Ready…Set… GROW. That’s right GROW! Do you have a personal Growth plan for 2010? As we begin the New Year, it’s imperative that you know where you want to go in life and that you have a plan to achieve it. College Football Hall of Fame Coach, Lou Holtz, says, “To succeed, you’ve got to have a vision and a plan.”

Did you know that most people spend more time planning their family vacation than planning their life? How about you? Have you ever outlined all the goals and achievements you would like to accomplish in the next year or five years? Are you crystal clear on the one target you would like to hit in your lifetime? Have you ever taken the time to set your goals and create a plan to make them a reality?

Look, I don’t know what you’re dreaming or where you’re headed. What I do know is if you’re not learning, growing, reaching, stretching, and sharing, your life will have no purpose or meaning. However, if you’re on ”FIRE” and you’re working on accomplishing your goals with a clear purpose and true passion, life takes on an entirely new dimension.

The reason so many people have no power in the present is because they have lost their hope in the future. Hope is a powerful motivating factor. The general culture and news media will tell you, “NO, don’t get your hopes up. Your best days are behind you.”

I’m here to tell you that “Your greatest days are ahead, and your biggest accomplishments are in the future.” This is why you must take the time to set clear goals for every area of your life. You should set professional, personal, financial, mental, spiritual and physical goals.

Setting clear goals and developing a plan of action will keep you focused on the future and help you live a more vibrant life.

In challenging times, it’s hard to see better days ahead. You, like many others, may have experienced setbacks. If you’re honest with yourself, you know that you have not accomplished some of your dreams. However, you do need to realize that “You can renew your dreams at any time. The reality is that events, positive or negative, happen in a person’s life for a reason. The key is to know and understand that after every down turn comes an up time.”

If you will hold on to your faith, set some new goals, craft a plan of action, and take steps to implement your plan, you will emerge stronger and you will be on course to achieve your dreams. One of the keys to your success is for you to establish short and long-term goals and write them down. You can develop goals for a day, week, month, year, and lifetime.

It is vital that you review your goals regularly to make sure you stay on track. You need to be flexible on the process and allow yourself to add new goals and shift priorities. Moreover, you need to know and understand that focus and discipline are the driving forces behind every significant and successful life. Making your dreams a reality takes hard work! The truth of the matter is that we only have control of Two things…our attitude and our effort. At the end of the day and in the final analysis, you have to hold yourself accountable..

“Despite the challenges you may have faced, especially in today’s turbulent times, it’s time to prepare for a bigger comeback.” Life’s greatest difficulties always happen right before life’s greatest breakthroughs. Remember, it’s always darkest before the dawn. “Life’s biggest challenges are there to refine you, mold you, and prepare you for your greatest victories.” Clarifying your goals for the New Year will give you hope. It will enhance your desire and start moving you in a new direction.

“It’s Your Time to rise above today’s bumps in the road. You are closer to success than you think.” Take time to write down your lifetime goals, in essence, your bucket list. What would you be, do, or have if money were no object? What would you accomplish in 2010, 2015, 2020, and in your lifetime if there were nothing to hold you back. The future is coming whether you are prepared or not. As we embark on a new decade, my hope is that you will embrace change and seize the opportunities that constantly present themselves.

Have faith in your future, be bold, and face your fears … just do it. Philosopher Henry David Thoreau said, “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams, live the life you imagine.” Start now and make a plan for 2010 and beyond. Go forward, take massive action, and live your dreams. What are you waiting for? Always remember, “if you waste your time you waste your life … Make every moment count”!

To your success,

P.S. A good friend of mine Dave Carpenter created a FREE process to help you create a 2010 plan that will create lasting change . Check it out at http://bit.ly/7La7a9 …You can also get a Free Dream Book and audio at http://www.DreamIt.tv you’ll be glad you did.

More from Billy Cox

• A New Beginning For Your Dreams
• MAKE THIS OUR SUPER DECADE
• Three Steps To Change Anything