The Achieve My Dreams Decision Tree
A new year, a new opportunity. The Achieve My Dreams Decision Tree.
An off schedule post
This is an off-schedule post. That means something different or interesting is going on that warrants paying attention to. So, my friends, read on to find out more!
A New Year, a new you
It’s now a new year, the old is past and probably (mostly) forgotten, and it’s time to move forward. Time to think about starting a diet to lose a little weight and make other New Year’s resolutions, right? No, no and no!!! Diets and New Year’s resolutions are not long-term solutions that change our lives for the better. Don’t believe me? Quickly answer the following questions without thinking about them:
How long does the average diet last? The average diet lasts six months. If it’s a strict diet, it’s even shorter. The reasons for this are several-fold: People choose the wrong diet (one that does not fit their lifestyle, Unrealistic expectations, dieting without exercise, and not changing one’s environment (Note 1).
How long do New Year’s resolutions typically last? Less than four months. Only 1% last for a year. And while more than half of Americans make New Year’s resolutions, less than 10% of the people who do accomplish their goals (Note 2)
Well, that was fun. Or, not. Kinda depressing, really, don’t you think? Before we get to the good news, and while I’m on a roll, let me get a few more statistics off my chest. Ones that are near and dear to me, and exactly why I started Afterburner Success Partners, developed the course, and wrote the book:
What percentage of people have written goals? Well, this one’s a bit ugly. According to Zig Ziglar (Note 3. I do hope you know who Zig Ziglar is and his accomplishments), about 97% of the population does not have clearly defined, written goals for their lives. Why is that? There are four main reasons: Fear, poor self-image, no buy-in, or they don’t know how (Note 4). Which means:
Only 3% of people have written goals (Note 5). That’s right, only three percent of the population have written their goals down. That’s a small number. Which means:
The 3% who wrote down their goals are 33% more likely to complete them. (Note 5).
Well again. Now look, if you’ve been following my writing, taken my course, or read my book, these statistics are not new to you. You’ve heard them over and over, and they are precisely the same as when I first penned them in 2019. And can we be honest with each other for a minute? While all the statistics I just rattled off are nice to have for your next cocktail party, I’m guessing we all generally already know they are true. We don’t need the numbers to tell us what we already know. And if we continue to be honest with each other for a bit longer, what we really don’t like is that these statistics are accurate for most of us. Not all of us, because some have developed their goals, executed on them, and are living our best lives.
I have a gift for you
I have a New Year’s gift I’d like to give you.
Well, hold on, you say, people don’t give gifts for New Year’s! Well, I do, and here is why. Just last week, in my first post of 2026, I told you that the course I put together in 2019 — the same plan I have been living by, taught to others, and passed along to some of my children — has stood the test of time and proven highly accurate. While the course is only a bit over five years old, the content —that is, the principles that have guided my life —has been tested for about 40 years now. And most of that content, because I did not create it, I just parroted what is known to work, is far older. And all of it is rock solid.
What that means is that if you take the course, read the book, or follow these blogs, you will have a very high probability of success with developing plans to allow you to achieve your dreams and live your best life. If you do your part, of course. Like a diet, nothing is free, but with the proper motivation and determination, it can be done. Frankly, it’s really about mindset, and I can tell you it’s really not all that difficult either. It’s just choosing how we are going to live and never changing that or backing away from it. If you are a person of faith, it’s the same thing. If you are in the military or sworn to protect and defend our country, it’s the same thing. It’s the principles, values, and morals we live by. And they work. Period. Mike drop. Walk away.
So before I give you the gift, let me tell you how it came about. As I’ve lived by the principles described in the course, I’ve found that, as I talk to or associate with other people, not everyone has. In fact, I just told you that 97% of the people do not. It’s not that people don’t want to have and achieve things in life; it’s just like a diet or New Year’s resolution, they just don’t want it bad enough to make the changes necessary to achieve them. STOP THE CAR! What did he just say? Let me make that point again, because it’s quite important and I‘m going to embellish it a bit as well. This is another one of those “The world according to Dave” statements:
Most people are living EXACTLY the life they want. The reason they are living EXACTLY the life they want is because they don’t want to make the effort to change or take the steps necessary to achieve something else, something better.
Wow, Dave, that was mean, don’t you think? Well, ponder what I just said a moment and let me know if you think it’s true. Remember back in November when I had a post titled Speak Truth? In my opinion, this is an example of that. OK, moving on now…
I’m really no different in some ways. I need to lose a few pounds. I know what to do. Exactly what to do. But I have not because I have not wanted it badly enough yet. Unfortunately, I’m getting to the age where people my age are suffering for some of their choices. Friends who’ve suffered severe medical issues and were forced into change. Some who did not have a second chance and are no longer with us. And, frankly, it’s the same with developing life goals as it is with a poor diet; we can address it now or suffer for it later. You know what I mean. I’ll bet you know exactly what I mean. Not doing or having things we really want because we won’t make the changes we need. Oh, geez, you say, will he ever shut up with all of this droning on? Enough already!!!
The Achieve My Dreams Decision Tree
Whew, OK then, I hear you loud and clear. In the illustration below and on my website under the More/Books and Resources tab, you will find what I call The Achieve My Dreams Decision Tree. It’s a simple little thing I put together in PowerPoint — a guide to help you or anyone you know think through where you or they are in achieving dreams and living their best lives. Check it out. Print it out. I’m sorry I don’t have a direct link to print the decision tree. If you use Snip-It or a similar program to cut and paste it, it will print out just fine. (Oh, and yes, I know these are not the correct flow chart symbols, but they worked for me…grin)
Then, take the action you know you need! Happy New Year!
That’s all for this week!
The Achieve My Dreams Decision Tree
What’s in it for Me
We all want to be the best we can be. Afterburner Success Partners can help get you on the path to achieving your dreams and living your best life.
Call to Action
Visit the Afterburner Success Partners website today. Purchase the very modestly priced course. View the many resources listed under the More/Books & Resources tab. Forward this email to any family members or friends who may benefit from it.
Recommended Resources
Check out my recently published book, Achieve Your Dreams: A Complete Guide to Live Your Best Life by David Giustozzi. Available on Amazon or on my website. See Note 6.
Up Next
Back to regular posting schedule.
Notes
Please note that as an Amazon Affiliate, I may earn a small commission on the sale of any of these recommended resources.
How to Stay on a Diet: WebMD: https://www.webmd.com/obesity/features/how-to-stay-on-a-diet
New Year’s resolutions often don’t last: CBS News: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/new-years-resolutions-tips-why-they-fail/
Zig Zigler: Top Results Academy: https://topresultsacademy.com/authors/zig-ziglar/biography/
4 Reasons Why People Don’t Set Goals: Sound Wisdom: https://www.soundwisdom.com/blog/4-reasons-why-people-dont-set-goals-according-to-zig-ziglar#:~:text=Janechek%20—%20Sound%20Wisdom-,4%20Reasons%20Why%20People%20Don't%20Set%20Goals%2C%20According%20to,Zig%20Ziglar%20by%20Jennifer%20Janechek&text=According%20to%20Zig%20Ziglar%2C%20“97,Don't%20know%20how
The Psychology of Writing Down Goals: New Tech Northwest: https://www.newtechnorthwest.com/the-psychology-of-writing-down-goals/#:~:text=Eighty%2Dthree%20percent%20of%20respondents,had%20some%20plan%20in%20mind.
Achieve Your Dreams: A Complete Guide to Live Your Best Life by David Giustozzi: https://amzn.to/3IxEFgy