I was thinking about New Year’s resolutions and how few of them we actually keep. Did you know that 50% of resolutions are broken within the first two weeks of the New Year? And that by the end of January a full 95% of resolutions are abandoned?
That’s right…only 5% of New Year’s resolutions are kept even beyond January!
The reasons that so many resolutions fail within such a short amount of time are primarily due to:
1. Procrastination
2. Lack of discipline
3. No game plan
4. Doing it alone
Bottom line: The majority of resolutions fail because only a small percentage of people with resolutions ever do something about them.
Don’t let this happen to you. Don’t let 2014 be the same old New Year…where you start off with renewed energy and wonderful ideas only have them end up on the "95% scrap heap." Whatever your goals are for 2014, I urge you to put them into action. Don’t wait anymore. Action creates results.
So if you’re really serious about making some positive changes this year, here are some surefire ways to make them happen:
1. Schedule a Meeting to Map Your Way
Stay with me here. You wouldn’t drive anywhere without knowing the way, so why would you feel any different for something as important as you and your life? Ask yourself important questions like "Where do I want to be one year from now?" and "What three things are most important for me to accomplish this year?" Write down your responses. This will give you a clear indication on the direction you need to go.
2. Have a Daily Planning System
We know from our previous comment it would be just plain wrong to drive somewhere without knowing the way. It’s just as important to know why you’re going there. Writing down your goals will effectively prove their worth to you, and give you the reason to start driving toward them. Capture the benefits of accomplishing your goals and the consequences of falling short.
3. Define Your Key Results
Key results provide an indication of your progress toward your goals. These will be milestones or signs that you’re heading in the right direction. It’s important to determine your key results and write them down so you know throughout the year if you’re on track or not.
4. Take Action
Action creates results. Now is the time to take everything you know about your desired goals and prioritize your activities to achieve results. You can do this by selecting the most productive actions to reach your key results. Now get those actions into your calendar or day planner.
The important thing is that you take the actions that will give you the best chance of reaching your objectives. Remember to write these down so you have a concise roadmap to succeed.
5. Give Yourself a Reward
If you’ve followed the above steps for any length of time you’re bound to be making progress. Rewarding yourself will motivate you to further reach your goals. You can now appreciate the fact that you are one of the motivated few (and a member of the "5% Club") who made it! Pat yourself on the back…you deserve it.
After you’ve experienced the power of this kind of goal-setting, it will be hard to do it any other way. But don’t delay; take the time right now to define your goals for 2014. Create your plan and take action. You’ll be glad you did!
Please contact us if you’d like to discuss how to make this plan work for you.