We are five days into the New Year and some people are probably already concerned about their ability to successfully reach the goals they set for themselves.

Some research conducted by Gail Matthews, a professor of Psychology at Dominican University in California can help those of us who might be concerned (and could use a little boost) to set the odds in our favor.

Dr. Matthews found that people who do three things when they set goals can increase their chances of goal success from 43% to 76%.  Here’s what she found out in conducting a research project with 149 adults from various businesses, organizations, and business networking groups on completing a project, increasing income, increasing productivity, getting organized, enhancing performance/achievement, enhancing life balance, reducing work anxiety or learning a new skill.

• Those who wrote their goals accomplished significantly more than those who did not write their goals. (+18 percentage points)
• Those who sent their commitments to a friend accomplished significantly more than those who wrote action commitments or did not write their goals. (+21 percentage points)
• Those who sent weekly progress reports to their friend accomplished significantly more than those who had unwritten goals, wrote their goals, formulated action commitments or sent those action commitments to a friend. (+33 percentage points)

Wouldn’t it be great to achieve 76% of the goals we set for ourselves in 2015?  Write down your goals, send them to a friend, and then set a time for weekly progress reports.  It’s work, it’ll take some time, and you’ll be making yourself vulnerable and accountable—but you’ll also be setting yourself up for success!