 Ever wonder why the vast majority of New Year resolutions don't happen?
The popular personal and professional goal-setting website MyGoals.com is telling us that 2008 isn't much different than 2007, at least as far as resolutions. While the #1 resolution "Lose Weight" leads the pack year after year (wonder if it's helping much, since the National Center for Health Statistics says 66% of adult Americans are either overweight or obese), there was a significant uptick in two particular categories: 1) Pay off debt and 2) Start my own business.
52 percent of those setting financial-related goals established Debt Elimination as their top goal in that area. Starting a business garnered 30% of the career-related resolutions, followed closely by 23 percent looking for a new job or promotion.
Wow, if most folks lost their 20 lbs, got out of debt and started their own successful enterprise it would make for a pretty fantastic year! So what's the key ingredient to make it happen ...?
This past Sunday, our pastor spoke on Faith Is Like Rappelling. I was both interested and excited to hear what he had to say on the topic, since Robert Emmitt is usually both very insightful and entertaining (if you weren't there, ask around). He focused on one of my favorite chapters in the Bible, Hebrews 11 -- the biblical "Hall of Faith".
"By faith" is used 20 times to describe how those cited decided to act. Let me share a few examples (from the New International Version):
- By faith ... Abel brought a more acceptable offering
- By faith ... Noah built a large boat
- By faith ... Abraham left home and went to another land
- By faith ... Moses' parents hid him for three months
- By faith ... the people of Israel went right through the Red Sea
- By faith ... Rahab the prostitute gave a friendly welcome to the spies
Every one of these heroes did more than just believe: they acted and stayed their course.
Getting back to resolutions, unfortunately just 10 percent of us admit to faithfully keeping them. It's almost as many -- 8 percent -- that say they never keep even one. That's okay. I want to suggest an antidote.
First, never make resolutions. Rather make a simple, focused and repeatable plan you can act on. Keep your goals focused and "serialized" -- complete them one or two at a time rather than trying to do them all at once. Two of the biggest hurdles is getting overwhelmed or not seeing enough progress. They're related and create a lethal one-two punch if you let them.
Second, don't focus on the next year. Set your sights on the next 90 days. If you want to loose 30 lbs this year, get on track to loose 8 lbs in the next three months. If you make it, you're on track. If you beat it ... whoohoo! Congratulations, you're ahead of schedule. The key is setting your path, taking action and staying your course. Think "simple and repeatable", "simple and repeatable", ...
Third, set only two primary goals for the 90 days. Establish clear, measurable goals so you'll know if you're on track and get there. Once you meet your 90 day goal, continue on to the next phase (ex. lose the next 8 lbs) or, if you met your end goal you may move onto another one.
I know this goes against many classical goal setting approaches (hey, even I use a 3 Yr / 1 Yr / Beginning Now process with my life and career coaching clients), but I'm mainly addressing here those of you that struggle with making meaningful life transformations. Sounds like that's at least 90% of us!
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