New Year’s Resolutions

Five Tips for Giving Them “Sticking Power” This Year

I’ve made some; you’ve made some. Chances are we’ve made several over the course of our lifetimes. What am I talking about? New Year’s Resolutions. In fact, if you’re like most people, just one month ago you made a handful that you vowed to keep in 2008. How is it going so far?

Our ability to keep resolutions can change the course of our lives. Social scientists have been studying this for years, and many more wonder what the trick is to not only making the right resolutions, but in keeping them. Here are a few tips on making those resolutions stick this year:

1. Write It Down
Writing down your resolutions gives them a voice and helps you envision the actualization of those resolutions. When it comes to your profession, it’s a must to write those professional benchmarks down; it becomes the standard by which you can measure your progress and then celebrate your success.

2. Reverse Engineer It
Pretend that you have already achieved your resolution. What does that feel like, sound like, look like? When you visualize the achievement of your resolution you can often see the steps necessary to get there. As that image becomes ingrained in your mind, it feels more natural to follow the path necessary to achieve that resolution. In essence, you pave the way to success in your mind first, in your life second.

3. Search out Examples
This step requires you to find others who have achieved what you hope to accomplish yourself. Some call this “modeling.” Individuals in the business world find Lee Iacocca or Jack Welch to be good examples. But it doesn’t have to be a larger-than-life character; it could be a former employer or a family friend that you admire. It’s important that you come to know “their story” regarding how they accomplished what they did. It helps you to visualize their success as well as your own.

4. Find a Mentor
When you have a mentor who has achieved what you hope to achieve, you have access to someone who can give you direction and help you avoid some of the mistakes they may have made. They can also advice you on how to most effectively move forward and achieve the success of which you dream.

5. Positive Reinforcement
When you reach a milestone you have set, or achieved a point where you can move forward to your next goal, reward yourself: give yourself a pat on the back, a little reward or treat that shows you have arrived. The reward should be something special, something you don’t experience everyday; it should be a true acknowledgement that you have achieved something significant and deserve to celebrate it.

Resolutions with Built-in Rewards

The best resolutions are those with built-in rewards. When you enroll in Universal Accounting Center’s programs, you increase your earning potential, impress current and potential employers, earn valuable certification, and, if interested, can earn extra money on the side - all on your own time and from the comfort of your own home. Here are two resolutions you should consider:

Our Professional Tax Preparer Certification will train you in the preparation of personal and business taxes. You can earn certification that will wow your employer and enable you to charge $100 plus an hour preparing taxes in your spare time. And tax season is upon us. Imagine, in just 30 hours you can earn enough moonlighting as a tax preparer to pay for the program 3 times over.

Over 85% of accounting opportunities are with small businesses. The Professional Bookkeeper Program is designed to help you serve this niche market in desperate need of a Profit Center Expert, a title that could easily be yours. Whether you’re a novice or expert accountant, this program is designed to train you to start a successful and lucrative business as a Professional Bookkeeper. And when you couple this training with the Professional Tax Preparer Certification, you could become a full-service financial provider in the New Year. Don’t wait another day to change the face of your career. Order now.