So it’s the second half of January, and countless successful people are frustrated at themselves because they failed yet again to live up to their New Year’s resolutions. Scientists tell us that it takes 21-28 days to make something a habit, and other research suggests that it takes 66 days for a repetitive habit to become automatic. So how is it that so many people can’t even make it to 21 days?
In my opinion, where resolutions fall short is that they typically lack the structure required to be successful. That leads me to the question: is a resolution a goal, or something else? It feels like it is more of a promise to yourself. The problem with that is that most of us find it way too easy to let ourselves off the hook with promises. Now a goal? That’s something different. Set a goal, and for some reason, it is different. If you don’t hit your goal, it’s not guilt-worthy. Most of us just set a new goal and go for it. Is that true of resolutions? Not for me. I beat myself up and wonder why the heck I even bother.
So if you are like most of us who have already left our resolutions behind, maybe it’s time to set a goal instead. For years, I have been using an unusual approach to goal setting. I call it my Goal Pyramid. The graphical part of the worksheet is at the top of this blog. What’s not is the step-by-step guide and strategic coaching that goes along with it. The Goal Pyramid is a way to help you balance your professional life with your personal life. It also helps you identify the steps required to achieve your goals by aligning your actions in a synergistic way. If you would like help with figuring out why your resolutions never stick or why your goals never come to fruition, please give me a call.
Please understand that there are both strategic goals and tactical goals, and you need both to achieve the greatness that you are capable of. If you want to explore the possibilities that await, please reach out to set up a goal-setting session and let me show you how my way of thinking is different. I promise that you will appreciate the process.