NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS

Yes, it’s that time of year again – time for New Year’s Resolutions.  Do you know what the top New Year’s Resolutions are every year?  Here are the top seven…

• Lose weight
• Exercise more
• Stop smoking
• Save more money
• Get out of debt
• More family-time
• Get better organized

Yet, over 60% of all Americans have given up on making New Year’s Resolutions.  Why?  Because we are afraid of failure.  Over 90% of all New Year’s Resolutions are broken within the first two weeks of January.  So, if you aim at nothing, at least you won’t miss it – right?  Yes, but if you don’t have anything to aim at, you’ll never hit anything, either.  In fact, you won’t even know if you’re close.

As you have probably fiured out, I am a big proponent of New Year’s Resolutions.  Why?  Because I am a huge advocate of goal-setting, and the New Year provides all of us an opportunity for a fresh start.  I like to think of New Year’s Resolutions as Annual Goals.

Think about this:  every athlete has a goal; whether it’s a goal-line to cross, a net to put the ball in, or a finish line to cross.  We all need something to aim at; we need goals to shoot for.  Otherwise, we only wallow in our past and settle for maintaining the status quo.  Goals keep us looking ahead, moving forward, growing, and stretching.  The problem is that most of our goals are either too nebulous and vague, or they are too lofty and unattainable.  We need to learn to set S.M.A.R.T. goals…

• S = Simple
• M = Measurable
• A = Attainable
• R = Realistic
• T = Trackable

Go ahead.  Give it another try.  Sit down some time this week and write out a few New Year’s Resolutions for 2009.   Set some personal goals, work goals, financial goals, and family goals.  And while you’re at it, don’t forget to set some spiritual goals for the New Year, too!