Summary: In This episode of the CIO Playbook I will be wrapping up with the final part of my four-part series on setting yourself up for success in 2013. I have really enjoyed these last few weeks putting together this series on setting yourself up for success in 2013. This is the first episode of 2013 and will close out the series. Over the last few weeks I have had a chance to enjoy the holidays with family members in California and New York. Getting both the southern California beach holiday (no snow there) and then the white snow fall for the new year. What a great blend of both worlds. This time also gave me the opportunity to read a lot of books for fun and pleasure several of which I will be using quotes from in this episode Tom cruise has a new movie out at this time called Jack Reacher based on Lee child’s Jack Reacher series and the book One Shot. I ended up seeing this movie because of timing, I was with friends and we wanted to see Django however much to our chagrin it wasn’t playing at the time we could make, not to worry I still got to see Django at a later date. So we decided the best guy film was Jack Reacher given our time limitations. Having not read the Jack Reacher books I didn’t go in with any expectations so wasn’t disappointed, rather I decided after the movie I should read at least one of the books from Lee Child’s series and headed off to the used book store, an increasing dying breed. So if you are ever in Southern California please visit Bookman in Orange, California and give then your support. They also have a website www.ebookman.com and I found the book running blind by Lee Child. First I will say this is a popcorn read, what do I mean by popcorn? It is like sitting at a movie; you don’t really have to think much and it is a fast read that will entertain but not much more. However, I did enjoy the opening lines: “People say that knowledge is power. The more knowledge the more power. Suppose you know the winning numbers for the lottery? All of them? Not guessed them, not dreamed them, but really knew them? What would you do? You would run to the store. You would mark those numbers on the play card. And you would win. Same for the stock market. Suppose you really knew what was going to go way up? You’re not talking about a hunch or a gut feeling. You’re not talking about a trend or a percentage game or a whisper or a tip. You’re talking about knowledge. Real, hard knowledge. Suppose you had it? What would you do? You would call your broker. You would buy. Then later you’d sell, and you’d be rich. Same for basketball, same for the horses, whatever. Football, hockey, next year’s World Series, any kind of sports at all, if you could predict the future, you’d be home free. No question. Same for the Oscars, same for the Nobel Prize, same for the first snowfall of winter, same for anything.” Goal setting gives you this power. You will really know the outcomes for your life and your future. You can look at anyone around you and watch what they are doing and easily predict what they will be doing next year and five years into the future. The number of people who actually set goals and put the work behinds those goals is so infinitesimally small. Basically anyone you met is drifting they have some vague ideas and dreams but haven’t put any of the thought or work behind those ideas. They are living in a wish, being fed the majority of their thoughts via TV. I hope you are listening to the show to break that cycle within yourself and take charge of your goals and aspirations. Let’s get into the structure of goals for the long-term success plan you are building. We will revisit the subject of success planning throughout the year so no need to worry too much about what the makeup would be. For 2013 you should start with setting a few outcomes: Continuous learning Personal Business Physical Outcome goals Outcome goals refer to a desired outcome from a competition
