“Many of us made those New Year’s resolutions. It’s time to check your progress against your goal.” I have made that statement to a number of friends and business associates over the last couple days. Most either say, “Who remembers?” or “It’s too early to gauge, with the weather and all.”

What about you? Feb. 15 marks half of the first quarter of 2010. Are you halfway to your first-quarter goals or are you waiting for the weather to . . .  get sunny, stop snowing, be warmer, be colder?

Are you making excuses—being a pro at goal setting rather than being the goal achiever?

One study shows that 70 percent of Americans make New Year’s resolutions, but a whopping 45 percent of those resolutions fail by the end of January. The 70 percent making resolutions have historically reported an 8 percent success rate. Hooray for the 8 percent goal achievers, but what about the 92 percent goal setters?

How do we become the “achiever” in personal life and in our businesses? When we understand and embrace “Whatever your mind can conceive and can believe, it can achieve.” (Napoleon Hill).

Understanding that your thoughts impact your success is a life-changing moment. Do you ever consciously “think” about what you are thinking? Are your thoughts related to your goals or have you allowed the excuses of everyday life to move you to negativity?  “Whatever your mind can conceive and can believe, it can achieve.” It is a fact.

Today, rethink your 2010 goals knowing that if you can conceive it and believe it, you can achieve it.

Remove the “don’t,” “can’t,” “it will never work,” “we’ve tried that” from your thought processes. Decide what you want in business this year (though this also works in any area of your life); only you can conceive your true desire. Now want it enough—make it powerful enough that you can see it in your mind’s eye and believe it. Recognize the difference in believing in something and merely wanting something. Expect the results and you will achieve it.

When you think you “can’t,” remember Patrick Henry Hughes, born with no eyes and a joint disease that crippled him. As a child he was fitted with artificial eyes and used a wheelchair. Early on his parents discovered his musical talent. Today, Hughes is a  junior at the University of Louisville. A nearly all-A student, he is a member of the 200+ member marching band, with his father rolling and rotating him around the field. His father works the graveyard shift so he is able to attend classes and every band practice. Hughes said, “God made me blind and unable to walk. Big deal! He gave me the ability, the musical gifts and the great opportunity to meet new people.”

It’s not too late. Today is the first day of the rest of your life!

Kathy Boyd Blackwell, a Partner in T.I.E.D. to Success, is a personal and business consultant, and a motivational and seminar speaker. After 25+ years of experience in long term care management, Kathy and business partner, Darin Britt, share their combined knowledge to Transform others by Inspiration, Education and Determination to Success.