I consider myself blessed to come into contact with individuals who are on their own individual paths to turn dreams into realities. I know so many people who have gone on to do amazing things. Each success story becomes an uplifting reminder of what can happen if we set our intentions with the Universe. I’d like to talk about someone who has been particularly successful on his journey — my friend, Jay.

Jay had made a career of selling mufflers — something he had been doing for a very long time. However, Jay always knew that he was meant to do something more. He felt he could accomplish something “bigger” for his life: he wanted to create his own company. Realizing his passion for marketing (especially the online sector), Jay set out as an entrepreneur.

However, Jay was not alone in his vision — he had a support group in the form of a friend who always wanted to do the same thing. As the two began to build their business together, they held each other accountable. With the same end goal in mind, they were able to motivate and encourage each other through the trials and tribulations of starting a company.

Jay now owns one of the best marketing companies in the United States. He went from selling mufflers to living his dreams.

With a success story like this, the common reaction is, “He made something out of nothing!” While it certainly seems that is so, “something” is actually never made out of “nothing.” Jay’s inherent passions and goals were always “there,” in some form. They just weren’t materialized. Through consistent self-development, Jay was able to pinpoint his vision, and then surround himself with people who shared that vision.

The Law of Attraction does not work like a microwave. You can’t just put the idea out and wait a little while for everything to come out just as you envisioned it. It’s a process, and you need to be constantly plugged into that process. Some people do this unconsciously and act on autopilot, attracting the right people to them. Others need to really work at improving their level of awareness, and actively seek out like-minded people.

Obviously, it’s not easy to go from selling mufflers to owning your own multi-million dollar company, but the right combination of self-development, dedication, and consistency made Jay’s path run a little smoother.

Every year, as the New Year approaches, we are bombarded with messages pressuring us to pick a resolution for the next twelve months. For some reason or another, we have been conditioned to think of January 1st as this clean slate upon which to write our biggest intentions.

Whether it’s losing weight, quitting smoking, or getting out of debt, we somehow think that when the clock strikes midnight, we’ll magically know how to get these areas of our life under control. As a life coach, I’m often approached by people trying to define their own New Year’s resolutions. Here’s my advice: I think your resolution should be to not have a resolution.

Here’s why:

Every day should be a resolution. Every day you wake up, you should have a desire to make something of your life. January 1 is just a day — it doesn’t mean that it’s some magical date when you start working toward your dream. I’m skeptical of New Year’s resolutions because of what normally happens to people who declare them: They don’t finish what they start. What happens then? Do you wait until next January?

People make the same resolutions over and over because they are not seeing every day as an opportunity to make something happen. Awaken your awareness and ask yourself, what areas of my life feel incomplete? Try to think back to a time when you may have been discouraged because you let negative thoughts manifest themselves into your daily life. These thoughts tell us we are not good enough, that we cannot accomplish our goals — and we believe them. What are some ways you can transform those thoughts into positive affirmations the next time they enter your mind?

This awareness can happen on January 1st, or January 2nd, or March 30th, or August 15th. My point is, live in the now. I don’t believe in “next January,” or “last January,” for that matter. Last January is over. New Year’s Day is over. Be present, and realize it’s never too late. YOU decide when your New Year’s Day should be!

It’s extremely important to have a support group as you try to find your life’s purpose. Why? Because the journey is going to be hard!

You know that if something is too good to be true, it probably isn’t. You have to put in time and sacrifice, and there is no better method of motivation than having somebody who believes in you and keeps you moving forward.

As a life coach, I can speak for myself when I say that I see firsthand the benefits a support system can produce. Coaches in particular can be very useful and efficient with clients, and I love seeing their progress with each visit. But support can come in the form of a family member, a best friend, a co-worker, or a member of your church. Human beings are social beings. We need that touch, that relationship, and if we don’t have it, it’s extremely hard to accomplish our goals.

Behind every successful person is a group of great people, cheering him or her on. Think about the network of Martin Luther King, Jr. and how he relied on them for support, advice, and encouragement.

Or look at the 2008 presidential candidates: Obama had a renowned online-savvy network that connected him to the latest social networks, while McCain was behind the power curve and had to catch up. By being involved with Facebook and Twitter so early on, Obama was able to expand his reach and develop a successful campaign. And what else is a campaign if not a collection of people rallying behind you to get your to your goal, even if that goal is to be President of the United States?

You want to be a doctor? Spending time with people who are satisfied with working at a fast food restaurant will not serve you to achieve your goal, because they won’t hold you accountable. Instead spend a good portion of your time with people who also want to be doctors, as you’ll develop a camaraderie and push each other to stay focused. Find the people who do what you want to do, and hang out with them.

Like we talked about in past entries, it is so easy to get off track. Some might criticize you because they don’t have the passion or drive to do what you’re doing. Those people will only bring you down. A true accountability partner can remind you what your purpose is.

Aim to hang out with people who uplift you and your ideas.