The New Year usually encourages a rash of decisions to change our life style. “I resolve to lose twenty pounds in 2019.” Or, “I resolve to be a better person.” Or, “I resolve to lead a healthier life style, lower my cholesterol and monitor my wine consumption.”

The problem is, resolutions tend to set a high bar for accomplishment and we are often discouraged almost from the start. Which of the above resolutions do you think you could stick with?

I handle Goals better. I decide what I want to accomplish, then establish a plan of action to achieve it. I know, this sounds like resolutions, but in my experience, the mindset and approach to achieving a goal is different.

My goal for 2019 is to write three books and better market all my books. I did some research and discovered a published author’s launch schedule – steps over a six-month period that need to be done before her manuscript is ready to be released.

I also need to maintain my weekly blogs and monthly newsletters to keep my name out there. So, I bought a datebook at Dollar Tree and plotted my calendar for the next twelve months.

The nice thing about the launch schedule is that everything seems doable when you stretch it out over six months. It is so much easier to look at January and see that in addition to writing the book, I need to do a cover reveal, post the synopsis on my website, publicize it in my newsletter and update my author profile on Amazon. February, I finish and edit it; March and April, I send it to my beta readers and get reviews; May, I will create a book trailer and start countdown posts before its June 1^st release. In March and June, I will start the same steps for book #2 and #3.

My goal isn’t rigid. I have a plan of smaller actions that over time, will accomplish my bigger goal. And I’m not saying it will be easy because “life happens.” There will be little hiccups along the way but keeping that datebook in front of me and taking it one day at a time, I will release three books in 2019.

So, what will it be for you? Will you look at the broader picture, decide where you want to be? Will you plot it out, one baby step at a time so that it is doable?

Those resolutions I mentioned above? I will certainly watch my diet and exercise more to lose twenty pounds, but I do not foresee cutting back on my enjoyment of wine. I’d love to hear some of your goals.