“Resolutions are a wonderful thing if we can keep them, but many resolutions go by the wayside because we have not done anything different with our mindset.” -Monica Johnson

Resolutions are decisions to do or not to do something.  Resolutions can be made any time of the year, but they are usually made at the beginning of the year.  It is just something about starting new with a clean slate.  Have you ever made a resolution?

Over the last 24 hours, there have been billions of resolutions made for the New Year.  Resolutions to save money, lose weight, get in shape, travel more, read more, to quit smoking, etc. I don’t believe there is anything wrong with making New Year’s Resolutions.  However, I do believe you should have a workable process along with a sound plan with small action steps to achieve your resolution. 

So whatever you do, don’t treat your resolutions like they are blanket statements.  Instead use one or more of these tips to successfully navigate your New Year.

1. Develop A Growth Mindset

Being aware of our mindset is the first step to starting a new beginning.  Regardless of how successful you have been, a new mindset is needed to be better.  As you enter into the New Year, change your mindset.  A growth mindset is needed, which helps with continued learning.  Leaders with this mindset search for any opportunity to learn and grow.  To develop a new mindset one must embrace imperfections, see challenges as opportunities, try various learning tactics, replace the word failing with the word learning, stop seeking approval, trust the process over end results, cultivate a sense of purpose, learn from others mistakes, take ownership of your attitude, etc.  What new mindset will you have in the New Year?

2. Create A Theme For The Year

The most successful businesses are great at creating a culture for their organization.  These organizations set a tone by structuring an overarching theme through mission statements, vision statements, and core values that are infused into the day-to-day operations of their business.  Why not try this same strategy for your life individually?  You may not develop a mission statement, vision statement, or core values, but you can create a word or a phrase that will be your theme for this year.  What is your theme for the New Year? 

3. Keep A Daily Habit Tracker

Don’t be the 80% of people who make New Year’s Resolutions, but have no action to achieve them.  As I stated before, there is nothing wrong with making resolutions.  However, there has to be a plan to accomplish your resolution.  One strategy to do this is to keep a daily habit tracker.  Download your very own copy of the Daily Habit Tracker by clicking on this link.  What you do is write down your goal or resolution at the top of the page, then commit to that resolution and / or goal by performing simple action(s) everyday for the entire year.  Make sure to check off the box every single day you are able to achieve your expectations of performing your simple action.  And do this for every goal / resolution you have.  For an example, you will have 3 daily habit tracker pages for 3 goals / resolutions.What habits do you need to perform daily to help better your life?

4. Find An Accountability Partner

It is a proven fact that those who make a resolution to work out or get in shape are more likely to achieve their goal if they have an exercise partner.  I believe the same is true for everything else in life.  When you have an accountability partner, you will be more likely to succeed at achieving any of your goals.

An accountability partner will help you track your goals, call you out on your excuses, uncover blind spots, be a sounding board to help you brainstorm, and help ease the pain of change.   Having an accountability partner is not a comfortable process, but it is an effective and productive strategy to help you be better.  You need someone to help you, but please be careful when choosing the right accountability partner.  It may be a friend, family member, a professional coach, or organized team of people.  But just remember that no one succeeds alone.  Who is your accountability partner?  And are they actually holding you accountable?  Or is it time to find another accountability partner?

5. Set Checkpoints

The best leaders don’t just haphazardly fall into success; they have a system of checkpoints.  When you are serious about achieving your success, you will put in place a series checkpoints aside from an accountability partner that will help you accomplish your goals.  These checkpoints can be as simple as reminders on your phone, or as complicated as business / life plan.  What check points do you already have in place?  What new checkpoints are needed for you to be better? 

For every person, these strategies will look a little different.  However, the key is to develop a workable process along with a sound plan with small action steps to achieve your resolutions.  

American author Helen Keller said, “Your success and happiness lies in you.  Resolve to keep happy, and your joy and you shall form an invincible host against difficulties.”  In other words, no one is responsible for your success but you.  So resolve in your heart to be better by taking actions steps from the strategies above to make the most of your life.

Would you like this year to be better than last year?  How do you plan on making the New Year better than the last year?  Please leave a comment below or email me directly.

Bryant 

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