Screw Resolutions! Uh... I Mean Happy New Year!
I have decided to abandon New Year’s Resolutions. I am also one of those Grinchy people who feel that New Year’s Eve is just another night. So I’m here to tell you today why New Year’s Resolutions are crap, and give you another view.
Deciding to make some sort of major change in your life just because of a date on a calendar MIGHT work for some people. But in my experience, such changes are short lived and rarely produce meaningful, long-lasting results.
Have you ever been in a gym in January? Come on folks—they are PACKED with bright-eyed, well-meaning folks who are hell bent on losing weight, getting toned, or prepping for that half marathon they’ve been talking about running since Bush the First was in office. And by early March? Traffic on the treadmills is right back to where it was in November, and the resolvers are back on their couches feeling bad about themselves. No thanks.
Here is what I advocate instead:
1) Decide to make a meaningful change at ANY time because you want to. Be clear about what the outcome is that you are heading for, make a plan, and take steady steps to get there.
Want to quit smoking? Fine. Talk to some folks who have done it recently, ask them how they did it, and find some support.
Want to learn a new skill? Go to the library and get a book, take a class, or start following some related blogs.
2) Take Stock. Are there things in your personal or professional life that bear some scrutiny? Is there something nagging you in the back of your mind that you’ve been meaning to get to, but just “don’t have the time?” If so, it’s time to get real about priorities and time management, then get to work.
Blogger, author, consultant, coach and all around evangelist for the graphic arts industry, Kelly sold digital printing for 15 years so she understands the challenges, frustrations and pitfalls of building a successful sales practice. Her mission is to help printers of all sizes sell more stuff. Kelly's areas of focus include sales and marketing coaching, enabling clients to find engagement strategies that work for them and mentoring the next generation of sales superstars.
Kelly graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in Political Science and, among other notable accomplishments, co-founded the Windy City Rollers, a professional women's roller derby league. She is also the mother of two sets of twins under the age of ten, so she fears nothing.
