5 Ways to Level Up in 2021!

So how was your 2020? If you are like most of us, I think we can all agree that 2020 was a rough year. From the pandemic to quarantine and lockdowns to the untimely deaths of many of our family, friends, and celeb heroes 2020 was…well tragic. Many people struggled with mental health issues related to being locked down and separated from others. I hope somewhere in 2020 there was a silver lining -maybe the quarantine gave you time to reflect on your goals and dreams or spend more time with your family.

For some, 2021 is already off to a shaky start. So far, the year has brought us an insurrection, the 2nd impeachment of 45, Michael B. Jordan off the market and well how can we forget Gorilla Glue Girl. But if you are like me, you are determined not to let this year be a repeat of the same. If you had the choice of spending the same 365 days and just surviving it or having the best year of your life, which would you choose? I hope you would choose to have the best year of your life! That is what I want for you and myself. We always get the same 365 (366, if we are talking a leap year) days each year, so what is getting in the way of making this the best year of your life and how do we get it out of the way?

First, let's start with this question, how did you do on your Top 3 goals in 2020?

Did you have a goal for 2020? Most people don’t even have a top one goal, let alone a history of what they did on their top 3 goals. So, let's turn that around right now and talk about the 5 steps you can take to level up your goals for 2021.

Step 1: (Spend only 30 seconds on this. REALLY! Don’t over think this) Pick your number one goal in each of the following categories. Physical, Financial, and Relationship. STOP! Do it now. We are talking only 30 seconds and then write the goals down. Yes, really write them down. There is something powerful about writing down your goals so that you can reference them at any time. I mean what does the Word say, write the vision, make it plain Habakkuk 2:2.

Remember, we think BIG over here. So, make sure your goals are just that…BIG! You know what they say, if your dreams don’t scare you, they are not big enough.

Now, we have done it. In only 30 seconds. Can you believe it? Finally, you are starting your new year off with actual targets that will level up your 2021. How much better do you feel knowing you now have clear targets to go after? It kind of takes the anxiety out and allows you to get down to business. You know what you want, now let us get you there with Steps 2 through 5.

Step 2: Turn your Top 3 Goals into your Top 3 one-year goals. If you cannot complete your Top 3 Goals in one year, reduce them down to where you can complete them in one year. Make sure you do not reduce them down to the point where they don't inspire you, but just enough to make them one-year goals.

Step 3: Choose 3 people to hold you accountable to your top 3 Goals, one person for each goal. Sometimes we are our own worst enemy. We often jump from goal to goal never achieving any of them. Having an accountability partner will help you stay focused on your original goals. Once you achieve one of your goals, the new ideas that you will start having will be 1000 times greater than the ideas you are having right now. Just know that these goals you just wrote down ARE the ones that are truly important to you, because you were not given enough time to think about choosing them. They were already there.

Step 4: Get out a blank piece of paper. You already know how we feel about writing things down. Choose one of the persons that will be holding you accountable. Write Dear <Their Name> at the top of the paper. Followed by, I, <Your Name> promise to consistently make progress on <The top goal they are supporting you on> for the entire year of 2021 until it is achieved. I will give you monthly updates on my progress. Sign your name on the bottom. Do the same thing with your other 2 goals.

Step 5: Give those papers to the respective persons and post your goals in a location where you can review them daily. Update your new accountability buddies on your progress and get ready for that 2021 level up!

Congratulations on completing this exercise. I hope it took you 5 minutes or less. It is better the quicker you do it. It prevents all the second guessing that naturally takes place. If you skipped over these exercises you will never understand their power. It is like the difference between imagining you are standing at the edge of a cliff and standing at the edge of cliff. You have to get active in your own life and take control.

Once you achieve any of your top 3 goals, you will be flooded by ideas that are 1000's of times better than before you started on these goals. You cannot imagine what you will have access to once you complete just one of these goals. Good luck on your 2021 level up!