We are all going into the new year with goals and aspirations, just as it should be. There is something wonderful about a NEW year, a chance to start fresh.

If I asked just about anyone "do you want to have more money this year than last year?", what do you think they'd say? Probably yes, right? But how many of us are actually willing to take the action necessary to make it happen?

Or how many of us don't know the steps to take to make it a reality?

Having more money is not something we can do by wanting it alone, it requires more. Let's explore 4 ways we can make that happen this year.

1) Write your goal down, and make it definite.

If we just want to "make more money", that could mean anything. The way to reach a higher goal is to write out a goal that is specific and achievable, but high enough to make us sweat a little.

For instance, if we normally get out of bed at 9am but want to start getting up earlier, do you think it'll work to just say, 'I want to wake up earlier!'. No, we need a definite and specific plan or we'll be snoozing until that alarm clock rings at 9.

If, however, we decide to try waking up at 5:15 each morning rather than 9, we know exactly how that will turn out. The snooze button will become our new best friend and we won't wake up for hours.

To set a goal, it needs to be something we are able to do and something we can check off a list. Waking up at 8 for a few months might be a better option. Later down the road, once we've practiced getting up an hour earlier than normal, we can try for something more challenging. This basic lesson can be applied to setting any goal you may have...including making more money.

2) Be persistent.

Do you want to be a successful trader? Good!! Then it's time to decide that's what you will be and stick to it.

Napoleon Hill, a millionaire from the early 1900's and someone who has inspired countless other people to become millionaires said,

"What a different story people would tell if only they would adopt a definite purpose and stand by that purpose until it had time to become an all-consuming obsession."

It's easy to become discouraged when it feels like doors are closing all around you, but so often success is right around the corner from failure. This is why success eludes so many. If it came easily, we would all be successful! Success takes just enough persistence to separate itself from the majority of the population. But you can have it, if you decide nothing will stop you from getting there.

3) Learn to love failure.

We all know no one really loves failure, but if you ask almost any successful person if they have ever failed, most might laugh and say OF COURSE!!

Somewhere along the line, we have accepted the idea that failing is bad. We might even think that if we run into one small obstacle, that it is God telling us we are headed the wrong way. But God never promised an easy life! What DID He say?

"The gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few." (Matt 7:13-14)

Failure is often actually a tool we can use and learn from rather than a sign we are taking the wrong route.

4) Become an optimist.

Whether it's your personality or not, looking at life, and specifically trading, from a positive point of view can change everything.

Napoleon Hill also said this, "Both poverty and riches are the offspring of thought".

Henry Ford said something similar, "Whether you think you can or you think you can't, you're right".

Our mindset makes up so much more than we give it credit. If we believe we can trade, we will succeed and the system works, you'd be surprised how much it changes the outcome.

Welcome to 2015! We can't wait to hear how you implement these 4 principles in your own life, and what kind of result they will bring!!