1. Delete all goals that are over a year old that you've made no real progress on in the last year.
   These are "dead" goals. Cross them off the list and pick something that actually excites or interests you.


2. Only work on one major goal or project at a time.
   If you have too many big goals going at once (i.e. more than one!) you'll dilute your energy and may not accomplish any of them. A big goal may take six months to one year to complete or more. If your goal takes more than one year, break it down into one year chunks. The temptation is to have too many goals. Pick one and stick with it until it is done.


3. Give your best hour of the day to your major goal or project.
   Do this BEFORE you open your e-mail or check your voicemail. This should be obvious as e-mail is a can of worms waiting to distract you and waste your precious time. Get into the office an hour early and work on this goal/project. Or, negotiate to come in an hour later and stay at home to do it if that works better for you. One colleague only had half-an-hour a day to devote to writing and she wrote a book in one year.


4. Set up a powerful structure for support.
   Most people rely too much on inspiration to carry the day. The problem with inspiration is that it is short-lived. Use the inspiration to set up a structure for support that will ensure your goals are accomplished. For example, working with a trainer or workout partner is a structure for support for fitness; hiring a life coach is a powerful structure for support for reaching huge goals; joining a book club is a structure for support for making sure you read outside your comfort zone; hire a house cleaner to ensure your goal of a clean house is reached, etc. Getting the right structure for support in place makes reaching your goals a piece of cake! No will power is required with an excellent structure for support. Spend some time getting a solid structure in place—one you know will do the trick—and then all you have to do is show up.


5. Match your big goal to one of your top four values or passions in life.
   If you don't know what your values are, read The Secret Laws of Attraction by Talane Miedaner where I've spelled out exactly how to identify your core values. Don't waste your life pursuing goals that really aren't that important to you.


6. Eliminate distractions.
   Make a list of everything you are putting up with or tolerating (usually 60-100 things) and eliminate them. You can't afford to be slowed down by this stuff. (See tip 1, Coach Yourself to Success by Talane Miedaner).


7. Put in place strong boundaries to protect yourself and your time.
   If you need peace to think, make sure your friends and family know not to call you after 8 p.m. Need a half-hour to meditate or write? Make sure that your partner and family knows this and doesn't intrude on this special time. Most people need to expand their boundaries significantly.


8. Get the right tools for the job.
   I had no idea how slow my old computer was until I got a brand new one. I finally recorded the audio book for Coach Yourself to Success because I had the right tools to do it at home (my fabulous H2 recorder and a Kindle!)


9. Delegate the parts you don't like, can't do, or aren't good at.
   If some parts of a job are slowing you down, hire someone else to do it for you. I couldn't bear to write the proposal for The Secret Laws of Attraction so I hired a writer to do it for me. I had already written most of the book, but for some strange reason I just couldn't find the energy to write the proposal. Yes, it cost me a fair bit, but the advance more than covered the cost so it was worth it in the end. You don't have to do everything yourself. And if the goal is worthwhile, then it should be worth getting help along the way. Lots of famous authors such as Deepak Chopra and Tony Robbins have ghost writers. See—you don't have to even write the book yourself! (I do write my own books, just in case you are wondering.)


10. Create the time and space for your big goal.
    It may mean cutting out some lesser projects or activities. Don't be afraid to reduce your social commitments, get off committees, and say "no" to new stuff that pops up. You now have a powerful reason and can say, "Thanks for thinking of me, but I'm dedicating all my free time to xyz project this year." Maybe you can enlist their support as well. I spent the summer of 2009 writing my third book, Coach Yourself to a New Career, which published in the spring of 2010 . And I even got a bit of tan too. But not before enlisting the powerful support of my mother and sister who looked after my two girls every morning so I could write. Don't be afraid to ask for lots of help.

Top Ten Tips for a Terrific Holiday Season

1. Use the Joy Filter for decision-making.
   If someone invites you to something ask yourself, "Will this add joy to my life?" If not, decline. You don't have to go to every single holiday party you are invited to. Stop sending holiday cards unless you love to do it. It is a pleasure to receive a personal card, but why bother sending a rubber-stamped, printed signature card? Just pick ten people who are special to you and send them a hand-written card. Do only what you find joyful and you are guaranteed a terrific holiday season!


2. Forgive and make amends.
   If someone has done something that hurt you, now is the time to call and forgive them. If you have done anything hurtful or damaging to another, make amends even if it wasn't intentional. Call or write the people you may have offended, apologize and ask them how you can make it up to them. If you wore your friend's favorite sweater and then spilled catsup on it, it isn't enough to say "I'm terribly sorry." Buy a new sweater and apologize! You will feel much happier immediately!


3. Get the whole family involved.
   Have your kids address the Christmas or Chanukah cards. Have everyone coming to dinner bring a dish. Let the kids make the ornaments and bake the cookies. The holiday preparations can be a burden if you are doing everything by yourself, but lots of fun when everyone pitches in.


4. Take time for yourself every day.
   Many people get depressed during the holidays. This year just make sure that every single day you have something to look forward to. It doesn't have to be something big and expensive. It can be a hot bath, a new magazine or a phone call to a friend. Most people get so busy in the holidays that they forget to enjoy themselves. If you always go to the gym and work out, don't quit just because it is the holidays.


5. Keep your perspective.
   Go with flow. Everything isn't going to go according to plan so don't get your hair in a net if cousin Jean doesn't like her gift or Uncle Carl didn't remember to send you a Christmas card. Remember the bottom line is to have fun. If the turkey is burnt to a crisp, order a pizza. Forget having a Martha Stewart Christmas. She puts each strand of tinsel on one at a time. It is okay if you just toss it on in globs.


6. Hire it out.
   This is usually the busiest time of the year and most people find themselves doing more entertaining than any other time. Why not hire a housekeeper every week during the month of December so that you will feel free to relax and enjoy your friends and family instead of worrying whether the dust bunnies are escaping? If you don't like wrapping presents have somebody else do it. Hate to cook? Order a ham or turkey cooked by your favorite grocery or restaurant.


7. Simplify your gift giving.
   Use a gift registry service (available at Sears) so that your friends and family don't waste any more time or money buying things you don't really want or need. As my grandma says, "I'm all for people telling me what they want so it is easy." Or pick out a great gift for all the men and another for all the women and give everyone the same thing this year.


8. Examine your holiday traditions.
   Ask everyone in your family what are the three most important things that really make the holiday special. Then focus on those things. You may discover that nobody really wants all those holiday cookies, but really love the tree-decorating party. Do what makes the holiday special and forget the rest of the stuff. One really memorable activity or event is what really makes a holiday. You don't have to do it all.


9. Be an angel.
   Go out of your way once this holiday season to do a good deed for someone else. Bring cookies to the retirement home in your community, slip a dollar into the Salvation Army bucket, bring leftover turkey dinner to the guy who works at the all-night gas station. Do some small thing to help another or brighten someone's day that you wouldn't normally do.


10. Set up an automatic holiday savings account.
    It may be too late for this year, but you can get a jump on next year by setting up an automatic savings plan at your bank. They will debit your account and put a fixed dollar amount in your savings account every month. This way you will have a ready stash of cash for the holidays next year!