The beginning of the year has become notorious for the dreaded New Year's resolution. In fact, so many Americans are disillusioned with this ritual that the number of people making them has dwindled from 88% to less than 50%.

The news isn't much better for those who continue to engage in this tradition. Statistics show that of those who still resolve to make changes, 75% stick it out for the first week. By the end of the first month that number decreases to 64%, and after 6 months, just 46% of people who set a goal for the New Year are still sticking with it.

A Department of Labor study says that the top three reasons people don't meet their goal are: procrastination (33%), lack of discipline (24%) and not having a game plan (19%).

In my teleseminar, Feelin' Fine in 2009, I'll be discussing some strategies that will dramatically increase the probability of you sticking to your goal and achieving it.

Stop Shoulding
I maintain that one of the reasons people don't accomplish their goals is because they don't have goals that they are passionate about or motivated to accomplish. They have the goals they think they should have.

Should goals are born out of what we think others want and expect from us. You should stop renting and buy a house. You should go back to school and finish your degree. You should stop smoking. While those things might be nice, if you don't really want it for yourself and for your own reasons, you should consider getting rid of that goal.

Should goals increase the likelihood that you will procrastinate. Should, have to and must are some of the most demotivating words in the English language.
"I have to go to the gym"
"I shouldn't take that smoke break."
"I must stay away from the chocolate."

Say those phrases out loud and you will actually feel the energy draining from your body as you say them. The goals that matter are the goals that you want and need to accomplish. These are the kinds of goals that will get you out of bed in the morning.

Fail to Plan and You're Planning to Fail If you could accomplish your goal without thinking about it, if it were easy or simple, if your goal could be accomplished overnight or, better yet, in your sleep, you would have done it by now. Even goals you are passionate about need a plan for their achievement.

If your goal is to run a half marathon, then you will need to train and you'll need a plan in order to make the most of that training. When to train? How to train? How long to train? If your goal is to find a new job, you need a plan that describes what kind of job you are looking for and where you will look, among other things.
Admittedly, there is a certain ease that comes from 'going with the flow' but if you go with the flow, you'll end up wherever that flow takes you and more often than not, that's not where you want to go.

Your plan should also include contingencies for when things go wrong because they will. You'll cheat on your diet. You'll splurge on some big ticket item that wasn't in your budget. You'll smoke those cigarettes. These kinds of setbacks are part of the process. The real test is what you do afterwards. Do you give up or do you get up?

When you are planning your goal, have a few steps in place you can take when you make a mistake. If you have that big catered lunch at work, plan on having a light dinner or taking an extra walk in the evening. If you spend when you should have saved, find an area of your budget you can cut back on or just return the purchases. Knowing beforehand how you will handle that setback can make it easier to get back on track when those inevitable potholes appear in your road.

It Takes a Team
Success does't happen in a vacuum. So have a team in place that can support you as you pursue your goal. When you get discouraged, have a friend you can call. Get a workout buddy. Find a financial planner who can help you with your budget. Look for people who have the expertise you need or who can provide you with emotional support and encouragement as you seek your goal.

Make 2009 the year your dreams come true!

Karyn Beach is a life coach. To register for her Feelin' Fine in 2009 teleseminar, visit her at www.losetheexcuses.com