Happy NewYear!
Being Resolute In Goal Setting

Providing leadership tools with original content on key leadership topics including:

Delivering leadership strategies with fresh ideas, results-focused tools and resources to assist leaders in achieving THE TRIPLE WIN.

The Triple Win consists of creating and supporting a work environment where:

Win #1 Employees - are positively engaged and feel highly valued.
Win #2 Customers - are consistently "delighted" and remain loyal.
Win #3 Owners/shareholders - realize optimal return on investment with continual improvement quarter-to- quarter and year-over-year.

As you have a chance to create your own WINS using our leadership strategies and tools, please take a moment to forward our e-zine [a FREE resource] to your friends and colleagues.

If a friend DID share our leadership e-zine with you, and you like what you see - we would be honored to have you as one of our loyal subscribers.

Remember, the Leadership Tools Monthly News is FREE, your information is always kept PRIVATE and we only publish the newsletter monthly. This ensures you get quality tools and content without being overwhelmed with too many emails.

Happy New Year!
Being Resolute In Goal Setting

1. Lessons-in- Leadership
   • Being Resolute In Goal Setting - Iron-clad Resolutions!
2. Meeting for Results
   • Investing In Yourself Benefits Everyone
3. The Juice Bar
   • A New Year for - Achievement!
4. Reader Meter
   • 2003 - A Year to Remember.
5. Site News
   • A Year to Remember - 2004!

How often do you see people who have succumb to their circumstances? In extreme cases perhaps they drink too much or take some other "home remedy" to self-medicate their feelings of inadequacy and/or hopelessness.

On a more conservative level, they may simply complain about being treated unfairly and/or feel deserving of something they feel they've either earned or are entitled to.

When setting goals for the coming year, it's imperative that you begin the process with a clear mindset. One that empowers you with the realization that you, and you alone, possess the ultimate tool - freedom of choice.

We've spoken here often about the power of choice. The fact remains that in virtually all scenarios, each of us has the personal freedom to choose how we will respond to any given situation.

Those who choose NOT to choose, will remain a self-imposed victim of their unique circumstances. Those who DO take control of, and responsibility for, their own situations have the ability to effectively prepare, respond, and take actions necessary to improve their lives.

So as we step into the new year, "STEP OUT"! Take ownership of the challenges in front of you - and make some winning choices (which may not be easy choices) that will benefit you for the rest of your life.

Remember these important words by Leonardo da Vinci as you consider the obstacles in front of you in 2004. Make your New Year's resolutions and conduct your goal-setting with this in mind:

GOAL SETTING QUICK START

Goal setting doesn't have to be a long drawn out process. While you should certainly take enough time to be thoughtful in your planning, the process itself is fairly simple.

Consider using the following "Quick Start" goal-setting process to start the year off with a clear vision of what is important to you and how you intend to achieve your New Year's resolutions.

1. Reflect On The Prior Year


• Note your achievements of the past year - list all of the good things that happened in the last 12 months. List names of new friends and people who have come into your life. Be as detailed as possible, listing the simple to the significant. List the things that you are grateful for including: Health, Friends, Family, Employment, Financial, Emotional, Spiritual, etc. Note: If you have a job and live in a safe, warm place - you can be grateful that you have it better than a whole lot of other folks in this world. It's a fact: Gratitude Improves Your Attitude.


• Note your disappointments of the past year - list all the things that you did not like about the prior year. What caused you stress and unhappiness? Did you make choices that you wish you would have made differently? Did you associate with less than desirable people that limited your ability to achieve? Make the list as long as necessary - get it all on paper. At the top of your list, write in big bold letters "Things I am resolved to never experience again!"
2. Create Your New Year's Resolutions!


• Determine what you want - not simply what you feel you need to do, but ask yourself specifically "What do I want?". Ask this question under each of the following "Life Categories": Health & Fitness, Family, Friends, Career, Financial, Emotional and Spiritual.


• Why do you want it? - get clear in your own mind why you want these things. Are these goals things that will serve you well? Will these goals help you to achieve a more fulfilling life? If not, start over and get more clear about what you really want for yourself and what your motivation or purpose is for wanting these things. You must understand why you want to achieve these goals, because the "purpose, is your ultimate motivation" to achieve your goal. Every time you feel unmotivated in 2004, you will refer back to these statements and realize exactly why it is that you need to take another step toward achieving your goal. This really works if you apply it.
3. Create your M.A.P. - Master Action Plan!


• Get specific! Write down the necessary action steps that you are committed to taking to achieve each goal. Ensure that you include at least 2 action steps that you can do "right now" that will get you on your way. Doing something now, or within the next 24 hours, will create instant momentum for you and you will be well on your way to achieving your goals.


• Consider investing in a life management system such as FranklinPlanner or Tony Robbins - Time of Your Life . The reason is that tools like these are extremely helpful in teaching you more about yourself. In addition, you'll receive some wonderful tools (planner) that will assist you in connecting your everyday activities to your New Year's resolutions and life-long goals.

Sound good? Then do yourself a favor and print this off and schedule some time (now would be good) to completing the quick start process.

Avoid the "Someday Syndrome". Tomorrow never comes, and the road to someday always leads to nowhere.

Oops, almost forgot - remember that long list of disappointments? Those things you said you are resolved to never experience again? Make a point of destoying that list and celebrate your new goals and resolutions. (That "ugly" little list isn't anything that one little match can't make quick work of.)

As you begin a new year, now is a great time to do some self-assessment. In past issues, we've made you aware of the free 360 Degree Leadership Assessment tool, which provides a means for gathering critical feedback from your peers, subordinates and outside business partners. (If you're still interested in receiving this free tool, we've provided the request link in the Reader Meter section of this newsletter.)

Our 360 Degree Leadership Assessment tool is great for assessing your skills from the eyes of those around you. But if you simply want to assess yourself, and ensure you are doing it in an honest and direct manner, there are other tools that you might consider.

Searching the net, you can undoubtedly uncover many different types of leadership assessments, survey’s and quiz’. Some good and some not so good.

Two Leadership assessments that we recommend you try out include the following:

1. Brian Tracy International - FREE Self Evaluation

• Really very simple. World renowned speaker and motivation expert Brian Tracy, provides this free on-line tool. Simply answer 18 pair of questions and learn more about your personality and behavioral tendancies associated with four important categories.
  
  OR, take the ...

2. Leadership-tools.com -  Leadership Assessment Tool

•  Identifies 25 key skills which define your leadership prowess. Our assessment identifies areas of strength and also those key areas needing further attention and improvement.

The Process Is Easy As:  1,  2,  3!

STEP # 1 - Complete the Leadership Assessment
Note:  If some questions don't quite "fit" your circumstance - feel free to make minor changes to the questions so long as the "spirit" of the questions remain in tact. Do not skip questions or the scoring of the assessment won't reflect a clear outcome.

Place a checkmark in one column next to each question.

STEP 2 - Complete Your Column Totals
Upon filling out the assessment completely, count the number of checkmarks in each column, multiple the total by the assigned value to establish your column total.

STEP 3 - Add Your Column Totals
Add all five column totals to establish your grand total score.

                 My Score Is:                      

Haha! Couldn't resist! I just wanted to see if you were still paying attention! Okay, moving on ..

What is this word "resolution"? What does it really mean?

The word resolution is based on the key word "resolve".

Webster's dictionary defines the word "Resolve" as: To make a firm decision about; To cause to reach a decision; To decide or express a final vote; To change or convert; To find a solution to; To remove or dispel doubts; To bring to a usually successful conclusion (resolve a conflict).

As has been said many times in the area of health, "Nothing tastes as good as FIT feels."

Similarly in the area of personal achievement - nothing feels better than achieving something we really want, especially when we have worked extremely hard for it.

We wish you the strength, the confidence and the motivation to "resolve your challenges and achieve your dreams" over the coming year.

Life is short, and unpredictable. Therefore, in order to ensure you live a life that sets an example for others, we offer the following leadership poem. Happy New Year!

Starting in this first issue of 2004, we are providing the following link, encouraging you to share your thoughts and comments about our magazine and our site.

Please rate our site and provide us with your feedback and comments about this issue and our site in general.

READER METER
COMMENTS/FEEDBACK FORM

During the last several months, we have had a steady stream of requests from our readers to send them our free tools that are available in the form of a Word file.

In each issue we will continue to provide the forms needed for requesting these free tools.

If you would like to receive the Free Word File containing our "My Favorite Things!" tool - which will ensure you always know how to effectively reward and recognize each employee based on "what they want" - simply click here:

If you would like to receive the Free Word File containing our "360 Degree Leadership Assessment" tool (Explained in detail at: Explain 360 degree leadership feedback tool ) simply make your request by clicking here:

As we add new tools throughout the coming year, we will be sure to update this part of our newsletter to ensure our free tools are always easy to request.

As we prepared this new/first issue for 2004, we took the time to stop and reflect on what we have accomplished over the past year.

It felt good!

As we reviewed each of our past issues, we realized just how many quality tools and resources we have provided (free of charge) to our valued readers.

As we remembered the multiple hours of research and development that went into each issue, it became clear that we needed to put together a Newsletter Index so that readers can quickly refer back to the exact issue they want to access.

So here it is!

UPDATES - Coming Soon! Initiative in-the-works include:

• Leadership in Profile - COMING VERY SOON! Highlighting everyday leader's success stories - that YOU can emulate and profit from!
• Leadership E-cards - Motivational E-cards that your friends and team members will be happy to receive.
• Leadership Consulting - Have a leadership issue/question but unsure how to address/answer? We will help you so you can more effectively lead others!
• Life Management Tools - Providing the BEST OF THE BEST product reviews for tools you should not be without. We only recommend something after we thoroughly test it and decide we can't live without it. You shouldn't either.

All reprints MUST place the following credit line:

"This article and all information contained herein is used by permission and is the property of Leadership-tools.com Receive their FREE monthly e-newsletter Leadership Tools Monthly News, by subscribing at www.Leadership-tools.com. Personal information is never shared or sold. All information remains private."