out to accomplish.”

Sorenson says resourcefulness plays a critical role in a person’s ability to achieve lofty goals.

“People think that to be successful you need resources like money, connections, or technology,” he says. “In reality, the most important asset you can have is not resources, but
resourcefulness. Resourcefulness means you look inside and you find a way and you figure it out. Many incredible things have been created by people who had nothing but a resourceful mind and a hunger that fed the resourcefulness.”

Many performance experts tout the importance of a person’s “why” when seeking goals. Sorenson offers advice on that quest.

“When they really think about it, most people know their why from a high-level standpoint,” he says. “Most want to be happy, make a difference in the world, provide for their families, etc. I suggest that it’s more powerful, especially when focusing on a specific outcome that you desire, to align with your purpose rather than your why.”

He explains the difference: “A why is something that drives you; a purpose is something that pulls you. Being pulled toward your dream outcome is far more powerful than being pushed toward it. It starts by understanding what your purposes are. Look at the talents and abilities you have, look at the things you love to do, and align your desired dream outcome with those things, and you’ll find that over time your purpose will be uncovered.”

Sorenson subscribes to the idea that 100% commitment is easier than 99% or less.

“When you are 99% or less committed to something, you must make a decision every day whether you're going to keep your commitment. For example, if you want to quit consuming sugar, you’ll face temptation when going to the store, dining out, socializing with friends, and more. When the urge to break the commitment arises—and it will—if you're less than 100% committed, you will eventually succumb. In contrast, when you are 100% committed, you need to decide only once.”

At a time of year when many people are making resolutions, Sorenson says accomplishing goals is not about doing, it’s about becoming.

“Studies show that as many as 93% of people who set goals don't accomplish them,” he says. “Setting goals in the traditional way has a very high failure rate because we often focus on short-term tactics and try to push ourselves, leading to abandonment when the novelty wears off and the tasks become mundane and challenging. A much more powerful and effective way to achieve goals is to focus on the person you must become to accomplish that goal. When a goal is intertwined with your identity, every action becomes about building the person who will achieve that goal, rather than a mere tactic that will likely fail.”

Sorenson says creating a “commitment statement” is a critical step to bringing clarity and purpose to a person’s performance journey. He explains the process.

“A commitment statement is an ultimate declaration to yourself and a constant reminder of your commitment and the importance of keeping it,” he says. “When aligned with your clarity and purpose, a commitment statement allows you to remember it and inspires you daily as you recite the reasons behind your commitment and the importance of keeping it. To set a commitment statement, first, get clear on what you want, commit first to that thing, craft a statement that embodies your commitment that is concise, powerful, and meaningful to you. Then display your declaration so you can see it every day. Memorize it and recite it daily.”

Busyness is a common trap that can create a false sense of accomplishment and get in the way of a person’s attempts to reach important goals. Sorenson has a view on that, too. “Busyness is laziness,” he says. “Most of my adult life, I thought being busy was a measure of progress. But have you ever been busy doing things all day, only to discover at the end of the day that you got nothing done? The challenge with busyness is that it’s usually reactive to what is happening around you.

You show up to work and simply react to your emails, phone calls, meetings, conversations, and you spend your day ‘doing.’ I call this empty activity. Empty activity is very sneaky because it creates a false sense of progress. Look at your day and ask yourself if the things that are keeping you busy all day are actually progressing you toward what you want in life. Then begin focusing only on the things that are completely aligned with what you want. Eliminate the rest.”