We are all staring down the barrel of the same reality– the clock is ticking and no matter how you look at it, we are approaching the home stretch of 2011.

You must consider the remaining 100 days of this year as a now or never opportunity to finish the year strong, to exceed expectations, and for some use it as a final chance at redemption.

Let’s cut right to the chase, by looking at the results of your actions year to date, that REALITY tells you if you have been successful or not in achieving the goals you set earlier this year.

As it relates to your goals, your demonstrated actions have allowed you to be in one of three positions.

You have either:

1. Exceeded your expectations of what you thought you could achieve.

2. Met expectations of what you set out to accomplish.

3. Fallen below your desired expectations of what you wanted to accomplish.

Unfortunately, in today’s economy, far too many people find themselves struggling and well below where they would like to be.

The GOOD NEWS is that regardless of the position you are currently in, you CAN finish the year strong, however you must do a few things in the manner presented in the next few paragraphs.

As someone who participates in or leads more than fifty strategy sessions per year, I’m well aware that we all began this year with great hope and determination.

I’m also well aware that many goals and plans fall far from being realized.

THE SOLUTION

So what specifically can you do in order to capture the brass ring? Work harder? Longer?

You don’t stand a chance of succeeding with that strategy, yet that is exactly what the majority of people will do.

Why not do something entirely different, why not focus on saying NO!

Consisting of two letters and one syllable, the word “No”
can be considered to be one of the most powerful words in your vocabulary.

It’s the easiest word for setting a limit, holding firm to boundaries, and being clear about what you will or will not do. It is a word of pure power that is both inner and out directed.

You will be a lot more productive once you recognize that:

1. “No” is not a dirty word, negative word, nor is it
a selfish word. Learning to say “No” is liberating as it frees up your time to focus on your key priorities.

2. You are in complete control of how you spend your
time and your life. Saying “No” allows you more time and energy to pursue your goals and wildest ambitions.

3. Saying, “No,” increases the value of the things you
say, “Yes” to. Your success over the next 100 days requires a short “Yes” list, and a long “No” list.

The key is an awareness and prioritization of your “Yes”
list, and firm boundaries around your “No” list as QUICKLY as possible.

Saying “NO” is the most strategic decision you can make. You improve yourself, your family, and your organization’s effectiveness–IMMEDIATELY!

“No” is empowering because it simplifies. You will succeed on the basis of what, where and how you say “no”. And “NO”
allows you to get more control over your daily life and activities–IMMEDIATELY!

We need to say “NO”, but we’re not very good at it. In business we give it another name. “prioritization” or “strategic planning.

But then we get back to day-to-day activities and we quickly forget what we prioritized and planned. We end up letting the “no’s” creep back in.

For these remaining 100 days of the year, you must resolve to give “NO” the strategic resolve it deserves and in the second part of this post, I’ll share FIFTEEN simple, effective and empowering strategies (personal and professional) that you can use to get results–IMMEDIATELY!

In the meantime, you are invited to pass this note along to your friends and colleagues. Also, be sure to get your FRE*E Goal Setting Toolkit by going to:
http://bit.ly/rsoaWB