The famed aerialist Zumbrati once walked a shaky tightrope across Niagara Falls despite a gusty wind that almost caused him to lose his footing.  He was very relieved to have made it safely across.  Waiting for him on the other side was a fan with a wheelbarrow.

“I believe you could walk back across pushing this wheelbarrow,” the fan said.

Zumbrati shook his head and said he was lucky to have made it across without a wheelbarrow.

“But I know you can do it,” the fan persisted.  “Just give it a try.”

Zumbrati shook his head again but the fan kept after him.

Finally, Zumbrati said, “You really believe in me, don’t you?”

“Oh, I do,” said the fan.

“Okay then,” said Zumbrati, “get into the wheelbarrow and we’ll start.”

Now that’s commitment:  Knowing what needs to be done, setting goals to get to that point, and following through.

The lazy, hazy days of summer are behind us.  Folks are back from vacation, kids are back in school, schedules get back to some semblance of normal. With a little luck, that translates into fewer work disruptions and more opportunities to get things done.

So it’s a logical time to review your goals for the year and see where you stand. If you’re on track, it’s time to reinforce your ongoing effort with a renewed enthusiasm for the project or goal.  If you’ve still got a long way to go, or even if you have to start all over again, remember that you still have several months until the year’s end, and success is still within your grasp.

Looming deadlines are a great incentive to accomplish.  What seemed like a cinch a few months ago might look a lot more daunting, but don’t let that get in your way.  Make your to-do list and get going.

Success depends on your commitment to your goals, whatever those goals may be. To evaluate your ability to commit, ask yourself these important questions:

• Can you accept people for what they are, not as you’d like them to be? To work with the people around you, put away your prejudices and judgments so you can focus on what’s important.  Their strengths are what are important now.  Get over yourself.

• Can you put other people’s needs ahead of your own? It’s a paradox, but you can reach your own goals more easily by helping your collaborators accomplish theirs. They have goals and ambitions too, and will be more likely to work with you if you cooperate.

• Do you know what you’re great at? A thorough, honest knowledge of what you do better than most people is essential to making the right choices about where to put your energy.  Others have most likely identified your strong points; make sure they agree with your self-evaluation.

• What gets in the way of your ability to do your job?  What other problems or projects are occupying time that you could be dedicating to your goals?  Once you understand what is eating up your most valuable resource – time – you can more easily refocus your efforts on accomplishing your goals.

• What tools or training would help you?  If you are lacking equipment or know-how, chances are you can’t see the goal through to the end.  If your organization is truly committed to achievement, the necessary tools must be available.

• Are you excited about your goals? If you’re not really excited by what you’re trying to do, your commitment won’t be very strong. But if the project is worth doing, get your head in the game and play to win.

• Are you planning ahead for next year’s goals?  Accomplishing this year’s plan will have a significant impact on future achievement, company morale, and perhaps the viability of your organization.

• Can you be completely honest with yourself? You can’t afford to fool yourself about your strengths, weaknesses, and potential.  If you need help, either from within your organization or from outside, now is the time to get a plan together.

One terrific source you might want to consider is a virtual training program, “Goals Mastery for Personal and Financial Success,” offered by sales and training guru Brian Tracy.  His 12-part video training course covers personal goal setting, purpose in life, overcoming adversity, and a variety of pertinent topics.   Check it out at www.briantracy.com/files/pages/goals/mastery/intro-offer-long.html.  I guarantee Brian’s advice will inspire you to commit to your goals – and commit to success.

Mackay’s Moral:  Don’t “fall” down on your goals – commit to a season of success.