Before I drop the subject for a while, one more thing about naming your year.

It is a lesson I learned from my major professor while in graduate school.  Most of us started the doctoral program daunted by the idea of having to complete a dissertation, but Roger made it feel manageable.

"Big or small, complete at least one thing every day toward your dissertation."

That's what I did everyday for three straight years.  Copy an article in the library; contact research participants about responding to my survey; meet with major professor about refining topic; develop outline for my review of literature; enter survey data into SPSS.  Every day for three straight years, I committed to doing something - big or small - toward the completion of my dissertation.

And, at the end of each day it was a simple yes or no question: "Did I do something specific today toward the completion of my dissertation?"  Yes or no.

The same is true of our intentions to accomplish something in 2011.  Did you do something specific today toward the completion of your goal for 2011?  Yes or no?

You might not like the answer.  You might hate having to admit, "no," but if day after day you do nothing - big or small - toward achieving your goal, then at least come December 2011, you won't be surprised at your lack of progress.

Visit us in the Community Forum labeled, Today's Post and tell us your tally of yeses and nos since Friday.

Shining off until tomorrow...