It seems like everyone this time of year is talking about resolutions. A new year is a great time to reevaluate how things are going in your personal and business life, but I think most people go about it the wrong way. That’s why they end up having the same resolutions year after year.

Most people say every year that they want to lose weight or exercise more. But they abandon these resolutions early on in the year because they don’t have a lot of motivation or they think they have to be perfect. One day of bad eating or skipping the morning run and they feel like the year is ruined.

It is much better to set goals for yourself instead. Spend some time thinking about where you are in your business and your personal life.
Picture yourself at the beginning of 2009. Where would you like to be? How much money would you like to be making? How much would you like to weigh?

Get as clear a picture as you can of where you want to be.

Once you have this picture in your mind you can set real goals for yourself based on where you want to go. Remember that the most powerful goals are specific, measurable, attainable, results oriented and time bound. Don’t just say you want to make more money, say you want to increase your income by $5,000 a month within the next nine months.
Goals set in this way are much better than wishy-washy resolutions because they drive you to action. They’re a lot more exciting and empowering than a mere statement of what you’d like to do.

When you set goals instead of resolutions, each day gives you a new opportunity to take a step to reach that goal. Yes, you will have days where it’s hard, where you’ll make no progress, but with consistent effort throughout the year you’ll find yourself reaching your goals and having a lot more fun doing it.

Yours in success,

Shawn Casey

Please read this important message from my friend Gary:

Can we measurably change the world?

And, in the process…

Are you ready to be happier, healthier, and more at peace?

We’ve learned that if we seek change, we must be the change we seek.

“Hello, From My Heart” greetings are simply a proven way to be that change.

Since 2002, millions of people have done this small thing that has enormous impact…

For a few days each year, they greet each other, or answer the phone, or address an email with “Hello, From My Heart”.

So simple.

Yet so effective at changing our energy, the energy of those we greet, and the energy of entire communities.

In fact, each year we measure the violence level in key areas before and during this focused period. Each year, violence has measurably decreased. (You can see the exact areas and stats on the site under Event History.)

==> http://www.HelloFromMyHeart.com

“Hello, From My Heart” Days are 9/11 thru 9/21. This is your invitation to be a Peace Hero.

Here are just a few ways in which we can make a daily difference:

Address your emails with a “Hello, From My Heart” greeting?

Answer your phone with a smile and a “Hello, From My Heart?”

Greet others with a smile and a warm “Hello, From My Heart?”

Do this and you’ll be happier, healthier, and more at peace!

And we’ll change the WORLD.

It’s that simple. As we give, we receive,and when we give a greeting from our hearts; we are in our highest power.

You can register (no obligation or fee) and get more information at:

==> http://www.HelloFromMyHeart.com

Please forward this to everyone you know. Invite them to register and share their greeting with the world.

Thanks for choosing to make a difference, and for being part of the Miracle.

From My Heart,

Gary Schineller, Founder
www.HelloFromMyHeart.com
727-376-0753

My wife Patricia has taught me a lot over the years, but one of the most important things is that people tend to stop just short of their goals. They get close and then just quit on themselves.

I was reading the sports section this morning – an article about Joseph Mattioli who is the owner of Pocono Raceway where today’s NASCAR Pocono 500 will be run.

In the mid-1970’s, NASCAR was not the absolute financial powerhouse it is now. And Mattioli was very concerned about mounting losses at the track. He considered selling the track to get out from under the debt.

That’s when he got a call from Bill France Sr. (Father of former NASCAR chairman Bill France Jr.) When they met in New York, France pulled out his business card and scribbled this message:

“On the plains of hesitation lie the bleached bones who when within the grasp of victory sat and waited and waiting died.”

Needless to say…Mattioli didn’t sell. And I’m sure he’s banked a ton of Benjamins since then.

I urge you to take a moment to reflect on whether you hesitate when you should charge forward. Do you pause just when victory is within your grasp?

Many people would argue that it’s just human nature to do this.

I’d respond that as thinking beings, we have the ability to overcome our nature and to choose…

to achieve…

and to have…

and to be anything we want!

If you’re not getting everything you want, then I’ve got something that will help:

http://www.internetpromoservices.com/secret

It would be easy for you to ignore this message. To just slough it off. To say it does not apply to you.

But if you are not where you want to be in life, then you have to ask yourself… why not?

The answer does not lie in blaming others, blaming circumstances or just plain whining. No matter how bad you think you have it, or what someone did to you, many other people have faced worse circumstances…

And overcome them to achieve great things.

It’s your choice where you go from here. Do not shy away from success. Do not turn away from victory.

Instead, grab life by the horns and go for the ride of your life.

Yours in success,

Shawn Casey

For many years, I’ve wanted to play in one of the Pro-Ams with a touring golf pro. On Monday, it finally happened.

Brad Fallon, Jeff Paul, Jim Fleck and I were fortunate to play in the AT&T Classic Pro-Am with PGA Tour Pro Craig Bowden. We thought we prepared for the pressure of this event since it’s played on my home course – TPC Sugarloaf and I live on the 4th green. Brad, Jeff and Jim had played the course with me before. We should have no excuses. After all, how tough could this really be?

Keep reading.

Standing in front of the 4th green – (L to R) Shawn Casey, Jim Fleck, Craig Bowden, Brad Fallon and Jeff Paul.
My house is in the background.

How tough? That turned out to be a stupid question. Because it could be very tough. We all managed to get off the first tee without actually embarrassing ourselves. In fact, everything was going along okay until I had to hit my 3rd shot from the greenside sand trap. I completely missed the sand and picked the ball cleanly out of the bunker, straight over the flag, over the green and over the heads of the marshals behind the green. Oops.

I’d love to tell you we played great. We didn’t. This game is way harder than the pros make it look. Those guys really are good.

I’d love to tell you I played better than Brad. I didn’t. Hopefully, he never sees this post.

But we did have a lot of fun. And we’re definitely going to be back next year.  Craig Bowden is a great guy who went out of his way to make sure we enjoyed the day and gave us a few valuable swing tips. His caddy Ray was spot on with the yardages we were supposed to hit. Supposed to. <grin>

I’d suggest you go to Craig’s website or blog to wish him good luck this weekend. But…GASP….he doesn’t have either. We’re going to help him change that. But if you’re in the Atlanta area and come to the tournament this week, be sure to look Craig up and cheer him on. As I write this, he’s two under par after four holes so it looks like he’ll be having a great tournament.

For the golf fanatics who want more details and pics…

Here’s the overview of the 4th hole. You can see that you hit over Old Peachtree Creek into a wide open fairway. Your second shot has to avoid landing in the creek which wanders down the fairway. The approach shot is tricky because anything left is either in the tall weeds or the creek.

The wide open 4th fairway. It looks so easy from here.

Craig is putting for birdie on the 4th green. Of course, he makes it. He’s a pro!

Please join me in congratulating my daughter Allison on on her marriage to Ian who has made her the happiest woman in the entire world! Friends and family gathered from around the world (seriously – from Chile, Guatemala, Mexico and England) at the amazing Vizcaya in Miami, Florida for a fabulous wedding.