As the new year unfolds, we find ourselves immersed in the timeless tradition of seeking a fresh start—a cultural practice that has spanned over 200 years in our Western society. Many Americans embrace the spirit of self-improvement, often manifested in the form of New Year’s Resolutions. As the calendar pages turn, we must introspectively inquire: Is this a refined and enhanced version of ourselves, or are we simply adhering to the status quo of yesteryear? Do our aspirations mirror those familiar hopes from the past – the desire to shed weight, contribute more to our communities, adopt healthier eating habits, quit smoking, consume less alcohol, escape the clutches of debt, and amass savings?

If your answer aligns with maintaining multiple unfulfilled resolutions, welcome to the Procrastinators Club, the world’s largest organization, boasting a membership of 98% of the population. The comfort lies in the fact that you’re not alone. 

Perhaps it’s time to reconsider the frequency of fresh starts. Beyond the grandeur of a new year, opportunities abound every month, every week, and even every day. The dawn of each morning and the commencement of each hour provide us with a chance for renewal. The abundance of opportunities invites us to break free from the Procrastinators Club’s grip. 

So, let’s entertain a revolutionary concept to kickstart the new year – craft a “Do Not Do List.” Constrain this list to 10 items, contemplating habits and behaviors that hinder personal growth. Are you spending excessive hours in front of the television? Indulging in post-dinner snacking on sweets? Overcommitting by perpetually saying yes to others? Hitting the snooze button habitually? Drowning in social media or texting? Succumbing to impulsive purchases? Oversleeping or battling sleep deprivation? Chronically tardy? Lacking a consistent exercise routine? 

Recognize that these habits bear consequences, hindering the pursuit of life’s dreams and goals. It’s time to break free from the allure of the Procrastinators Club. Begin with the first resolution on your “Do Not Do List”: DO NOT renew my membership in the Procrastinators Club. Elevate yourself beyond procrastination, embrace positive change, and let this be the year you stride confidently toward success. 

Author Larry Tracey is the Executive Director of Youth4Youth, author, speaker, and member of the WOW Coalition, a prevention association that promotes safe and healthy choices and responds to problems caused by alcohol, marijuana, and Rx abuse by implementing strategies to prevent and reduce youth substance use.

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We all have what we call the inner game, or Thought Habits, habitual ways of thinking. They allow us to either talk ourselves into or out of opportunities daily. Thought Habits also impact whether one’s thinking is positive or negative. Quotes are one of many ways people keep their thoughts positive. We are aspirational by nature, and quotes can help us see something in ourselves we want to change or serve as a reminder about who we want to become. For example, a quote by W. Clement Stone became an important belief and driving force in my life:

“To every disadvantage, there is a corresponding advantage. Find it!”

Maybe I saw the “find it” as more of a challenge. Mr. Stone’s quote has become an important part of my life. Imagine developing the thought habit of finding solutions. Self-confidence increases, stress is dramatically reduced, and deep inside, you know things will work out. Why? Because they always do.

When I heard Tony Robbins say, “Success leaves clues.” My realization – there is no need to reinvent the wheel. Learn from the masters, take what you learn, and use it to go further, faster, and easier through life. Once we take responsibility for our lives, we understand we can control our thinking and develop thought habits that assist us in winning the inner game. Henry Ford said it best,

“Think you can or think you can’t; either way, you will be right.”

Make this your mindset for life, and you will possess a belief that will instill confidence. You will also realize you now have the 1^st Key of Success – Right Thinking.

What quote motivates you the most?

The Knowledge of the Mind Becomes Knowledge of the Heart – 2^nd Key of Success

Many let their dreams die unlived. Many let the circumstances in life dictate their lifelong journey and end up as a victim of circumstance, never finding the 1^st Key of Success – Right Thinking.

Realizing you are different, you decide you want to make your life more than a dream. You want to make it your reality. But most importantly, you are becoming passionate about it. It is at this moment you will discover the 2^nd Key of Success, the Key of Passion. The moment when the knowledge of the mind becomes knowledge of the heart. It becomes an inner knowing, an inner belief, a driving force. While the first key deals with dreams, the second key is about turning those dreams into reality. Using the IT Formula is how to make the magic happens! And remember, if you ever lose your passion, go back to the 1^st Key of Success – thinking. You will find something has changed in your thinking.

What are you passionate about? What do you want your life to look like? Invest time in writing a list of your passions.

The 3^rd Key of Success

The 3^rd and final Key of Success is where the magic happens. We have introduced the 1^st Key of Success – Right Thinking and the 2^nd Key of Success – Passion. The first and second keys are combined through the 3^rd Key of Success. However, this is where many people fall short. They become victims of life’s circumstances that distract them and dictate their lifelong journey, and many of their dreams die unlived. But not you, for you have found the 3^rd Key of Success – Body Language. You understand the importance of daily habits and behaviors that serve you as you shed those habits and behaviors that hold you back. You realize:

Success is taking one or more daily action steps toward your goals.

In doing so, you gain momentum and confidence and develop the habit of success.

Here are vital habits and behaviors that will benefit you on your journey:

1. Always put your goals in writing.
2. As you begin your day, read one page from a book that points your mind in a positive direction.
3. Plan your tomorrow the night before.
4. As your day ends, write down your successes for the day and three things you are grateful for this day.

These are just a few ideas to get you moving, as Body Language is the 3rd Key of Success and is all about taking action. Making the 3 Keys of Success part of your lifestyle will make your success inevitable.

Author Larry Tracey is the founder of Youth4Youth. Y4Y develops success and leadership skills in youth and promotes school safety by treating everyone with respect. He serves as WOW Coalition Program Director, a prevention association that promotes safe and healthy choices and responds to problems caused by alcohol, marijuana, and Rx abuse by implementing strategies to prevent and reduce youth substance use. For additional information, visit Youth4Youth.org or WOWCoalition.org.

This publication was made possible by grant number H79T1083320 from SAMHSA. The views, opinions and content of this publication are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, or policies of SAMHSA or HHS.

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Through the Youth4Youth Program we learn the one quality that separates a leader from everyone else is…a leader has vision. We also discoverwe are not born a leader, but we are trained to be a leader and that is why we recommend you train daily.

Here are four easy ways to help you train daily and develop your leadership skills:

1.         Read. Always have one or more books you are reading that are uplifting, inspiring or positive. Start each day reading two pages. It is not the amount we read; it is the quality of the information (It is also highly recommended to end your day reading two pages.). The purpose is to always be pointing your mind in a positive direction, while increasing your leadership skills and creativity.

2.         Take lots of notes. Notes make learning much easier and moves learning to a deeper level. You may never read these notes again, but if you do, you will find you are unconsciously applying the information you read.  

3.         Set Goals. Your goals MUST be in writing. Make sure they are achievable, measurable and specific. Set a date when you will accomplish each goal. READ your goals daily. (Ideally, do this first thing in the morning and just before bed.) SEE yourself as how you will be when you have achieved your goal (leaders have vision). FEEL the feelings you will feel when you have reached your goal. BELIEVE it’s possible and let it go…then go about your day.

4.         Step out of your comfort zone. Would you like to go through life with confidence? We all live within a box called our comfort zone. As a leader, you want to find one opportunity each day to step out of your comfort zone. It may be asking a question in class or speaking up when you see someone being treated unkindly by others. You may volunteer to do an assignment, read in front of the class or help someone who doesn’t understand something. The more we expand our comfort zone, the more confidence we develop and the bigger our world becomes resulting in more opportunities. The idea is to make the world your box!

Have patience, practice these easy steps and one day you will realize you are the one making the path and leaving the trail for others to follow. And if others see you as lucky…you will know in your heart — it was because you decided to train daily and develop your leadership skills.

Author Larry Tracey, is founder of Youth4Youth. Y4Y develops success and leadership skills in youth and promotes school safety by treating everyone with respect. He serves as WOW Coalition Program Director, a prevention association that promotes safe and healthy choices and responds to problems caused by alcohol, marijuana and Rx abuse by implementing strategies to prevent and reduce youth substance use. For additional information visit youth4youth.org or wowcoalition.org.

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What quote motivates you the most? We as humans are aspirational by nature and many quotes appeal directly to our nature, helping us see something in ourselves we want to change. Quotes serve as a reminder about who we want to become.

We have what we call thought habits; habitual ways of thinking that allows us to either talk ourselves into opportunities or out of opportunities on a daily basis. Thought habits also impact whether one’s thinking is mostly positive or negative.  The words of Henry Ford,

“Think you can or think you can’t, either way you will be right,”

became an important mantra for life that instilled confidence within me, especially when trying new things.

A quote by W. Clement Stone, “To every disadvantage there is a corresponding advantage. Find it!” became an important belief and driving force in my life. Maybe I saw the “find it” as more of a challenge. No matter the reason why, I am grateful that this quote has become an important part of my life.

When I heard Tony Robbins say, “Success leaves clues,” my realization was that there was no need to reinvent the wheel. Learn from the masters. Take what you learn and use it to go further, faster and easier through life.

Here’s an idea for success. It is what I call setting up the game to win. Where is the first place you go to when you get out of bed in the morning and the last place you go to at night before going to bed? Put a book of quotes in that room and read one or two quotes to start and end your day. Do this daily for 30 consecutive days (keyword consecutive). I must caution you: this will turn into a daily habit and an easy way to begin changing or reinforcing your thought habits.

Got kids? Imagine if this became one of their daily habits for success…such as a daily breakfast and bedtime routine. As we say in parenting for prevention and success; start early and often. Now is a perfect time to start.

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Author Larry Tracey, is Executive Director of Youth4Youth.org which focuses on Success, Skill and Leadership development in youth, and Program Director of the Way Out West Coalition, which is focused on creating a safe and unified, drug-free community. Email leadership@youth4youth.org to request additional information or visit https://www.youth4youth.org  and https://www.WOWcoalition.org

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As a teen, my mission in life was to never be like my father. The worst day of my life was the day I realized I was just like him. That was the day I realized I had to do more than think I wanted to be different…I had to do something to become different…and that is how my worst day has now become my best day. There are four Roadblocks to Change, the first being the 90% Rule; we have a 90% chance of being just like our parents. It is a combination of DNA and our childhood environment. Quotes like, “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree,” “From one generation to the next,” and “History repeats itself,” all refer to the 90% rule.

When I decided to change, I put all my focus on my “habits,” which is the second Roadblock to Change. If we are going to change – this is the place where all change happens. You must change your habits. NASA discovered it takes between 27 – 29 days for the brain to rewire itself with a new habit or behavior. That’s where the idea that it takes thirty consecutive daysto integrate a new habit comes from. The keyword here is — consecutive. NASA also discovered that if you miss a day (let’s say — day twenty-five), the system in the brain collapses, and you’ve got to start over. So how does one go about doing this successfully?

Make a 30-Day Checklist! 

As an example, let’s say you want to change the habit of procrastinating or putting things off until the last minute. The first step is to focus on what you want. The opposite of putting things off is to take action or “do it now.” On my checklist would be a line or box that says, “Do It Now.” At the end of each day I check the box or put a number in the box to show me how many consecutive days I have completed. If I realize I did not follow through on my commitment, I now have the opportunity to do it now. We call this setting yourself up to win. You arrived at the end of your day and realized you still have a chance to do it now! I bet you will.

I need to close a loop here because some of you are thinking he said there were four roadblocks. Roadblock number three is the four-letter “F” word, and it is not food…it is fear. Which is the number one reason people don’t change and stay stuck. Rather than deal with the fear or anxiety, many use roadblock number four, which is distraction or medication. We have to ask ourselves, “How do I distract or medicate myself, so I do not have to deal with changing and becoming my best?” Success Tip: Put all your focus on Roadblock #2, for that is where change takes place.

Author: Larry Tracey

The WOW Coalition is a prevention association that promotes safe and healthy choices and responds to problems caused by alcohol, marijuana and Rx abuse by implementing strategies to prevent and reduce youth substance use. For additional information visit wowcoalition.org or contact at (623) 208-3230 or email: larry.tracey@wowcoalition.org.

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1. Write It
2. Plan It
3. Do It
4. Check It

There are many resources out there to get you started to help you be successful. However, here are a few speed tips to quickly energize you to begin the Habit of the Check.

5 Speed Tips:

1. Put your goals in writing. Keeping track of your goals, plans and progress digitally makes things really easy. However, when I started doing everything digitally I noticed a drop in results. So once a goal is set I actually write it out long-hand.
2. There is no limit to how many goals you can have. Diversify your life; set educational, career, personal, fitness and health, athletic, financial, hobby/fun, social, spiritual, relationship, and family are some key areas to consider when setting goals. Start with all or a few areas. The keyword here is “start” and just for fun throw in some daily and weekly goals.
3. A close friend of mine has what he calls Primary Focus Goals. These are the current goals he is focusing his attention on. He limits his list to thirteen goals. He also has his top twenty-five list and listens to those goals as part of his daily exercise routine. Last but not least, there is his master goal list which includes these and many others.
4. I have a master list also and review them twice a year just to keep them active in my subconscious. Many times I discover I have accomplished multiple goals without even trying. When a goal is reached it is never deleted. It gets moved to the “Check that one off!” section.
5. Develop long-term and short-term goals and everyone is encouraged to have at least one goal that is unbelievable. In Youth4Youth we call this a S.O.A.R. Goal. A goal that is So Outstanding And Remarkable, that if accomplished, you and others would be astounded. A SOAR Goal is something that, when reached, would cause you to look in the mirror, pinch yourself just to make sure this was really happening as you smile, shake your head and say “Congratulations, that is unbelievable!”

Many wander through life. Wandering leads to unhappiness, wasted time, and many see themselves as a victim of circumstance. But not you, you are different. You set goals and have the Habit of the Check. You have discovered goals give you something to aim for. They point you in a specific direction. You have found goals help you to create a bigger vision of yourself and empower oneself. Educator and civil rights activist, Benjamin Mays said it best; “The tragedy of life doesn’t lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy lies in having no goal to reach.”

Call to Action

1. What do you want out of life?
2. If you develop this habit today where can you take your life tomorrow?
3. Take a moment and write a goal today that you can “check off” tomorrow and before long you will have developed “The Habit of the Check!”       

Larry Tracey, author of this article, is an author and founder of Youth4Youth.  Y4Y engages youth in developing habits and behaviors for leadership and success in life. Teens practice these skills by promoting their message of respect in their school and community. Have a question or thoughts? Contact Larry through youth4youth.org, email info@youth4youth.org or by phone at 623.208.3230.

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I read an “I’m frustrated rant” on Facebook that focused on fairness and life. Unknown to the person ranting, it contained many principals of success; hard work, failures along the way, responsibilities before fun and never giving up. It reminded me of something my grandmother would always say when people said, “That’s not fair, life’s not fair.” She would look at us, smile and wink. Mom, as we called her, saw life differently. She would always say, “The  more a person tries, the more fair life becomes. You can go through life complaining about things or you can do something about it.” Her favorite saying, “Be fair to yourself.”

When I didn’t understand my math homework, I became frustrated, threw my pencil down and quit. Mom would say, “Be fair to yourself. When you don’t understand something…ask a question.” I asked and I became very good at math. When I couldn’t make a basket because the basketball hoop was too high, Mom would say, “Be fair to yourself; give yourself a chance to become good.” I became good and in sixth grade I played on the eighth grade team and we won the CYO Championship. When I started playing little league baseball I would always strike out and spend most of the game on the bench. Mom would say, “Be fair to yourself, give yourself a chance to improve.” I became a great coach and understood that fairness was helping kids learn and encourage them to continue trying. Be fair to yourself and give yourself a chance to be all you can be—at math, as an artist, reader, writer, athlete, friend, parent or teacher.

At the end of a recent Youth4Youth Student Leadership Training, a student shared that because of knowing the information we learned, she would have an unfair advantage over others in school and she felt that wasn’t right. I heard my grandma talking as I asked her, “Would it be fair if you returned to school and did not use the skills you learned today to make your school a better place?” In that moment, she saw the strength of fairness.

Be fair to yourself today.

Larry Tracey, author of this article, is an author and founder of Youth4Youth.  Y4Y engages youth in developing habits and behaviors for leadership and success in life. Teens practice these skills by promoting their message of respect in their school and community. Have a question or thoughts? Contact Larry through youth4youth.org, email info@youth4youth.org or by phone at 623.208.3230.

Call to Action in Life

1. What is one thing you’ve been frustrated about recently?
2. What would you need to do to be fair to yourself in this situation?
3. When will you do it?

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The information placard read elevation almost 10,500 feet. Distance: 2 miles from this point. That gave me all the important information I needed. I immediately started walking to see beyond the cluster of trees that guarded any view of the trail. There were a few moments of inner dialogue that said, “That’s far enough, let’s stop and turn around.” Judy and Hannity (Our wannabe Yorkie) were back at the Jeep as the dialogue continued, “If I go to the top they’ll be sitting and waiting quite a while.” The next thought: At the end of the day do you want to reflect back and say…I wish I had or I’m glad I did? That is when the Habit of Challenge kicked in. Within a micro-second my mind quickly calculated the possibility; I have enough water and I can do this in less than two and a half hours up and back down. There was never a question if I could physically do it as I have learned through the years that mindset and determination will override physical limitations in most situations we get ourselves into.

As I ascended the mountain I notice people stopping and snacking on energy bars and fruit. Oops, didn’t think about that when I started. As I said, climbing a mountain was not on my radar screen today. A half mile from the summit I began to feel the intensity of the brisk cold wind. It was then I began to see almost everyone had jackets and dressed for the occasion…another oops as I was sporting a short-sleeved t-shirt. I did have my Bluetooth headphones which buffered the wind and kept my inner ear warm and focused my gratitude on that. As I reached the summit I found a rock that jetted about 15 ft. higher than anything else. Within a few minutes I had positioned myself atop the rock and took in the 360 view of the world. It was in that moment that I reflected with gratitude about the “Habit of Challenge.”

The Biggest Benefits of the Habit of Challenge:

1. You will develop a track record of success to draw from when in the midst of a problem or challenging situation. This will eventually become an inner knowing that “YOU CAN.”
2. That will translate into unwavering self-confidence allowing you to easily rise up and meet the challenges you face daily.
3. As a result, this greatly reduces needless worry and negative self-talk. Why? Because you know you CAN. Why? Because you always DO. And that my friend is a direct result of your track record of successes.
4. One of many added benefits: People will see you as someone who makes things happen and gets thing done.

Intentionally challenge yourself daily in some way, shape or form and before long you will have a track record of success to draw from. And when you do, you will discover your mind will become wired to find solutions and answers rather than staying stuck in the problem as many do.

How will you challenge yourself today?

How can you challenge yourself daily this school year?

Larry Tracey, author of this article, is an author and founder of Youth4Youth.  Y4Y engages youth in developing habits and behaviors for leadership and success in life. Teens practice these skills by promoting their message of respect in their school and community. Have a question or thoughts? Contact Larry through youth4youth.org, email info@youth4youth.org or by phone at 623.208.3230.

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Oops, I almost forgot…what about all those things you haven’t finished. We call those “incompletes.” You know, that person you said you’d call or text right back and you’ve forgotten. Or work or school projects you have to finish or have put-off due to lack of time or urgency. These things add up by consuming all your attention units, daily.

Imagine being able to focus most of your attention units on your dreams and direction in life! Imagine not getting distracted by the drama of life and having “confidence in” rather than “worry about” the future or the past and having such an exciting day today that you can hardly wait until tomorrow. Creating the habit of investing your Attention Units wisely will quickly and easily make those dreams come true.

Let’s start with the basics: An attention unit is your ability to remember and keep information in the forefront of your mind. Think of it as the storage capacity of a computer data stick. You only have the capacity to hold so much “stuff,” so a lot of important information gets lost or misplaced. The results are forgotten assignments, missed deadlines, broken promises and agreements, feelings of frustration, guilt, self-doubt and “if only I would have.”

The Facts:

1. There are only 24-hours in a day. (This will never change – don’t invest time wishing it were different.)
2. Attention Units – we only have so many. The idea here is to free up as many as possible each day to allow you to reach you maximum potential on any given day. (i.e. the more I get done in my 24 hours)

So what’s the answer? Getting organized is the most effective habit to begin with. In starting, place your attention units here. Develop habit patterns that work to support your success. In this case the same old same old is a great thing. Make it work to your advantage as you develop habits that will make your success inevitable.

Here are some quick tips that will help you stay focused, do more and be more.

1. Develop systems to keep organized.

A system is a habit of always doing the same thing the same way. Always put your books in the same place. Always put your homework in the same place. Here are a few other areas to develop habits to stay organized: locker, sports bag, book bag, desk, bedroom, study area, laundry and dirty clothes, dresser and the inside of your car.

2. Plan tomorrow the night before.

Know what you are going to wear the night before. Know what you have to do tomorrow. What commitments do you have? Review tomorrow in your mind just before you fall asleep and see yourself being successful. Then let it all go and get a good night’s sleep.

3. Develop the habit of using a daily planner.

Most schools now have Agendas for each student. Learn to use this great tool. Learning to use this tool effectively frees up so many attention units that it’s unreal.

4. Develop the habit of writing down assignments and always taking notes.

Add commitments you make to others and yourself. Always know where your agenda is and keep it with you most of the time.

Speed Tips For Getting Started and Successful Results:

First, do a major cleaning of your world – locker, sports bag, bedroom, study area, laundry and dirty clothes, dresser and the inside of your car.

Create a daily checklist to make these habits a part of your life. Before long you will notice your attention units are now focused on your dreams and direction in life. Remember, it takes 30 consecutive days of doing something before it becomes a part of your unconscious habit pattern. (The key word here is consecutive.)

Oh, I almost forgot! Rumors and gossip, worrying and putting things off – are all wasted attention units that hold you back in life. I know, no one’s perfect and some days we all get distracted by the drama of life. Make a commitment to yourself to not get distracted too long!

The world rewards action! What is one action step you will take right now?

Larry Tracey, author of this article, is an author and founder of Youth4Youth.  Y4Y engages youth in developing habits and behaviors for leadership and success in life. Teens practice these skills by promoting their message of respect in their school and community. Have a question or thoughts? Contact Larry through youth4youth.org, email info@youth4youth.org or by phone at 623.208.3230.

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As our Y4Y Blog expands you will:

1. Find practical, usable leadership information that you can immediately apply resulting in greater success in life.
2. Discover the value in daily habits and behaviors that will make your success inevitable.
3. Learn how to stay focused on your dreams, goals and purpose in life.
4. Meet dynamic young people who decided to develop their leadership skills and are now changing the world for the better by focusing on their school and community.
5. Connect with a growing community of youth and adults who want to use their leadership and success skills to create positive change in the world.

Y4Y is about developing leadership and success skills in all youth. Youth practice those skills by making a positive difference in their school, community and beyond. So, with this introductory entry, we’re asking everyone to follow our blog and use the Y4Y blog as a tool that allows you to go further, faster and easier through life.  We’ll post announcements weekly on our Facebook page, so if you want to follow us that way, please go to our Facebook page and click “Like.” Also, if you would, please invite your friends and neighbors view our blog and Facebook and you can follow us on Twitter!

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