The truth about New Year’s resolutions is that of those who make them, the majority breaks their resolutions within the first few weeks. Why is that? I have a friend who has made a promise to quit smoking over and over again, but she just can’t seem to stick with it.
Many people resolve to lose weight and exercise more, get more organized, or save money. What is it that you are resolving to do? Making resolutions about what it is we want to accomplish without spending time actually putting a plan into action is what usually leads to a promise not kept.
Many articles advise you to tell someone else what your resolutions are, because telling others makes it harder to break the promise you have made to yourself. Here is another way to look at that strategy: if you tell the world (aka your co workers and your boss) that you sincerely plan to do something, and don't do it, think about what message that sends to others. It can send the message that you can’t, don’t, or won’t keep a commitment to yourself. I’ve worked with more than one person who announces their resolution to the entire office only to revert back to doing the very thing they said was derailing their life in someway. If this happens year after year, it sends a message, unintentionally of course, that you don’t take doing something for yourself seriously.
Now look at the other side of this scenario. If you tell the people you work with about your intention and actually accomplish it, you send the message that you are a person who means business. You are someone who can make a commitment to do something hard and make it happen. I have promoted more than one person because of how impressed I was that they were able to demonstrate they could make up their mind to do something to improve their life and actually accomplished it.
We all want people on our team who can cross the finish line. Make this the year that you resolve to tackle something you have always wanted to do and make it happen. My friend, Marty, used to say, “If it is to be, it is up to me.” No one can accomplish our goals for us – we have to count on ourselves to follow through. Happy New Year and may all of your resolutions come true.
Many people resolve to lose weight and exercise more, get more organized, or save money. What is it that you are resolving to do? Making resolutions about what it is we want to accomplish without spending time actually putting a plan into action is what usually leads to a promise not kept.
Many articles advise you to tell someone else what your resolutions are, because telling others makes it harder to break the promise you have made to yourself. Here is another way to look at that strategy: if you tell the world (aka your co workers and your boss) that you sincerely plan to do something, and don't do it, think about what message that sends to others. It can send the message that you can’t, don’t, or won’t keep a commitment to yourself. I’ve worked with more than one person who announces their resolution to the entire office only to revert back to doing the very thing they said was derailing their life in someway. If this happens year after year, it sends a message, unintentionally of course, that you don’t take doing something for yourself seriously.
Now look at the other side of this scenario. If you tell the people you work with about your intention and actually accomplish it, you send the message that you are a person who means business. You are someone who can make a commitment to do something hard and make it happen. I have promoted more than one person because of how impressed I was that they were able to demonstrate they could make up their mind to do something to improve their life and actually accomplished it.
We all want people on our team who can cross the finish line. Make this the year that you resolve to tackle something you have always wanted to do and make it happen. My friend, Marty, used to say, “If it is to be, it is up to me.” No one can accomplish our goals for us – we have to count on ourselves to follow through. Happy New Year and may all of your resolutions come true.
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