RABBI EZRA MAX
DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU WANT? IT’S ESSENTIAL TO KNOW WHAT YOU WANT BECAUSE EVERYTHING YOU HAVE BEGAN WITH AN IDEA. IF YOU DON’T KNOW, THEN YOU ALREADY HAVE WHAT YOU’VE GOT AND DON’T EXPECT MORE.
The start of a new secular year is the perfect time to envision, set goals, plan, and begin to manifest what you want. Are you ready? Let’s dive in. The best way to get what you want is to identify it and stay focused on getting it. Simple? Yes, but not always easy. This is where having a goal helps.
STEP 1: EMBRACE GRATITUDE TO FIND CLARITY
Begin by giving yourself a little time and space. Open up a notebook, and list the things you’re grateful for. Think of someone you appreciate and write a thank you note. Reflect on something that went well that you accomplished that you’re proud of. Celebrate the idea that you’re alive and that you’re healthy, and that you have a roof over your head. Enjoy that you can see, feel and hear—that you exist in this world. Revel in all of your relationships, mundane to extraordinary. Acknowledge yourself and acknowledge others, including G-d, for all the good you have in life. Infuse your heart with all of this gratitude and speak out loud, “thank you.”
STEP 2: SET YOUR SMARTER GOALS
My clients do a goal setting exercise at least once a year. Some do it quarterly. Using this process, a client generated almost 30% more profit over the following year. Another client, working in real estate, went from being frustrated, unfocused and getting nowhere to doing four deals in less than three months.
Here is the process we walked through. First, review your desired outcomes that were discovered in Step 1. Now, let’s craft them into SMARTER goals.
SMARTER stands for:
S: Specific
M: Measurable
A: Achievable
R: Realistic
T: Time Specific
E: Exciting
R: Reward
Success Tips
Visible: Print your goals out in color and place them somewhere you will see them often. Then, look at your goals every single day.
Artifact: Choose a physical item as your artifact, to represent your goals. Keep it with you and carry it daily to remind you of your goals and why you want to achieve them.
Prayer: Pray for success. Making a genuine request for success from the Almighty will generate results. Prayer always positively influences my goals. So, let’s pray.
STEP 3: REQUEST ACCOUNTABILITY
Prepare a plan of action towards your goals. Establish an accountability partner to support you in maintaining your commitments. This can be a friend or a coach. Find a great coach who will not only help you figure out your goals but will hold you accountable and support you in achieving them. Most importantly, take daily action towards achieving what you want.
Goal Hack
Contract with yourself. Write your name, followed by “I will be celebrating the achievement of — on — date.” Sign it. Bonus if you share a copy of this contract with your coach or accountability partner.
Double Bonus
The gift of your presence is the greatest present. A SMARTER way to get what you want, be it time or money, is to contribute—in celebration of your SMARTER year!
Rabbi Ezra Max, PCC, MHMP, Xchange Guide & Creator of “The Max Method” assists businesses and professionals deal with stress and achieve success. Rabbi Max has witnessed 20 years of results helping executives, parents and teens overcome struggles, improve communication and thrive. He lives in New York with his wife and five children.
