The Press-Dispatch

A-4 The Press-Dispatch Wednesday, December 18, 2013 Watershed meeting, discussion set for Jan. 3 To learn about your watershed, a meeting will be conducted Friday, Jan. 3, 2014, from 9 a.m. until noon EST, at Sugar Ridge Fish & Wildlife Area, located at 2310 East SR 364, Winslow. There will be a discussion on what watersheds are, how they benefit us, and how we can help ensure they remain healthy. Professionals will present a wide variety of watershed and water quality related topics designed to give a basic understanding of wa- tersheds and watershed conservation. Space is limited, RSVP as soon as possible. Highlights of the meeting: •  Handouts will be provided •  Light refreshments will be available •  A number of local experts will be available to answer questions. For more information, contact Amanda BradshawBurks: 812-463-2655 or abrad@inh2o.org. VU Foundation announces new online scholarship application process The Vincennes University Foundation announces the launch of its first-ever online scholarship application process. Incoming and current VU students should visit www.vinu.edu/scholarships and click "Apply for Scholarships" to apply for financial assistance. The VU Foundation has received a record of over 2,100 scholarship applications for the 2013-14 academic year and the forecast is for even higher numbers for 2014-15. "We are very excited to launch our online scholarship application this week, said VU Foundation President Bumper Hostetler. "The user-friendly system will make the application process much easier for students and parents and allow us to respond even more efficiently to our stu- dents." All students should complete a scholarship application, regardless of academic standing and financial status, according to the VU Foundation. Applicants are also urged to make note of deadlines and plan to turn in all applications no later than one week before each deadline. Although the Foundation awards scholarships throughout the academic year, applications received prior to the January 15 deadline receive priority consideration for the following school year. More information about the VU Foundation, its scholarship process, and how to make contributions to scholarships or create a scholarship fund can be found at www.vinu.edu/foundation or by calling 812-888-4510. Lechner's Excavating widens CR50S A trouble spot on County Road 50S was widened by Lechner's Excavating last week. County Highway Department Assistant Superintendent Josh Byrd said there have been several accidents at the narrow hilltop. Byrd said he contacted Lechner's and they agreed to volunteer their machinery and labor to widen the road at the hilltop. Above is the 'before' and left is the 'after.' There's always next year: The real reason resolutions fizzle If you're one of the 92 percent of Americans whose New Year's resolutions fail, you might assume you have a willpower deficiency. Not true, says Brian Moran. The real problem is that a year is just too much time—switch to 12 weeks and you might finally reach your goal. Hoboken, NJ (December 2013)—Everybody loves a new year. It's a bright, shiny, fresh, clean slate. A vista unblemished by mistakes or regrets. A brand-new chance to make Those Changes and accomplish Those Things we've been meaning to do forever. Yet, undermining all this glorious potential is the hidden truth we're aware of even as we proclaim that this time we'll really lose 20 pounds or get out of debt or finally launch that longdreamed-of business: New Year's resolutions are nothing more than fairy tales we grown-ups tell ourselves. That's right. If you're like 92 percent of Americans, you're not going to keep those resolutions. What's more, you know it. What you may not know, says Brian Moran, is why. "The number one enemy of most New Year's resolutions isn't feasibility, a lack of know-how, or even a lack of motivation, though those things can come into play," says Moran, coauthor along with Michael Lennington of the New York Times best seller The 12 Week Year: Get More Done in 12 Weeks Than Others Do in 12 Months "The number one enemy of most resolutions is time." Think about it: It's all too easy to procrastinate through January, February, March, and even longer. No problem, you think. I have over half a year left to do what I said I'd do. Even when July and August roll around, there are still enough months left in the year that you don't feel a real sense of urgency. Next thing you know, the holidays are almost upon you. You're still over your ideal weight, drinking too many sodas a day, working the same job, with less savings than you'd like. Too late to do anything now, you figure. I'll try again next year. "For many people, this depressing chain of events recycles on a yearly basis because far-away deadlines allow—even encourage—us to be slack on execution," comments Moran. "Give yourself too much time and you will procrastinate. It's just human nature." Ultimately, says Moran, effective execution happens daily and weekly and on a consistent basis. To perform at your best, you will need to get out of "annual mode" and stop thinking in terms of a 365 day year. That's where the 12 Week Year comes in. It's a system that works for businesses striving to meet their goals—and it will work for you, too. "When you redefine the concept of a year, your life will change," promises Moran. "A year is no longer 12 months; it is now only 12 weeks, followed by the next 12 Week Year, ad infinitum. Each 12 week period stands on its own. "You no longer have the luxury of putting off critical activities, thinking there is 'plenty of time' left to meet your goals," he adds. "When you have only 12 weeks, each week matters, each day matters, each moment matters. And the result is profound." Here, Moran offers eight ways to get yourself out of the annualized thinking trap—and into the muchmore-productive 12 Week Year, where resolutions do come true: Realize that success is created in the moment. According to Moran, most of us have a skewed definition of success. We see it as the end of the road: the completion of a project, the day you're finally able to button your old pants, receive an award, etc. However, he argues, true success isn't any of those things. It isn't a list of all the clients you brought in over the course of a year, or the number you see when you stand on the scale on December 31. It isn't something that happens only once at the end of a planning cycle. 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"As the CEO of your own life, you need to have the courage to measure your performance in the areas that matter," Moran says. "That's much easier when your goals and tasks are broken down into 12 week increments. Effective scorekeeping prevents you from rationalizing lackluster results and forces you to confront the reality of your situation, even when it's uncomfortable. While this can be difficult, the sooner you confront reality, the sooner you can shift your actions toward producing more desirable results." Be honest about your track record. How many promises and commitments do you welsh on in the course of 12 months? Probably more than you'd like to admit to. Continued on page 11 End of the Year CLoSeD DeCeMBer or faster se ad f rv he a to create end-of-year energy, focus, and commitment throughout the year." Put a little less faith in your yearly planner. In other words, be realistic about your ability to plan ahead. Life—including what we want out of it—can (and often does) change in an instant. What you thought you wanted for yourself in January might not be what makes the most sense by the time July, or October, or December rolls around. Your circumstances and abilities may have changed. The truth is, even the most thoroughly thought-out annual plans are based on assumptions that are stacked upon earlier assumptions, which are stacked on even earlier assumptions—and a lot can (and often does) change from start to finish. "Once you realize that there's just not enough predictability to make annualized planning effective, the 12 Week Year begins to make a lot more sense," Moran comments. "Personally and professionally, 12 weeks is about as far out as you can reliably plan. There's a much stronger connection between the actions you take today and the results you want to achieve, because you don't have to take as much of the future on faith. Who wants to waste time going partway down a certain path, only to realize that you were mistaken and should have taken a different turn?" MATTRESS CLOSEOUT CHriStMaS 24 & 25 aLL Day number of prospects a day or getting up on cold mornings to run when you'd rather stay in bed," he explains. "You just can't reach your full potential if you put off critical activities. Success does not happen monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, or once a year; it happens daily, ultimately moment by moment. You succeed—or not—long before the results show it. When you adopt this definition of success, you'll want to make the most of your time, not squander it. And the 12 Week Year can help." Redefine your relationship with deadlines. Most of us see deadlines (December 31st featuring prominently among them) as the bad guy. They're always looming on the horizon, overshadowing our peace of mind and hassling us to work faster, or else. They make us nervous, resentful, or both. 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