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How to Keep Your New Year’s Resolution
Right around now, you might be wavering on your New Year’s resolution. While statistics show that 40% of all Americans create a New Year’s resolution, but only 8% actually accomplish their goals. Since I am recommending that all of our customers establish a marketing plan for 2023 I thought it might be helpful to share some ideas on how to stick to that resolution.
One of my resolutions was to look for some new podcasts to fill the time during my morning and afternoon commute. In looking at the most popular podcasts I came upon The Good Life Project. Looking through the list of podcasts I came upon an episode about, you guessed it, keeping your New Year’s resolution. I found it very insightful, so I thought you might too.
The great thing is you could apply these tips to all aspects of your life, including that pesky marketing plan for 2018.
Here is a quick summary of some tips and techniques for achieving your goals.
Success Scaffolding – the structure to your day-to-day tasks:
Pledge – This is a written or spoken contract of an intention. Start small and add incrementally. “I pledge I am committed to such and such an action over such and such a time.” Commit to a course of action. Include another person. Be consistent.
People – Remember nobody succeeds alone. Success in whatever endeavor you choose is the result of consistent action over time. Try to surround yourself with: 1) Co- strivers or partners in a goal. 2) People who will champion your efforts. 3) Mentors who will help guide you. 4) Accountability partners. 5) Community. A sense of safety and acceptance.
Possibility – You must believe you can achieve your goals and have an intrinsic belief that you can achieve what you set your mind to. Possibility is the gateway to achievement. A strong belief system must exist and is the bridge the gap between slight and complete belief in the possibility.
Proof – I have seen it with my own two eyes – the proof of the possibility of a goal. See the success story of someone else like you. Testimonials. Imagine yourself in the story of others. You can also source an endorsement of someone you trust who is an expert.
Picture – Let’s face it, the average person defaults to negativity, so let’s break the negativity bias. Let’s imagine a better outcome. Imagination is powerful. It forms the basis for achieving your dreams. Let’s start with where we are and imagine where we want to be. To do that let’s create the mechanism to take a picture of where you are. Measure your progress. Note the positive. Daily, weekly or monthly. Take a snapshot. Note in detail what your snapshot looks like. What’s going right. Focus on what you did to break the negativity bias.
Practical Process – The methodology. Start where you are and map a process to get to where you want to be. A model that survives the day to day reality of how you live. A framework is a decision making tool that adapts to the reality of your goal.
Practice – taking everything you do and build it into your life, into your everyday until it becomes a part of who you are. Maintaining and building upon the practice is the daily ritual. Morning, afternoon or evening conscious and intentional action. Intentional and aware. Blend of habit and ritual.
To succeed in anything requires consistent action over time.
