Go for it and make 2012 your year!

It’s that time of year again. A bright new year stretches ahead, filled with possibilities and fresh opportunities to turn those resolutions into realities.

You’ve likely set your goals and enthusiastically taken a step or two toward them. Why not make this year different? Rather than looking at setting the same old resolutions, why not decide that this will be the year you get serious about making changes that lead to the success you want.

What is the one thing that would make the most difference for you if it was handled? Is it a problem that needs to be addressed? An opportunity that would catapult your career, business or personal life to a new level? Do you need to deal with a difficult client, employee or supervisor? Would you benefit from starting a fitness program, paying off debt or scheduling regular time off?

To produce a different result, something will need to change. What you have done up until now has gotten you where you are. Doing the same thing going forward is going to keep you there.

Change can be frightening and uncomfortable. That’s why many people choose to continue repeating past behaviors rather than risking a change that will take them to their most cherished goal or dream.

Is there a change you've wanted to make, but just haven't been able to get started? Why not begin today? Here are four tips to help you:

• Decide that you will make a change. Hope is not a strategy. Rather than sitting around hoping things will change, decide that you will commit to doing something different in order to create different results in your life, your relationships or your career.

• Get clear on your desired outcome. It’s hard to hit a target you can’t see. If you don’t know where you are going, how will you know when you get there? Where do you see yourself once the change has become a reality? What is important about the goal?

• Create a plan. Develop a plan to use as your roadmap and guide. It is easier to make progress when you have outlined the steps to take. A clear plan will act as a compass to keep you on course amidst the hundreds of distractions you will face along the way.

• Get into action. Once you decide to make a change, it's time to take action. Many people get stuck at this crucial step, letting their fear of the unknown stop them from moving forward. By taking action, you create momentum and positive energy to propel you forward.

What will you do differently this year? Why not make 2012 the year you go for it!