Crossing goals off your checklist and starting the year fast is a gift you give yourself. Nothing substitutes for building self-confidence and greater resolve than actually accomplishing something.

To enjoy these benefits and make this your best year ever…the goals on your list must be written as specific, measurable and deadline driven actions, not ambiguous objectives with no end date in sight.

So whereas writing “lose weight” is a recipe for failure, breaking that into “choose a diet program,” “establish measurements”, “create a detailed eating and exercise plan”, and “set deadlines” can jump start your efforts.

While even the best research can’t make modifying habits easy — sustained change takes time and effort — your chances of success increase markedly as you pick one goal, enlist help rather than announce your intentions, and get organized and hold yourself accountable by using this idea of making a list and checking it twice.

Here’s my promise to you…

Armed with a simple plan and a sustained commitment to achieving your goals and resolutions, this could prove to be your best year ever.

My very best for a prosperous, joy-filled new year!

The 100 Day Challenge is a rapid execution system used by more than 675,000 high-achievers to achieve life-changing results in 100 days. Don’t do it unless you want spectacular results.

The strategies you’ll learn in the 100 Day Challenge have elected a president, grown non-profit causes, won gold medals and fueled movements. Now it’s your turn to win bigger faster!