Just stop for a moment and think back to those business goals, work targets, KPI's, and personal aspirations (lose weight, get fit, learn something new, etc.) that you set at the beginning of the year (or the end of last year).  Think about those visions of success, profits and happiness you saw yourself achieving this year. Are you still on track? ...or have you broken some of those promises already? "Just a moment", I hear your say "I never promised that I would achieve them, I just committed to trying my best.  I didn't break any promises, I just got caught up in other things" To me, this is an excuse. It is a habit of allowing yourself to not stick to your targets because you lose focus when under pressure. Am I being a little harsh?    Perhaps. Am I being truthful and accurate?   Absolutely! If you want to have success and happiness consistently in your life, then you need to become resilient to pressure by raising your standards. Let me explain... Studies have found that your body 'normalizes' stimulants that it is exposed to on a regular basis.  Meaning that you become somewhat de-sensitive, or less sensitive, to the frequent noises, smells, images, tastes and sensations of the environment around you. Two examples... The smell receptors in the olfactory (smell) system of the body of garbage collectors becomes less sensitive to the smell of garbage after about 6 weeks.  The body adapts to the smell by desensitising to the smell of garbage. Even an hour or two after putting on perfume, cologne or aftershave you become somewhat unaware of the smell.  Your body desensitises the frequent stimulants around you. So what has desensitisation got to do with becoming resilient to pressure and achieving your goals?? If you consistently accept an excuse, cop out, or lower standards of performance from yourself, then your body learns to accept that as OK.   After a while, you become desensitised to your excuses and you no longer notice them.  That's when they become a habit. When the pressure builds up, if you have developed the habit of allowing excuses and cop outs to be an acceptable response - then you will always find yourself setting goals, targets, new years resolutions, but rarely reaching them. Think about your excuses for a moment, which one do you use? "I just got too busy" "Sorry, I became sidetracked" "I have been swamped with other work" "I simply couldn't be bothered today" "I just don't like calling up my clients" What's your excuse? Excuses are like armpits - we all have them and they all stink!     Top 3 Excuses and how to beat them: 1. 'I'm too busy and don't have any time' Who isn't busy and pressed for time? However, you can get into the habit of saying , or thinking, that you are too busy.  In this frame of mind, you no longer look for ways to reach your targets, but get caught up in why you can't reach them.  Raise your standards by expecting more from yourself. Solution: Create time via leverage. You may have heard the saying 'If you want something done, ask a busy person'.  Busy people fit more into their day because they look at ways to shortcut those tasks/jobs by leveraging their time.  A great example of leverage is outsourcing those tasks you would rather not do, or take up too much time. Natalie Morey, co-founder of the The Lifestylers Group, has found a way to help busy people free-up more time with a personal concierge service, personal organiser and time saver.  They organise all those things you don't have time to do or don't want to do.   The Lifestylers Group can help with getting meals organised, grocery shopping, cleaning as well as social events like dinners, holidays, etc.   Natalie can be reached at The Lifestylers Group, on 03 9654 6520 or www.thelifestylersgroup.com.au   2. 'I just have to get through this first before looking at everything else' Another 'excuse habit' that stops you from planning your success. Planning a wedding is a huge event.  It is an exercise in logistics, project management, HR, mediation, communication, and occasionally, health and safety.  It would be madness to leave the seating, catering, venue, table decorations etc. all to the last few days - major stress. In the same sense you have plan how to use your time so that you get the best return on each hour of your day. How do you plan your time? 1. List what needs to be achieved over the next 7 days 2. From that list isolate what needs to be achieved in the next 24 hours. 3. Plan your order of action according to:   a. What action will give me the best return   b. What is the most productive use of my time   c. What needs to be done now? Sure, a time plan can change in the first 30 minutes of your day.  So, just re-do your plan if/when that happens.   3. I just can't be bothered. This habit trains your body to become lazy. It sends a message that 'it is Ok to stop trying when you are outside your comfort zone'. If babies thought this way, they would never walk.  Instead, raise your standards by being accountable. a. Accountable to yourself. Write out clear targets and read them each day.  Stay mindful of where you want to go and what you want to achieve.  Set clear dates by which you want to accomplish certain tasks, etc.   Be accountable to yourself for your actions. b. Be accountable to others. Let others know of your targets, aspiration - personal and professional.  This way if you decide to fall in the habit of 'I just can't be bothered'  you will know that others have an expectation on you - which may kick you back in to gear.   Michael Licenblat B.Sc.(Psych) is a Resilience Expert who helps people in business bounce back fast from pressure, stress and burnout in their work and life. He is a professional speaker, coach and author of three books.   To download your free special report on the ‘Seven ways to prevent yourself becoming Over-Worked, Stressed-Out, and Run-Down’, visit: http://www.BounceBackFast.com Please Note: You are welcome to use my articles in your ezine, newsletter, journal, publication, etc., on the condition that you do not change the content or the article, and that you include my contact name and website details (as written in the table/box above).