Win in 2010

Kent PaulSpecial to CCN

New Year’s is typically the time when Americans voice their
wishes to change their lives. Some of the most common changes
include losing weight, getting healthier and stopping bad
habits.

Most people start out with the best intentions to change but
stop trying to make these changes within the first two or three
weeks. The reason for this is because they have not fought through
the tough part to create new habits.

This week, I talk about the final step to WIN in 2010, which is
accountability/commitment. I define this as the verbal, written or
mental state to agree for a personal line of action. In other
words, having some form of an agreement with someone or something
for a change in your life.

In my experience, this step is the No. 1 reason people do not
obtain permanent change in life. Lets face it. No one wants to
change because this usually involves discomfort. It’s in our nature
to avoid discomfort. We are so used to avoiding accountability and
commitment because our society has made it so easy to push a
button, make a call or drive-thru, and you get whatever you desire.
If you think I am wrong, look at our country’s divorce rate,
obesity, prescription drug, alcoholism and pornography
problems.

Let me give you an example in the fitness world. A couple months
ago, I had a 44-year-old woman come in my office asking for help. I
asked her about her past, and she told me she had tried six
different weight-loss programs in her life which all failed.

She told me every one of these programs were from a book,
magazine or the Internet. I asked her what is the missing
ingredient from each of these programs? She paused and said, “I
don’t know.”

I said, “accountability.” Our human nature demands that we have
some kind of accountability to acquire true change. I told her that
she must realize that change is uncomfortable, and if we don’t
structure a committed accountability system, then no one will know
when you struggle or cheat a program, which will most likely result
in quitting. It does not matter what kind of change you want to
accomplish in your life, we all need to report to someone about
that change.

Change is something that demands a strategy and a proven system
that works in whatever area of life you want to improve. In my
experience, 10 percent of people can change on their own with out
this seventh step. So, there is a 90 percent chance that you must
have this step in your life if you want to be successful in change.
Seventy percent of all people who start a fitness program on Jan. 1
quit by Feb. 14, while 50 percent of people, who start fitness
plans the rest of the year, quit inside of six months. Eighty-five
percent of my clients have success within 90 days. The reason for
this is the accountability/coaching system I offer. This proves
that everyone needs accountability to be successful at change.

When I was training for the Mr. Colorado championships, I was
working out 3-5 hours per day. There were many times when I wanted
to quit, but I knew I had to report to my bodybuilding coach every
week. Knowing I was accountable and committed to him helped me stay
on track, not to miss any workouts and not to quit.

I am like everyone else in the world. I know if I want to
accomplish something or change something about my life, I have to
set up this step in my life. I understand that my human nature is
to be complacent and not take on any discomfort. Knowing this about
myself helps me not to beat myself up if I stumble, but it is my
fault if I decide not to set up a gameplan and a strategy that will
lead to my success in life. I am responsible for my own
actions.

I wrote these seven steps to Win in 2010 series because I wanted
to share how I changed my entire life in hopes it might help
someone else out there, so in conclusion, the first three steps in
building the foundation needed to change your life. Steps four and
five are developing the gameplan needed to accomplish this new
freedom. Steps six and seven are the missing link, in my opinion,
in our society.

I truly believe if anyone follows these seven steps, there is
nothing he or she cannot accomplish or change in their life. God
bless and remember to always rise above.

Kent Paul’s seven steps to win in 2010

Admit desperation

Accept you need to change

Surrender to expertise

Set short- and long-term goals

Obtain much knowledge on the journey

Visualize everyday

Establish an accountability system