Every end of the year, a strange creature appears out of nowhere. This creature either frightens us so much that we get sad and scared, or it makes us take action (although just for a while).

This creature is our emotions driven by our basic human need to change and improve! This is the time of year when the creature is unleashed and most of us take a moment to look back at 2008. After exclaiming, "Wow, where did the year go!" we'll reflect on the year and many will think about what we achieved or didn't achieve in 2008, and make a vow to do better in 2009. A great sense of determination grabs us as we shake our fists, purse our lips and nod our heads as we vow, "This year will be better. This is the year I'll make a great difference in my life."

5 minutes later, the creature in us goes back into hiding and within minutes, we're back to our old ways, habits, limiting beliefs and nothing will change in 2009. Sad but true . . . . . .

We all know what to do, i.e., Step 1: set long-term and short-term goals, Step 2: have a very strong and compelling reason to make the goal a must, Step 3: design a strategy or plan, and Step 4: take massive action to make it happen. Really simple isn't it? At least on paper it is!!

Instead of struggling to make the changes we must make in our lives, why not do it the easy and fun way? All that's needed is to focus on Step 4 and change it a little so that it now reads: Step 4: take massive but simple steps every day to make it happen.

What exactly are simple daily steps? These are the really simple steps that get us started on our goals, and keep us going till we get there. The biggest mistake many of us make is we look at goals as huge monsters thats so difficult to achieve it makes us stop and wait for the perfect moment. Instead of waiting for the perfect moment, create that moment now just by breaking the goal into a series of very simple daily steps.

Heres an example to illustrate my point. If one of your goals is to resign from your safe and boring job in November 2009 and become a professional trainer a week later, 3 simple steps you can do today are: (1) find a public speaking club near your office (2) call them to find out more (3) search the internet for speaking tips. Isnt this really simple? The actual goal is very daunting when you look at it, and once you break it down into simple daily action steps, the goal looks manageable, fun and easy to do, doesn't it!

And here's another great tip to make your goal even more attainable. Give yourself 48 hours to finish the 3 simple steps. At the end of the 48 hours, write 3 more simple steps and keep going. And keep going and keep going and keep going till you can see, smell, touch, taste and feel your goal right in front of you! Best part is that with each 3 simple steps you complete, you have a chance to review your strategy and change it to find the best way to continue moving powerfully towards your goal.

All you need are 3 simple (really simple please) steps every 48 hours and before you know it, the year is up, you've achieved your goal, and you're well on your way to a life of excellence!!

Jeff Tan is an entrepreneur and business owner of both REV Training & Coaching and Chi Life Studio Shanghai, but his true passion and calling is to help others as they journey through life. With his unique ability to help people discover and understand their purpose in life, he has helped countless live the life they love using the tools of Neuro-Linguistic Programming, or NLP. Before starting his own businesses, Jeff served for 26 years with distinction as a helicopter pilot and flight instructor with the Republic of Singapore Air Force, rising to the rank of Lieutenant- Colonel. Jeff is a licensed NLP trainer, having received his certification from Dr Richard Bandler, the founder of NLP. In addition, he holds a Master of Social Science degree in Counselling from the University of South Australia, and is a professional Clinical Hypnotherapist with the Institute for Advanced Neuro-Research and Education in the USA, as well as being a certified PhotoReading Whole Mind System instructor.

For more information about Jeff Tan and REV Training & Coaching, please refer to the website www.revtc.com. For more information about Chi Life Studio Shanghai, please refer to www.chi-life.cn.