Resolutions Not Allowed!

Happy New Year! The question usually asked next is about new year's resolutions. This question will never come out of my mouth, because I don't believe in them. It's become such a watered-down, half-hearted exploration, they don't mean anything, long term. Instead of focusing on resolutions, put your energy towards commitments. What committed decisions will you make in 2012? What type of emotion do you want to feel on a daily basis this year?

Resolutions are like diets. They're exciting at first, but slowly fade because alone, they mean nothing. Let's get rid of the middle man ... in this case, the new year's resolutions. Instead, concentrate on your motivation and plan of attack you need to create. What does your map look like? Making this your focus will keep momentum flowing towards your goals.

If you need to adjust your 2011 plan to make 2012 more efficient, that's fine ... but starting over with a new set of resolutions is a waste of energy. This type of break in the action is what kills momentum. The new year should be time of adding to the already created momentum of the past year. If you approach each January in this fashion, you'll find a much smoother transition from December.

Committed, discipline decisions will always be your key to a successful new year.