How do you get off to a great start in 2021?

Here are ideas I’ve learned from these four teachers and authors:

• Jonathan Milligan - Your Message Matters

• Paul Axtell - Meetings Matter

• Marshall Goldsmith - Triggers

• James Clear - Atomic Habits

Jonathan Milligan - Your Message Matters

Make a list of your goals for the year. But don't get all hung up on that and just focus on 90-day periods throughout the year. Then narrow it down to two or three things that go into your 90-day plan. Working in a shorter time frame allows you to make more progress. Make a list of your roadblocks so you can then figure out how to learn how to do it or to have someone do it for you.

Paul Axtell - Meetings Matter

Where to start? Look at each area of your life where it makes sense to dream.

• What would you like to be true that is not true now?

• If everything went right, where might you be at the end of the year?

• What would be amazing if it happened?

• If you put in more time, or get lessons, or try something new, what might happen?

Marshall Goldsmith - Triggers

Answer these six active questions every day to help you change your behaviors.

• Did I do my best to set clear goals today? 

• Did I do my best to make progress toward my goals today? 

• Did I do my best to find meaning today? 

• Did I do my best to be happy today? 

• Did I do my best to build positive relationships today? 

• Did I do my best to be fully engaged today? 

James Clear - Atomic Habits

Identity-Based Habits

• Outcomes

• Processes

• Identity

Key insights from the book:

1. Focus on creating a new identity first.

This is the key to building lasting habits because your current behaviors are a reflection of your current identity. What you do now is a mirror image of the type of person you believe you are. 

2. Build identity-based habits.

Believe new things about yourself for you to change your behavior. And be specific about your goals.

3. Change your identity.

This level is concerned with changing your beliefs: your worldview, your self-image, your biases, your judgments about yourself and others.