Success Advice

How to Set Your 2015 Goals Like An Olympian

Published

9 years ago

Dec 30, 2014

It’s the end of the year, and like most of us who are truly “addicted to success”, we are already thinking about the year ahead, what it will mean to us personally and professionally, and what goals we can set in order to get the most out of the next 365.25 days.

Personally, I spent a majority of my night yesterday researching various ways my mentors, peers, co-founders, and favorite thought leaders set their own 2015 goals so I could do the same, and perhaps the most interesting feedback was that from my friend Sam Mikulak.

Sam is an Olympic gymnast who represented Team U.S.A. in the London 2012 games and has been competing at an international level since 2007 (when he was only 15 years old).

Sam is also a 7-Time NCAA Champion, having won titles individually and with his team at the University of Michigan, and he is a budding entrepreneur as well who is finishing a successful Kickstarter campaign for his new company MateBros which sells a special blend of Yerba Mate tea that Sam and his teammates have used for years to both refuel for competitions and spark new friendships off the gym floor.

Needless to say, Sam is one pretty successful guy, so I listened intently when he shared with me how he sets his goals for the year. He broke his goal-setting habits down into three parts for us…

1. Everyday Goals

His everyday goals are pretty simple, and may not be what you’d expect. “Smile, be happy, be proud, be respectful,” he told me. Essentially, these everyday goals aren’t necessarily about what you produce or “do” each day, but more about what type of person you need to be and state you must be in so that you can get the results you want and live well.

Sam’s advice here is pretty in-line with that of Tony Robbins, who preaches that – in order to achieve breakthroughs in your business, relationships, finances, or any area of your life – you need to properly align your strategy, your story, and your state.

Sam’s everyday goals help him get in the proper state to grow a business, train at the highest levels of his sport, and ultimately represent our country on an international scale.

2. Short Term Goals

The next two types of goals are very simple, and I’m sure you’ve thought about them in one way or another before.

Sam sets short-term goals in order to get ahead throughout the year, and breaks down these goals into three different time blocks. He asked, rhetorically, “Where do I want to be in 4 weeks? In 8 weeks? In 12 weeks?”

Essentially, Sam is breaking down his short term goals with each month, and doesn’t look beyond one quarter from now in terms of accomplishing his short term goals. In fact, it is this laser-like focus on the “now” that allows Sam to balance ambitions in the business and sports worlds, two equally challenging fields of play.

Take a minute now to think about what your 4 week, 8 week, and 12 week goals are…How are you going to get the most of Q1 in 2015. Think about that first, and then we will expand to 2015 in total, and even beyond.

3. Long Term Goals

Again, pretty simple as far as what Sam’s goal-setting breakdown is (and we will get to “how” he actually sets these goals in a minute…), but the final piece in the year-planning puzzle is setting long term goals for yourself. He asked me, again, “Where do I want to be in 1 year? In 2 years? In 5 years?” Easy, right? I think so…but before you go, read the most important part of this article, which is how Sam actually goes about setting these goals…

big goals earl quote

The Strategy:

Here’s what separates how an Olympic athlete and 7-Time NCAA Champion’s goal-setting strategy differs from most. As he explained to me,

“I start out by making my long term goals, and then make my short term goals and everyday goals. I do it this way because the short term goals and daily goals should be a byproduct of the long term goals, a reflection of how I will get there. Too often people set goals ambiguously and do not realize that their short term and daily goals do not align with their long term goals. Write your goals out on paper with arrows so you make sure you’re doing it right.”

As an example, say that my 1 year goal was to lose 30 pounds (which I did successfully in 2014 myself). Using Sam’s guideline, I’d first set this goal, and then work backwards. “OK, what’s my 12 week, 8 week, and 4 week goals now.”

Perhaps (just to use easy numbers) my goals here would be to lose 15 pounds, 10 pounds, and 5 pounds respectively. And then, in order to accomplish these, I’d set a daily goal – a state goal – to be mindful about everything I put in my body and every health decision I make (and perhaps to drink MateBros everyday).

Actually, in regards to MateBros, Sam set his 12 week goal for Q4 of 2014 to raise $37,000 for the new company, and as you can see on Kickstarter, he is getting pretty damn close (there’s less than 3 days left in the campaign, and he’s almost there!).

He hasn’t told me what his everyday goal has been recently, but I’m sure it has something to do with being grateful for all the support he and his co-founders have received, as well as resolve to close out a successful campaign.

And there you have it! This is how an Olympian, 7-Time NCAA Champion, and successful entrepreneur sets his goals in order to get the most out of his time.

Joel, myself, and everyone from Addicted2Success.com wish you a super successful 2015!!!

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Jared Kleinert

Jared Kleinert is an entrepreneur, TED and keynote speaker, and award-winning author who’s been named USA Today's "Most Connected Millennial" after spending years identifying and connecting hundreds of the world's smartest and most talented Millennials. His next book 3 Billion Under 30 is out now, and you can get 5 free stories from his new book atwww.3billionunder30.com. You can also say hi at jared@3billionunder30.com.

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Success Advice

How to Choose the Best Affiliate Programs for Your Blog

If you follow these steps, you can create an affiliate marketing plan that makes money, fits well with your content, and connects with your readers

Published

1 week ago

Apr 10, 2024

Addicted2Success Editor

how to choose the best affiliate programs for your blog

Picking the right affiliate programs for your blog is really important. It can make a big difference in how much money you can make and how much your readers get out of your blog. With so many choices out there, deciding which ones to go with can be tricky.

This guide is here to make it easier for you. It will give you clear steps and helpful tips to choose affiliate programs that fit well with what your blog is about, what your readers like, and what you stand for.

For more articles on this theme, please head over to this blog https://blog.partners1xbet.com/.

Understanding Affiliate Marketing

Before you start picking affiliate programs, it’s important to really understand what affiliate marketing is and how it works.

Basically, affiliate marketing is when you promote a product or service on your blog, and then you get paid a little bit every time someone buys something or does something because you recommended it.

It’s great for both the person selling the product and the blogger, because the seller gets more sales with low risk, and the blogger can make money from their blog.

How to Choose the Right Affiliate Programs for Your Blog

1. Assess Your Niche and Audience

The key to doing well in affiliate marketing starts with really knowing what your blog is about and who reads it. Consider the following:

Your blog’s content: What topics do you cover? Ensure the products or services you promote are relevant.
Your audience’s interests and needs: What solutions are they seeking? Choose affiliate programs that offer products or services that solve their problems or enhance their lives.

2. Research Potential Affiliate Programs

Once you know what your blog is about and what your readers want, start looking for affiliate programs. Choose ones that are well-known for good products, great customer service, and helpful support for affiliates. Resources to find these programs include:

Affiliate networks like ShareASale, Commission Junction, and ClickBank.
Direct searches for “[Your Niche] affiliate programs” in search engines.
Recommendations from other bloggers in your niche.

3. Evaluate the Commission Structure

The commission structure is a critical factor to consider. Look for programs that offer competitive rates that make your efforts worthwhile. Consider:

The percentage of commission per sale.
Whether the program offers a flat rate per action (e.g., per sign-up).
The cookie duration, which affects how long after a click you can earn commissions on sales.

4. Consider the Program’s Reputation and Sureness

Join affiliate programs with a solid reputation for quality and sureness. This not only ensures that you’re promoting good products but also that you’ll be paid on time. You can:

Read reviews from other affiliates.
Check the program’s history and background.
Look for any complaints or issues reported online.

5. Analyze the Support and Resources Offered

A good affiliate program gives you things like ads to use, training on their products, and helpful managers. Having access to these resources can really help you do a better job at promoting their products.

6. Understand the Terms and Conditions

Before signing up, thoroughly review the program’s terms and conditions. Pay close attention to:

Payment thresholds and methods.
Any restrictions on how you can promote their products.
The program’s policy on affiliate marketing on social media platforms.

7. Test the Product or Service

If possible, test the product or service before promoting it. This firsthand experience allows you to offer genuine charge and build trust with your audience.

8. Look for Recurring Commission Opportunities

Some affiliate programs pay you again and again for subscriptions or services that charge fees regularly. These can provide a more stable income compared to one-time sales commissions.

Implementing Your Choice

After choosing the best affiliate programs, the next step is to smoothly include your affiliate marketing in your content plan. This includes:

Creating valuable content that naturally incorporates affiliate links.
Disclosing your affiliate affairs transparently to maintain trust with your audience.
Tracking your results to understand what works best for your audience and adjusting your strategy accordingly.

Picking the best affiliate programs for your blog involves careful planning, research, and making sure they match what your audience likes and needs.

If you follow these steps, you can create an affiliate marketing plan that makes money, fits well with your content, and connects with your readers.

The real key to doing well with affiliate marketing isn’t just about the products you talk about, but also how much your audience trusts and values your advice.

With enough time, patience, and hard work, your blog can grow into a successful space that earns a good amount of affiliate money and helps your readers choose the right products.

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