Karen’s Opinion

This is a sponsored guest post written by Jason Harvey on behalf of Achieve Anything In Just One Year. Post powered by Sponzai.

On January 1, more than 100 million Americans will make a New Year’s resolution, according to a University of Washington survey. By March, however, most resolution-makers will already have broken their newly minted promises. 

In his new book, Achieve Anything in Just One Year: Be Inspired Daily to Live Your Dreams and Accomplish Your Goals (Amazing Life Press, $29.95, http://www.amazinglifepress.com/), Jason Harvey provides a blueprint for personal success that can make 2010 the year that resolutions become reality. 

Most resolutions fail because people try to change too fast and accomplish too much all at once,” said Harvey, a Certified Life Coach. “My book is about learning how to make small daily changes and be your own personal life coach.”

The most common resolutions – to quit smoking, lose weight, exercise more, spend more quality time with family, etc. – are also the easiest to break. “The truth is, we set ourselves up to fail by making resolutions that are sweeping and unrealistic,” explained Harvey. 

The resulting cycle of making and breaking promises is self-defeating – so how can individuals make resolutions stick? Achieve Anything in Just One Year equips readers with the tools to: 

• Be truly committed.Don’t just go through the motions – act like you’re making a promise to your company, or to your best friend. 
• Be specific. A resolution like “I want to lose weight” is easier to ignore than “I want to lose five pounds by March.” 
• Set a deadline. A timeframe equals commitment and helps quantify success. 
• Avoid overwhelming yourself. You may want to lose weight, quit smoking, achieve moderation with martinis and cut up your credit cards all at once, but let’s get real. Focus on a limited set of goals and plan on taking stock mid-year. 
• Change one thing at a time. Recognize that change is hard. Wait to achieve one goal before starting on the next. 
• Be realistic. Taking charge of a fitness regimen is a realistic goal, while exercising seven days a week may not be. Don’t set yourself up for disappointment with lofty goals. 

The idea is to take daily action that creates a ripple effect in your life,” said Harvey. “By transforming your life with small steps, you can stay motivated, focused and balanced. Best of all, you’ll feel happier about pursuing your personal success.” 

Achieve Anything in Just One Year is available to BUY NOW at Amazon.com.

I was so surprised to see an old blogging buddy of mine drop her entrecard on mine. Hi Tina! I caught up with what she has been doing and saw this fun meme on her blog The Creative Nerd.

1) If you don’t frequent your local library, why not?

I love to go to our library!

2) If you do visit the library, how often do you go?

I used to go a couple times a week. I haven’t been in a year or more.

3) Do you have a favorite section that you always head to first, or do you just randomly peruse the shelves?

I look for books that other bloggers have recommended.

4) How many books are you allowed to check out at one time? Do you take advantage of this?

I think ten books. I probably check out three at a time.

5) How long are you allowed to have the books checked out?

Two weeks.

6) How many times are you allowed to renew your check-outs, if at all?

I am not sure we can renew without letting someone else have a chance to check them out first.

7) What do you love best about your particular library?

It is an old Carnegie library and has a lot of history.

What is one thing you wish your library did differently?

I wish they had more current books.

9) Do you request your books via an online catalog, or through the librarian at your branch?

We don’t have an online option so I rely on the librarian.

10) Have you ever chosen a book on impulse (from the online catalog OR the shelves) and had it turn out to be totally amazing? If so, what book was it, and why did you love it?

Sad to say, I don’t think any books have been that powerful for me.

Tuesdays mean Heads or Tails! You can check out the theme of the week and play along by clicking on Heads or Tails.

This week at Heads or Tails, we have been asked to use the word reason as our theme. “Beyond a Reasonable Doubt” popped into my head. They say that all the time in the movies. I enjoy a good suspenseful, who done it movie. A good, who done it, book is “By Reason of Insanity”.

From Publishers Weekly
Inspirational suspense novelist Singer (Directed Verdict) hooks readers from the opening courtroom scene of this tasty thriller, then spurs them through a fast trot across a storyline that just keeps delivering. Catherine O’Rourke is a seasoned reporter who covers trials for Norfolk, Virginia’s The Tidewater Times. The latest sexual abuse case she covers hits a little too close to home, and she has a series of disturbing “visions” that suggest first-hand details of the crimes. Soon she finds herself on trial as the “Avenger,” a Bible-quoting serial killer. Are her visions spiritual? Or does she have a split personality? She’s unsure of her innocence or guilt-and so are her lawyers, including the likeable high-rolling Vegas attorney, Quinn Newberg, who is famous for his insanity defenses. Singer tosses out plot twists with abandon, shattering readers’ assumptions but rarely straining their credulity. The characters’ lives unpeel like onions, with layers of interesting revelations. Christian faith plays a role in the “visions” but never feels forced. Smooth point of view changes, snappy dialogue, interesting details and unexpected humor enrich the storyline. Like the best suspense novels, the character development is sophisticated enough that readers won’t know the villain’s identity until the final pages.