So, how are those New Year's resolutions coming?

New Years’ resolutions? What New Years’ resolutions? (This was the year you were really going to grow your business, right?)

Don’t get me wrong, New Years’ resolutions have their place. They help you take stock of your current situation, determine where you want to go, and think about what you need to do to get there.
Research shows that half the people who make resolutions at the start of January have given up on them completely by the end of June. In fact, the number of people actually making New Years’ resolutions is dropping, which seems to indicate these promises just don’t work.* Why do so many people fall off the wagon?
Fact is, most New Years’ resolutions are just wishes or intentions, and part of the enthusiasm of the moment, not actual commitments. And most of us change only when we have to, not when we want to. Better yet, why not make a resolution to not make any more resolutions, (which are just invitations to feel bad when you forget about them), but rather, to get serious.

You’re serious? OK, then let’s get down to business. A New Years’ resolution is another word for a goal. Here are some important questions to consider when deciding what New Years’ resolutions (goals) to make:
· What are my priorities? Is this the most important thing for me to achieve this year?
· What strengths, talents, skills, and experiences can I personally leverage?
· What resources will I need from others to achieve this business goal?
· How long will it really take me?
· What are the significant steps/milestones along the way?
· What are the risks and opportunities of making and achieving this resolution?
· Why hasn’t this already happened? What is in the way?
· What will be the impact of achieving this? How will my life and my customers’ lives be different?
· Am I ready to have this happen? (Be careful what you wish for; you may get it!)
· What do I need to start, stop, or keep doing (thinking, feeling, achieving) to make this happen? What will I need to give up?

You’ve done some soul searching and are ready to proceed. Good for you! Want to know how to actually achieve that goal and avoid making the common mistakes people make? Some of you may recognize this SMART acronym from business.

Make your goal…
Specific. The more specific your goal, the easier it will be to achieve it. There’s a big difference between “Take My Business to the Next Level,” versus “Increase my Revenue for my New Product Line by 20% in Six Months,” or “Get my Accounts Receivable/Payable Books Balanced by Beginning of Tax Season.”

Measurable. Otherwise, how will you know how to assess progress or know when you’ve achieved it? The measures are built in to the goals above. You can easily determine whether your revenue did increase by 20% at the end of six months, and you’ll see your accountant smile by balancing your books ahead of tax season!

Achievable. Is it within reasonable reach, given your current situation? For example, “Create my Business Plan in Three Months,” not “Create my Business Plan in Five Minutes.”

Realistic and relevant. Does this goal fit your mission and purpose in life? Is it something you can actually do something about? For example, “Finance a philanthropic foundation with 10% of my New Product Line Revenues, Speaking Engagements, and Passive Web Income,” not “Become Queen of the Universe of all Products Everywhere.”

Timebound. Don’t leave it open-ended. Otherwise, you’re letting yourself off the hook. For example, “Get My Accounts Receivable/Payable Books Balanced by Beginning of Tax Season,” not (you get the picture).

Here’s another: Make an appointment with an accountability partner. This could be a relative, friend, business associate, or coach. An American Society of Training and Development (ASTD) study found that you’re 95% more likely to complete an action if you’ve got someone to which to report progress. This partner can serve the functions of mentor, manager, and sports coach, believing in you and helping you believe in yourself, ensuring you have a solid plan, and keeping you focused, on track and in action.

Many will still find it hard to keep going after a certain amount of time. If you do fall off the wagon, it’s important not to beat yourself up. Get a fresh perspective by changing environments. Look at what this slip tells you about what you need to do differently; learn from it. Focus on the process, not the outcome...and don’t bite off more than you can chew. Take it one day and one small action at a time.

Finally, before you declare your New Years’ resolution to the world, think twice. Ensure you’re really committed. You don’t want to be labeled the boy (or girl) who cried Wolf. It could damage your integrity and reputation. For some, just making the resolution is the action. It’s not. Show, don’t tell.

Why wait for New Years’ to set a goal? Set one at any time and set yourself up for success!