Today as a part of our Behind the Seams with A.K. Rikk’s series we sat down with our Director of Operations, Billy Lanford to discuss New Year’s Resolutions. We asked Billy to share the key to success in keeping your resolution. Most people create a resolution such as, "I'm going to lose 15 pounds this year". They have a loose strategy on how they will attain this goal and if they don't see immediate progress they quit!
How should someone start?
The first step would be to come up with a vision of who you want to be or what you want to attain. This person could be real or made up, just as long as you can envision it. Research it. Find out who that person is. Then take an honest inventory of who you are and where you’re at. Once you find out who that person is, the next step is to make small consistent actions that are attainable. Ask yourself, "what can I do consistently?" Find one thing that you can hold yourself accountable to and be disciplined until you are confident you are sticking to that change- then add another consistent action. Don't overwhelm yourself with too much change at once, because it won't be easy to transition. It’s imperative that you need to be willing to work for it.
How do you hold yourself accountable for this?
You can find someone that is in the mindset you want to have, but they have to be brutally honest with you. Or you can hold yourself accountable. Get a calendar of the month and put a red X on the days that you do what you said you would do. See how many days you can string together. The goal is to build momentum for yourself. "You either live with the pain of regret or the pain of discipline."- Bill Curry. This is one of my favorite quotes because I think it perfectly explains the reality. If I don't do everything in my power to make my goals happen, I am going to reflect on my life at 80 full of regret. I choose to live with the voice of discipline. Compromises will end your intention to keep your resolution. I hear the voice of compromise all the time when I am at the gym, "Dude, you've earned it- do less today!" On those days that I hear that voice I end up pushing myself to do more!
What's something you want someone with a resolution to remember?
"The mind that opens to a new idea never returns to its original size."- Albert Einstein. 80% of New Year’s Resolutions are broken by February 1st. If you fail or quit you will kick yourself over and over because you had a glimpse of who you can be. You can’t “unsee” that vision. You do have value, and you CAN do it!
What is your New Year's Resolution?
I am taking my current foundation and expanding on that. Every morning I read ten pages a day. That has allowed me to read 20-24 books a year for the last 13 years. This year, I am going to add onto my foundation by selecting a specific subject to study deeper on top of my regular reading. Each quarter the subject will change, I will read 2 books a month on that subject. by the end of the year I will have read about 48 books! I will have so much more to give!
That concludes this Behind the Seams with A.K. Rikk’s interview with Billy Lanford. Stay tuned for our next Behind the Seams!