5 Steps to Make the Rest of 2005 Extraordinary

So here we are in July. Where did the first half of the year go? It only seems a couple of weeks ago that I was drinking festive egg-nog, wearing my Christmas sweater and humming 'Sleigh Ride' too loudly in line at the supermarket.

It's kinda scary to think that there's just six months of 2005 left to run, and we've already had the longest day of the year which means that the nights are starting to draw in (I'm not trying to get you down, honest!). So how's the first half of the year gone for you? Was it what you expected?

Most importantly, what do you want the next six months to be about? To help you get clear on the rest of your year, here's what I want you to do,

Take a moment to think about the last six months - January to June. Think about everything you've done, the opportunities that came along, the tough times and the fun times, and think about where you are now having gone through the last six months. Give the first half of 2005 a rating from 1 to 10 - it could be a big-grin scale, a temperature scale or a fulfilment scale. How would you rate your 2005 so far?

Now go forwards in time six months, and imagine yourself on a crisp December morning (or warm if you're somewhere hot!). You've put effort into moving things forwards and it's worked - things have progressed in some important ways and you're seeing results and reaping the rewards. Using the same scale as before, what rating do you want to give to July to December? What rating respresents how you want to feel about the next six months?

Imagine that it's still that December morning. You wake up, your eyes flicker open and things are different. Things have moved on, you have more of something and things have changed for the better. What one thing would make the biggest difference to you? What do you want things to look like or feel like on that December morning? Be as specific as you can be (close your eyes if it helps) and write down what comes out for you. Maybe it's building your confidence or boosting your self-esteem, maybe it's finding a new partner or improving your relationship, or maybe it's finding work you can love or feeling more fulfilled in the work you already do. Whatever it is for you, have fun thinking about what will be different when you have it.

Don't stop there - create another two things that would be amazing to have, do or be on that same December morning. What's bugging you right now that you'd like to change? What would make a huge or powerful difference to you? Again, be as specific as you can be about what you want to have, do or be on that December morning and write down your ideas.

You've just created three goals that you can achieve within the next six months. Keep them somewhere close to you and be sure to pay positive attention to those things as often as you can. Feel good about them and imagine yourself there with all three in place - pretty darn good, right?!

But it doesn't stop there. Each and every week from now until that December morning, dive back into your goals and feel what it would be like to have them, then ask yourself 'What's one thing I can do this week that will move me forwards?'. Each week, think of what decision you can make or what action you can take that will be one step forwards, no matter how big or small.

Simply by paying positive attention to what you want all kinds of things can just fall into place, but there's nothing like quite doing something about what you want! Be excited about the rest of the year because it truly can be extraordinary - you just have to make it extraordinary and allow it to be extraordinary. Yep, we're half way through 2005 already - but the best can still be to come.

About the Author
Steve Errey's free ezine ' Being More' shows you proven ways that YOU can have, do and be more than you thought possible. By signing up you'll also receive a special report titled '5 Little Secrets Other Coaches Won't Tell You' - visit http://www.steveerrey.com now.

Steve Errey is one of the UK's most successful coaches and specialises in personal growth for thirtysomethings - helping them with their careers, relationships and confidence and to get more fun, fulfilment and freedom. For more information please contact Steve on 0845 644 3001, by email at steve@steveerrey.com or visit his website at http://www.steveerrey.com.

Latest News

Record setting night for Blades in 12-0 rout of Lynx
OurSports Central (press release), WI - 7 hours ago
In goal Anton Khudobin (6-1-1) won his sixth straight and recorded his second shutout of the season and seventh blanking of his career by stopping all 20 ...

3A Girls' Soccer: Seattle Prep back in state final, setting up ...
Seattle Post Intelligencer - Nov 21, 2008
While the senior had some memorable moments there -- like her goal on the final penalty kick in last year's 1-0 state semifinal victory over Holy Names ...
Seagulls sail into championship HeraldNet
all 11 news articles

Washington Post

Clemson's Win Over UVa Keeps Bowl Hopes Alive
TheTigerNet.com, SC - 13 hours ago
... a Verica pass and returned it 31 yards to Virginia's 36-yard line, setting up Buchholz's second field goal of the game that produced the final score. ...
Two fourth-down stops prove critical The State
Cavs’ bowl hopes are dwindling News Virginian
all 57 news articles

Today is goal-setting day at Whole Child summit
Tallahassee.com, FL - Nov 17, 2008
This morning, the group will make plans for its new phase by prioritizing and setting measurable goals it can accomplish. "We are looking to have a better ...

Routt to hold goal-setting meeting
Jacksonville Journal Courier, IL - Nov 18, 2008
31 date for a goal-setting conference at the school, when parents, teachers, volunteers and others interested in the school will meet at Routt and spend the ...

New faces on Council discuss goal setting
Ypsilanti Courier, MI - Nov 12, 2008
With Council's goal setting sessions beginning Saturday, many members - old and new - said Water Street is first on their agenda. ...

HIGHTSTOWN: Onochie reaches goal of record-setting goals
Packet Online, NJ - Nov 22, 2008
(In soccer, a player gets two points for a goal and one point for an assist.) Onochie broke the record for most goals in a career by scoring all three goals ...

Bleacher Report

Red-zone blues sink Stanford
San Francisco Chronicle, USA - 4 hours ago
To a man, the Cardinal players and coaches believe they have only themselves to blame for failing to reach their team goal of a bowl invitation. ...
No other rivalry has anything like 'The Play' FOXSports.com
Cardinal Bested Inside Bay Area
all 355 news articles

MadFriars.com

Padres Prospect Interview: Beamer Weems
MadFriars.com, CA - 8 hours ago
Riddoch, he also gives us some handouts on hitting and goal setting, we just got one today. I really like the information on them.

Seattle Post Intelligencer

Can Obama create 2.5 million jobs?
BloggingStocks - 19 hours ago
But setting the goal and achieving it are two different things. In the next two months, Obama's economic team -- which will reportedly be announced on ...
Video: Obama Outlines Job Creation Plan AssociatedPress