And as we prepare to enter the year 2026, once again comes that familiar season: new goals, new resolutions, new promises to ourselves. But year after year, we see these resolutions wither not for lack of trying, not for lack of doing, but for lack of clear thinking. Among the more helpful tools that I have discovered for my own goal-setting endeavours is Brian Tracy’s “Seven Keys to Great Achievement” as carefully outlined in his book “Believe It to Achieve It”.

As Brian Tracy says, “Success is goals, and all else is commentary.” But even before goals, there is something even more basic.

The first of these “keys” is values. “Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony,” said Mahatma Gandhi—a statement about values. Make a list of your most important values and then ask yourself: “Are my activities in line with my values?” Success lacking values is empty; with values, even struggle can be meaningful. “The biggest adventure you can take is to live the life of your dreams.” Values will guide you there.

The second is vision. Vision is seeing tomorrow clearly with our eyes today. So, visualize your life five years from now as if all could go right—not fantasy, but intentional imagination. This is captured aptly by the words of Swami Vivekananda: “Take up one idea. Make that one idea your life.” Vision is the force that multiplies our actions.

Third, from vision, comes mission. Mission has nothing to do with titles or positions. It has to do with impact. How you can best define it, perhaps, is what you want others to say about you when you are long gone. The Japanese have a beautiful concept called Ikigai, which means reason for being. A life of mission is a contributing, not a consuming, life.

The fourth key is purpose. This is the why that drives a mission. This is where we answer the ultimate question of why. This is where we find our meaning in a way that author Viktor Frankl did from a place of ultimate human suffering. Those who suffered the most went on to lead meaningful lives in finding meaning outside themselves.

Only after these principles are in place do we get to the fifth key, which is “Goals.” Written goals are like a compass in a fog. There is an old story from India about a man who was rowing his boat all day but wasn’t getting anywhere. He finally figured out why. The boat was tied to the shore. Goals are the key to unlocking the rope. Do one small thing a day. It’s not how hard you work, but how much.

The sixth key to productivity is the practice of priorities. Time management, in truth, equals life management. You can’t do everything, but you can do what counts first. As the Bhagavad Gita urges through the words of Krishna to Arjuna, action with self-discipline in accordance with your duties will bring satisfaction. Select your “vital few” and ignore all the rest.

The seventh and final step is action. Dreams cannot achieve themselves without discipline. Willpower and consistency are the backbone of achievement. Brian Tracy has a formula for goal achievement: write out your goal, establish deadlines, list the obstacles, develop skills, seek assistance, plan, and then act on it. Action shows what thinking cannot do.

In order to continue on this process, develop a positive attitude through habits. Use affirming self-talk like these:

“I like myself.”

“I am responsible.”

“I am worthy.”

Imagine your success in detail. Keep people around you who make your spirits soar. Nourish your body, mind, and spirit with what builds you up—books, conversations, knowledge, and service. As a new year beckons, remember this fundamental principle: thoughts beget reality. Think clearly, choose consciously, and act fearlessly, and you will liberate yourself into a life of purpose, service, and inner bliss. Do not let 2026 become a year of resolutions but a year of realization.

Dr. Prahlada N.B
MBBS (JJMMC), MS (PGIMER, Chandigarh). 
MBA in Healthcare & Hospital Management (BITS, Pilani), 
Postgraduate Certificate in Technology Leadership and Innovation (MIT, USA)
Executive Programme in Strategic Management (IIM, Lucknow)
Senior Management Programme in Healthcare Management (IIM, Kozhikode)
Advanced Certificate in AI for Digital Health and Imaging Program (IISc, Bengaluru). 

Senior Professor and former Head, 
Department of ENT-Head & Neck Surgery, Skull Base Surgery, Cochlear Implant Surgery. 
Basaveshwara Medical College & Hospital, Chitradurga, Karnataka, India. 

My Vision: I don’t want to be a genius.  I want to be a person with a bundle of experience. 

My Mission: Help others achieve their life’s objectives in my presence or absence!

My Values:  Creating value for others. 

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