I received an online newsletter that I subscribe to yesterday which had a great quote by Jim Rohn: ? Discipline is the bridge between goal and accomplishment.? I hate to admit it, but discipline has never been my strong suit. Don?t get me wrong, I?m very disciplined when it involves something that I love doing like: getting up at the crack of dawn to do a bicycle race, go skiing or leave for a trip.

Where most of us get into trouble is trying to discipline ourselves on the hard things that we ?have? to do or items we don?t particularly like to do. Sadly, the older we get the larger inventory of excuses we have to put it off things or not do them at all. But, it doesn't have to be that way.

As we face another New Year and resolutions are made to make this next year better than the year before many of us make lists of the things we intend to do and by February they are a distant memory. Let?s see if we can perform better this year with a few tips:

? Only pick a small number of goals like five or six you?d like to do differently.

? Make them true desires and be very specific.

? Pick ones that are easy, moderately hard and hard.

? Tell all of your friends about them regularly for weeks after New Years.

? Print them out on your computer in a large font and post them in strategic places like the bathroom mirror, on the wall next to your computer or by the stove.

? Make a game out of accountability?reward yourself for successes once each month by doing something you really like.

? Break the year into small monthly goal increments to accomplish on the way to the larger goal and keep track of your progress.

Each morning, during breakfast read your list out loud to yourself or anyone who is present that you don?t mind sharing with, and then think about how you can contribute to the goals during the day.

If you use a day timer and schedule your appointments each day, build tasks into it which you could do that day to move forward toward your goals; remember to move in small steps and try not to accomplish them quickly, especially if they are difficult; you will get discouraged if you don?t reach the goal right away and give up.

As your easier goals are met be sure to celebrate. Invite friends over for cocktails or coffee to share your enthusiasm and accomplishments. You will be surprised how much your friends will get behind you when they see you succeed?they will see you in a different way, as a person who is disciplined and fun at the same time.

If you are feeling particularly proud and energetic, pick a new goal to replace one that is accomplished, or put more energy into the ones that are left on your list before adding new ones.

At the end of each month find new ways to build your enthusiasm for the remaining goals that are more difficult. If you run into an obstacle in obtaining your goal ask for help from your ?giving? friends, relatives or business associates. Giving people are those who are always ready to give advice or help without judgment. Then you get to choose what you take advantage of and what to dismiss. Brainstorming is always effective with friends who are sincerely ready to help, just make sure there are more than three people present to get a broad range of ideas.

If it is at all possible take a class in a subject related to your goal. Education is the easiest place to expand your mind, your horizons and your experiences. You may find you like going back to school and add more educational goals to your list.

Setting New Year?s goals and accomplishing them can be fun, take time to set them properly, map out a do able plan to reach them and then enjoy the trip.

Anyway you look at it, it?s just one man?s opinion?mine.