Yup, I’ve been there before in past years. New Year’s comes, and one of the annual questions is “what is your New Year’s resolution?” Arghh! It almost makes me yearn for Y2K again! Almost. I understand the sentiment that a new year is about rebirth, a chance to start over, but please - resolutions!? If we were smart, resolutions would be a fad whose time has come and gone. Why? Because, generally speaking, they don’t work. According to one study, only 75% of resolutions are maintained past the first week, and by the time six months pass, only 46% remain in place. Another study showed that after one year, only 12% of “resolutioners” felt they were still on track. The three top reasons were found to be procrastination, lack of discipline and no game plan. Very few people are successful in their resolve to lose weight, exercise more or watch less TV (I speak from experience on at least two of these). You see, it’s just not that simple. How many people keep promises to other people, not to mention themselves? It’s hard! Sorry, but I love oreo’s, and if they’re in the house, I’m eating them, and no “resolution” is going to stop me.
When it comes to life plans and the pursuit of success, what you really need is a Plan. The difference is, a resolution is (usually) spontaneous, a plan is birthed. A resolution is fleeting, a plan is durable. A resolution is invisible, a plan is concrete. A resolution is vague, a plan is detailed. A resolution is cheap, a plan is commitment. Resolution time comes once a year, a plan can come when you are ready (which is why I'm posting this AFTER New Year's!) When you really want to accomplish something, with which do you think you’d be better off, a resolution, or a plan? Proper planning requires serious motivation, forethought, a pencil and paper (at least in the old days) and an organized system to track progress, at least weekly. Is this more difficult? Yes. Is it more effective? Absolutely, when done with commitment. I believe lack of self-discipline is the real culprit for lack of follow-through with resolutions, but by turning the resolution into a real plan with detailed steps, a time frame, and accountability, it can become a plan that leads to success. What is accountability? Visibility to yourself and others. Post your plan and tracking system where you will see it throughout the course of your day. Have someone else on your “team” to track your progress with you, someone you won’t mind pushing you on it. Make it a public effort by posting your progress on Facebook or Twitter. When you fail by yourself, you don’t mind as much. When you fail publicly, it hurts more. Pride is a strong motivator, and that’s what this is really all about - motivation. If you aren’t motivated, success is doomed. A Plan addresses motivation, a resolution dances around it. Find out what REALLY motivates you, and use it. Then make a plan.
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