Want to be productive and have a little fun? I heard this story several years ago and I’m going to put it into action this year because of the amazing success it can bring. It revolves around goal setting. It’s the kind of thing we think about, but never really act upon.

The story goes like this, after graduation a group of college buddies made a pact to get together every New Year’s Day to catch up, have some fun and open, “THE ENVELOPES.” On New Year’s Eve one-by-one, each of the buddies would take his envelope out of a sealed pouch, open it and read what it said out loud to his friends. In each envelope were two goals. Each guy secretly wrote them down the previous New Year’s Day, sealed it in the envelope and placed it in the pouch with everyone else’s. It would be opened shared for the first time the following New Year’s Eve.

Each guy would read what he had written the previous New Year’s Day and report to the group whether or not he had accomplished his two goals. They would get together the following New Year’s Day and do it all over again. Every year.

From what I’ve heard, this group of college buddies first did this in the 1960’s and now every one of them is a very successful multi-millionaire. Think about it, the peer pressure of being held accountable as you open your envelope and having to read your goals and tell other people that you either did or didn’t accomplish your objectives. Aw, that’s OK Jim, we all accomplished our goals so someone has to fail. I’m glad it was you and not
me.

What do you want to accomplish in 2007? If you need that extra motivation go get a couple of very competitive friends and do this exercise and hold
each other accountable. The power of peer pressure is a powerful motivator.

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