Will your New Year’s Resolution for your business Stick or Fail?

A better solution than a Resolution

  

This is the time of year when most of us start thinking about our new years resolution for our businesses.

Whether it is starting a new business or improving the processes of the current businesses, resolutions play a key part for many of us.

Resolutions are elusive and dangerous especially for a business. Why?

  Think back to the times when you or someone you knew made a new year’s resolution and did not stick to it. Think about how it made you or them feel.

We have to go no further than our local health facility to see what takes place every January. The gyms are filled with people that have every intention of getting fit. By the time March of the same year arrives the gym is back to the normal levels of dedicated members with only a few additional committed people. Statics show on average, 26% of the New Year’s resolutions are achieved. That means there is a 74% failure rate. That’s not encouraging at all.

  To me it seems like a New Year’s resolution is like a wish instead of a catalyst to kick start something great for the New Year. 

Resolution: (from resolve)

1. A formal expression of opinion or intention made, usually after voting, by a formal organization, a   legislature, a club, or other group. Compare concurrent resolution, joint resolution.

2. A resolve or determination: to make a firm resolution to do something.

3. The act of resolving or determining upon an action or course of action, method, procedure, etc.

4. The mental state or quality of being resolved or resolute; firmness of purpose.

Resolve:

to come to a definite or earnest decision about; determine (to do something): I have resolved that I shall live to the full.

  Based on the definition, a resolution can be looked at as a “made up mind” if you will. The challenge with this is a made up mind does not lead to action.    How many times have we decided to quit smoking, exercise more or get our finances in order (to name a few), only to succumb to the same comfortable routine that lead us to have the "made up mind" in the first place?

To me resolutions can be a trap.  

Why do I feel that resolutions are traps?

• They are normally made “in the moment” without a plan
• A future date is set thus creating pressure and stress with anticipation of the start date.
• Allows for time and excuses not to follow through or even start the stated New Years resolution.

If New Year’s resolutions are traps what is a better solution?

A better solution is to set goals before the New Year starts.

Goals:

The result or achievement toward which effort is directed; aim; end.

 Synonyms
1. target; purpose, object, objective, intent, intention. 2. finish.

What are some of the advantages to setting goals vs. making a New Year’s resolution? 

• Gives us direction and something to aim towards?
• Allows for focus
• Offers guidelines
• Promotes action

  How should we set goals for the New Year?

Get started immediately. Devise a plan to promote action thus creating momentum heading into the New Year.

  Where should we start? I was always taught there has to be a reason why we do anything. If there is no reason why, nothing gets done. Without a reason why, it is easy to quit when faced with roadblocks setbacks and obstacles. Establish a WHY.

If a business is established, revisit the reason why. If applicable add additional reasons why. Go over goals, milestones and accomplishments from the previous months. Look for opportunities for improvements and implement those into the New Years goal.

Share your goals with a trusted and supportive friend or family member, this will promote accountability.

Do some research!

Find the most successful individuals in your field and study them. Read as much information on them as you can. Subscribe to their newsletters, link to their blogs and if possible get on their email list. Why?

We assimilate those in which we most associate. To put it simple, If they are the most successful people in their industry and we do what they did we will have what they have. The most important is don’t give up and don’t quit.  Should we be so brave to follow these steps and dare to follow our dreams we will find that our New Year will be rewarding and fulfilled. Happy New Year and please share your goals for the New Year.