People feel strongly about New Year Resolutions. They either love them or hate them. I agree. When you grasp at a resolution without any thought or rationale behind it – simply because you feel the pressure to state something grand out loud at midnight – you are setting yourself up for failure. We aren’t going to talk about those kinds of resolutions. The kind of resolution we are going to make here is realistic, achievable, and just challenging enough to make our hearts pound a little louder in your chest. If it weren’t for New Year’s, I’d be trying to talk you into doing this anyway. Spending time reflecting on the past and declaring your dreams for the future is essential to any successful business, so we might as well take full advantage of the seasonal tradition. What’s better yet, is most of you have permission to take some down time and spend it well. Spend. Time. Well. I’m going to ask you to ask yourself some “big questions” and you’re going to want to think about your answers with quality attention. Before we can look to the new year, we need to orient ourselves and provide some accurate context for our resolutions. Start by looking at your past. Like I mentioned, this time of year is a gift. I slide into the end of December like I’m stealing home base… I am utterly exhausted. I need this small window of time where the world grants me permission to lick my wounds, crawl into a cozy nest to recover, and clear the clutter. When I’ve caught my breath and I feel human again, the very first thing I do is CLEAN MY OFFICE. I empty out my inbox. I empty my email inbox, too! Having fully looked over the past year, I’m ready to clear my whiteboard and create a literal clean slate. I feel like a schoolgirl getting her new school supplies. When you’re ready, answer a few key questions about your present condition: And here we are, ready to make our first resolution. A resolution is a resolve. It takes grit to make it a reality. You are making a promise to yourself, so let’s not take this lightly, and let’s not skip the first two steps before landing in this spot. If you’ve looked at the past and the present, this is almost organic. You can start seeing the next year take shape. You are going to create a plan… and you know me, I like to create this plan on a big ol’ whiteboard with sticky notes and lots of room. Ask yourself the following questions, and write the answers down someplace where you can see them without trying. On your wall, on your desk… don’t hide your resolutions! The key here is to be realistic, be challenging, and leave room for life. Now, step back and catch your breath and get ready for the ride!First things first, don’t rush this.
An evaluation of the past.
A reflection on the present.
A declaration into the future.
Congratulations. You have just made an official New Year’s Resolution.
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