Do you want to be the leader of your life and make 2010 your best year yet?  Unfortunately, the deck is stacked against you. While women are statistically more likely to set goals, they are also more likely not to achieve them. Why? Women are less likely to follow-through and more likely to give over their personal power to someone else or other agendas.

Are you one of the many women who ends the old year with optimism and high hopes, and then gets depressed in the new year when you let yourself down? Take heart! Here is what you need to do to take charge of your life in 2010.

1 – Make sure your goal is clearly defined. When want to achieve a goal, if you say you want a better job, more money, a good relationship, or a bigger house, you're setting yourself up for disappointment from the getgo. Instead of roughing out some nebulous sketch, paint yourself a really clear picture. Let yourself know what you really mean by more money. Do you mean $5000 more or a 10% salary increase? Does a better job mean work that ignites your passion or one with coworkers who function as a cohesive team?

Clarity will determine how you plan. Also, the clearer you are about what you want, the more likely you are to attract the people and situations that give it to you. When you transform weak goals into dynamic ones, your life will follow suit!

2 – Make a plan. First, divide your goal into three sections. Next split each section into three part. Finally, divide those into small steps so you know exactly what to do next. For example, if you want a new job, do you need to get more education or improve your networking skills to be more effective? If a new relationship is your goal and you play tennis, sail, or dance, go to the places where you can meet someone who shares your common interests. Get out and do what you love. If you love sailing, take a class and go to events like the Dad Vail Regatta. Don't stay at home thinking Mr. Right will come knocking at your door.

Once you shape your plan, find resources to help you. You can read books, find out what your professional association has to offer, tap the expertise of a mentor, hire a coach, or join a victory team. Also, the internet has put dozens of resources at your fingertips. The more resources you utilize, the easier reaching your goal will be.

3 – Know your obstacles. One of the biggest mistakes in the goal-achieving process is setting a goal and getting started without taking obstacles into account. So when stuff happens along the way, you get derailed. Prepare in advance for what you can. If education is an issue, find out how to either take the courses you need, or strategize how you'll position your experience to make up for education. If you are a person who needs support, gather together some friends who can be your personal "board of directors" and ask for their help.

For most women, the greatest challenge is stoking their emotional energy. It's the number one reason women fail to achieve their goals. Even before you get started, find out what your emotional drains are and plug them up. The more challenges you can anticipate and prepare for in advance, the fewer stone walls you'll hit.

4 – Focus on Victory. Thinking about victory is what will keep you motivated when you feel like quitting. If your goal is to get a desired job, why do you want it? Getting the job is great, but that's not all there is. Focus your victory thinking on (1) Emotions: think about how much more confident you feel for having gotten that new job or promotion, or how much more you'll enjoy going to work every day; and (2) Skills: think about where that degree or certification can take you, or how you kicked your negotiating or influencing skills up a notch to get that promotion. Jobs come or go, but skill-building lasts forever!

If you follow these four steps, you are sure to be both successful and victorious in 2010. More importantly, you'll establish a foundation for a successful decade. Get started today, and keep going.

Resolved in 2010: live victoriously - out loud and in living color.

© 2009 Annmarie Kelly. All rights reserved. You are welcome to share this article, in whole or in part, as long as copyright and attribution are included.

Annmarie Kelly is a leadership expert who encourages women to "live out loud and in living color" by overcoming adversity and transforming challenges into opportunities. The author of Victorious Woman! Shaping Life's Challenges into Personal Victories, Annmarie invites you to go to www.skillbuildersystems.com or www.victoriouswoman.com and get her free newsletter, which include tips, special offers and upcoming events, including teleseminars and victory teams.

Annmarie's next Teleseminar is on January 18: Breaking the Cycle of Overcare.

Also, to schedule an interview or to book Annmarie for a workshop or keynote, call/email: info@victoriouswoman.com, 610.738.8225