New Year, New Results, New Life:  Reviewing 2011 and Focusing on 2012 About this time every year in my life, I take personal time to review the previous year of my life and focus on the New Year arriving. Below is a simple goal self evaluation exercise.I have been doing this exercise myself for the past several years to measure my personal growth, to set yearly goals, and to measure my personal acheivement throughout the year. It's been a fun exercise, yet very specific and meaningful at the same time. I'm just hoping to help someone else along the journey.   Thoughts I've been taught that people are not goals. Life is constantly moving forward and sometimes I believe by our nature, that we get so involved into our lives that we sometimes take ourselves and the people around us for granted. So let us not forget the people who make our lives what they are, better, and perhaps complete. Remember we really do need each other. We've had success and failure in different areas of our lives during the year. A problem that exist that paralyzes us from reaching our potential is past failures. If we stay bogged down from a past failure, it will hinders us from growing and finding a solution slowing positive momentum towards a solution. We've had many challenges during the year and also many learning experiences during the year that have forced us to dig deep into ourselves wondering if we have what it takes to move to next level. We can bring many successes into the New Year. Likewise, don't be alarmed when you bring previous year problems into the New Year, but look at as opportunity to jump start your New Year. For me 2010 ended on a low note with a physical problem that grounded me for 18 days where I couldn’t walk. So my immediate physical goal for 2011 goal was to correct my physical problem with surgery in January. My second physical goal was three weeks after the surgery I would be walking four miles a week on a treadmill. So in January, I had the surgery that corrected my bulging disc and pinch nerve problem in my in lower back, and three weeks later, after my doctors permission, I was waling four miles a week on a tread mill and after six, I was walking 6 miles a week. The surgery was the best physical procedure I did in my life, after suffering for seven years with lower back pain. So my immediate goals for 2011 were back surgery, the second was six miles a week on a treadmill. My third goal was a vision trip to New Delhi, India in July (Accomplished July13th-27th) Fourth Goal- Switch Jobs – October (Accomplished) Fifth- Finish Tax Extensions (Accomplished) I did accomplish those goals above. But I also had some hardships throughout the year also. To name a few I decided to give up a business after I was in for ten years. There we various reasons why, but the end results was I wasn't having fun any more and it was time for a career change. I had a prostrate infection in June that knocked me out of my exercise routine. I was not able to recover until the end of the year.    One of the hardest emotional states I've had to over come in my life in 2011 was the death of my father in July. I last seen my father on July 11, 2011. On July 27, my son and I were traveling back to the U.S. after spending two weeks in New Delhi, India serving at Friends of the Good Samaritian School working with underprivileged children. Like I just said, I just had two incredible life changing weeks working with incredible children, and school staff, playing sports, teaching biblical studies, visiting several families in the slums, and going to Taj Mahal. How can you not be on such an emotional high?  I arrived in New Orleans on Wednesday morning th 27th. My wife greeted my son and I and as I was putting my luggage in the vehicle, she say she had some bad news for me. Not thinking the worst, she those words, “your dad died 5 hours ago”.   Of course my immediate reaction was she was lying. But I knew she wasn’t. So in a matter of sixty seconds I went from a joyful high from serving the lovely people of India. To a emtional personal emtional low of feeling emtional numbness. Life as I know it was being sucked out of me. The India trip was totally wiped out me emotionally for the moment. Immediately I had a difficult processing the timing of his death in correlation with the India trip. Many friends were asking me about the trip and I really couldn’t remember much about it or if I said anything I would be interesting.  I was confused for sometime. Not because I went to India. But because I was looking forward to talking to my dad about my India trip and I never had the chance to. So, I had to dig deep my being to overcome my fathers death. During my mourning brought me back closer to God and back to India. Why to God? Because of my faith in Him for one. And because he knows all things and even to the things I don't understand. And because there are four students at the Friends of the Good Samaritan School that my wife and I sponsor that need me. That was all the motivation I needed to start me upon a path of healing when you can focus on something greater than yourself. So, I ask what do you want to accomplish ? What's missing in your life? What's keeping you from accomplishing something you want to do? What is stopping you from writing several goals down? Is there just one thing you wish do?   The Simple Seven Step Process for maximizing your year:  1.Get clear about what happened in 2011.  Ask youself…… What were the magical moments in 2011?   What did you accomplish in 2011?  You can only build on success, that's where momentum comes from. You've got to get that initial momentum. What were the decisions that created spark? Was it was caused from  health, business, vacation, relationships for you?    What are some things you want to duplicate? What would like to repeat?  What choices worked for you? What great things would you like to carry over? What was frustrating in 2011?  What was disappointing? What were some personal setbacks your disliked? What do you not want to duplicate? What will you not stand for? What made your life weak when you settled for lower expectations? What did you learn from these experiences?  What was painful, but valuable? What decisions did you make that were empowering?  Was there a real decision you acted on that may have been hard, but got you where you wanted to be? Maybe it was a decision of something you stopped. What did you decide to change?   Which decision do you want to carry over to next year? Is it a successful decision?  Is it a wise decision you learned on what not to do again?   Or give something another try? There are two things that are sure to shape your life: big rewards and big pain. Rewards motivate you. Pain can motivate you or have you change your direction or stop you if a victory that is near.   2. Get certain!  If you're going to change anything, certainty must drive your decisions. The difference between achievers and non-achievers is this: the person who is most certain of himself dominates things. Learn how to place yourself in the direction you want to go. if you can change your state of mind, your circumstances will change for you. It will create a fire in your life. Some call it enthusiasm! It's contagious!  Write down as many things as you can think of that are in your life today that you used to be goals.  Do things exist now that you used to take for granted? We tend to forget that if we can dream about anything, we can make it a reality in time. You simply need to show yourself how you did it. Many of you have dreams...and when you acheived a dream you asked yourselves how did I do that?  Think about the time, energy, thought process, and commiment that went into accomplish that goal. So, write down many as things as you can think of. Circle two or three things that were impossible or difficult.  How did you accomplish it?  You decided this is something you must have...you focused on it continuously.... and....  Wherever focus goes, energy flows. This is called, "Formative Causation. " There is something connected with your ability to decide and the results that occur.  Thoughts are things.  Thoughts with certainty start to manifest. We always think about the negative, but when you focus on this, what happens? The negative happens. This can be called,  "self-fulfilling prophecies." Get really clear and go for what's in your heart. Keep your goals "dreams before you".  3. Get excited. Energy is the force that makes life work. There is power and energy inside of you. Let go of your fear to get your hopes up. Take ten minutes and write down everything you wish to do to master, helping people, personal development, a foundation, non-profit ministry, sponsoring a orphan, your spiritual life, writing a book, becoming a public speaker, or going on a trip.  What do you want to see ? How do you want to give your life away? What do you want your life to look like? Write as fast as you can without thinking.    4. Get focused. Now, circle all of you top goals. Which of these will I achieve in 1, 5, 10 and 20 years? What are the top 4 one year goals you will achieve? Several can be Immediate. What will get you up early and keep you up late? Write a paragraph as to why this is a must for you.  Reasons come first, answers come second.   5. Get committed.  Now that you are focused on these four goals, schedule some action. The big question is, "What are some things you need to do right away to move toward this?"  Never, never, never leave the site of making a new distinction and learning something without taking some action in the next moment of attainment. People make goals and never look at them again. When you are ‘in state' make a decision! Do something in the moment.  6. Get momentum. What's the hardest part of working out? Getting to the gym of course. Progress works for you. The first step is the hardest. Think of one of those goals, what's one of the most important things you want to accomplish in 2012?  What will give you more joy, and how can you give more to the people you love? Change happens in a moment. The second you say, that's it, I'm doing it.  I'm completely out of shape, so I'm  going to walk for 30 minutes a day. Don't wait for the right shoes, or the right time, now! What's one small thing you can do to make a step toward your goals? If you were serious about changing something, no more excuses, if you were committed to changing your career, or time off, what's the big step that would commit you?    7. Get smart.  Make sure you follow through. Do something immediately. Set up a system of measurement. You've got to be able measure yourself. Write it down and create a strategy. Keep that strategy in front of you at all times so you can weigh your progress. You can't manage something you can't measure. Find someone to share your goal with and be accountable with or find someone or is like minded. Check your progress daily. Weekly. Monthly. Keep it before everyday!!!  It's going to happen!   On a Personal Note to Vision and Dreams: With deep sincere gratitude I would like to thank my good friend Vince Giordano who stirred my heart by graciously inviting me on a vision trip to Uganda in 2009. That trip started the fulfillment of many of the dreams that God has put on heart to serve Him by giving my time and income to orphans and widows. In 2010, Vince asked me to join him on another trip to New Delhi, India to serve at the Friends of the Good Samaritan School. This trip changed my life forever. I fell in love with these students. In 2011, I returned to the school again with my son Jeremy and his life has not be the same since. Since the summer of 2011, my wife Marilyn and I have become personally involved with Friends of the Good Samaritan School by sponsoring three high school students named Deepmala, Indrani, and Samrun. I met these three incredible young women. They are leaders in the school and all three are best friends in the 10th grade.In the past two years I've been able to visit Friends of the Good Samaritan School in New Delhi school twice in the past two years. I’ve been able to volunteer visit and work with the staff and many hundreds of students. I’ve also been able to visitand minister with several of the student families in the slum.  FOTGS has been a big part of my life and vision that has come true. In closing, I wish all you a Prosperous and Healthy New Year. May all you dreams come true.  I hope one or several of these ideas helps you in some way or helps you find a direction in your life. Or will help you set a new goal or a goal or will help you achieve a goal you are currently working on for your life. I have found it is healthy for the mind and soul to reflect on the previous year's successes and failures.  And also just as important that you grow emotionally and spiritually, Remember to honor God and keep Him first in all that you do. Wishing You Much Success and Continuous Contentment, Glenn Binder December 31, 2011