Studies on New Year’s Resolutions indicate that most have fallen off the agenda by February. And only 8% are followed through with for the whole year. No problem, maties, We are that amazing minority who succeeds when all else fail, right?
In our strategic planning, we aim for 3-5 yearly business objectives, we prioritize those that will have the biggest impact or leverage, or those which are deal breakers — if we don’t do them, something else critically important won’t happen. Why don’t we do this with our New Year’s resolutions?
In our business goal setting, we make a plan, we set intermediate goals and we check on the progress. Why don’t we do that with our New Year’s resolutions?
In our strategic calendaring, (managing our goals by blocking out private work time each week to bite off one piece of the elephant), we pick a few hours each week and have an appointment with ourselves to plan, dream, create, think — whatever we need to attack that strategic objective. Why don’t we do this with our New Year’s resolutions?
Are the Resolutions just nice to have? Are we just “should-ing” on ourselves? I “should” lose 10 pounds, I “should” call my family more often, I “should” do more charitable work?
I’m guessing these resolutions are important, they just aren’t urgent. Without a specific plan to achieve them, broken down into weekly steps, with time blocked out at least 2 days each week in our calendars, they will disappear before February. Make 2016 a break-out year with a real plan. Happy New Year!
Photo by NP Udaipur, India Dec. 25, 2015