We can't start a brand new year without talking about goal setting. Well, it's traditional, like turkey and christmas pud.  We spend some time thinking about everything that's wrong with our lives and vow to change every single thing at the same time. Is it any wonder we collapse in a heap before the end of January. I don't call them New Year's Revolutions for nothing.

OK, first and foremost, there may be some things that need radical treatment. But not many people can go cold turkey and sustain the effort over the long term. So here are my suggestions for making a goal list work.

1. Write down everything that you would like to change.
2. Cross off anything that you cannot change - for example it is no good saying that you'd like to be 6ft tall when you are only 5.8"  - either that or aim to buy a pair of 4" heels and vow never to take them off. So be realistic.
3. Ask yourself what you are willing to change - different from no.1 - as this gets to the nitty gritty of whether you are going to stick to the choices you are making or not. Are you willing to give up the cigarettes and the booze, or are you going to be falling off the wagon so often you might as well be attached by elastic?
4. Choose one area - and do something in the next 5 minutes that will take you towards that goal.

What you will find is this - as you succeed in one area you will automatically begin to make some changes in the other areas on your list. Say you want to run a marathon, but you're a bit overweight and likely to have a heart attack before you put your shoes on. It is unlikely you will be able to walk out of your door and run for the 47 odd kilometres that you need to run to complete the distance, the very first time you try. But over time, you will be able to add distance and speed to your training days. Adding just 5 minutes extra each time you run will mean that by the end of week one, assuming you run every day - you will be running for 35 minutes. Given that it took Katie Holmes more than 5 hours to complete her first marathon - 35 minutes is an excellent start. And as you start to run, your body will begin to utilise the fat stores in your body and you will begin to tone up, lose weight and size....and as you lose weight you will be able to move more easily.

Remember, everything impact on everything else.

Success in one small area, over time, can lead to success in all areas of your life.
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"A man without a purpose is like a ship without a rudder" Thomas Carlyle
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