Why Resolutions Fail and Plans Prevail
You counted down and clinked champagne glasses with friends and family to usher in the New Year….or you crawled into bed early and missed it (no judgement from me!).
Either way, you woke up and said “hello” to 2017.
For many entrepreneurs, the New Year is a welcome, fresh start. Disappointed by their performance or growth in the previous year, they look ahead at the New Year with hopeful optimism.
But within weeks, that optimism fades or even grinds to a halt along with their New Year’s resolutions.
I don’t need to tell you that New Year’s resolutions almost always fail. But year after year, many of us can’t resist the urge to set them.
Why do we do it?
Simply put, we want more for ourselves. Healthier diets and weight loss. Stronger relationships and closer friendships. Steady business growth and monthly sales you can be proud of. Better work-life balance.
We have the potential to achieve these things. But resolutions aren’t the road to the promised land.
Here’s why:
- Resolutions aren’t quantifiable.
A goal is just a dream unless it’s specific. Take a sales goal, for example. You want to make more sales and boost profitability in 2017. That’s great, but that’s just a dream until you start quantifying what you’re striving towards and identify what exactly it will take to get there.
What are your specific targets for sales each week, month, quarter, and year? Now work backwards! How many networking events do you need to attend every week to generate quality leads? And how many prospecting calls do you need to make every day to reach these goals?
Powerful goals are supported by a specific action plan. Successful entrepreneurs take time to map out and quantify the action steps they need to take to make their goals a reality. Without quantifying your goals, you can’t measure your success which is critical to ensuring you’re on the right track.
- Resolutions are idealistic.
When New Year’s comes around, people tell themselves, “This is going to be the year I make it happen.” Make no mistake, there’s nothing wrong with turning a new page in your life or in your business. But you have to be careful to set realistic – rather than idealistic – goals.
For example, if you want to shed some weight this year, saying you’ll lose 5 pounds a week isn’t very realistic. This kind of number is only possible to maintain on the Biggest Loser where contestants engage in rigorous exercise all day and eat under the watchful eye of nutritionists. It’s not real life.
Of course, what’s realistic for you is unique. There is no one-size fits all formula when it comes to setting benchmarks. But regardless of your personal strengths and limitations, it’s important to be honest about what daily and weekly actions you can maintain to reach your goal. If you struggled to make a few sales calls a day in 2016, committing to making 30 consecutive sales calls each morning before you check your emails isn’t realistic!
Your plan may look impressive on paper, but if you can’t follow through, then what’s the point? Put a plan in place that you can stick to week after week, month after month. In the long run, it’s the consistency of your performance that will empower you to generate RESULTS.
- Resolutions depend on drive.
Likely one of the biggest reasons resolutions fail is because they’re fueled by a temporary burst of will-power. After a few days or weeks pass and you’re faced with the same day-to-day challenges and stresses as last year, that willpower begins to fade and you fall into old patterns. It’s easy to feel pumped to accomplish greatness at the start of the New Year, but how will you handle the setbacks? Because there will be setbacks – it’s an inevitable part of life.
The only way to create lasting change in your life and your business is to make sure you’ve put a plan with specific processes in place. Your plan needs to be rooted in systems proven to keep you on track when you’re feeling tired and discouraged. When you commit to working the system consistently, you’re able to weather any storm that comes your way and produce results.
Without these processes in place, when you hit road bumps, you’re more apt to lose self-confidence, throw in the towel or settle for the status quo.
No More Guesswork
Life is too short from trial and error.
If you’re like most entrepreneurs, you don’t have the luxury of continuing to run your businesses unless it’s profitable. When the clock is ticking, you need to know your actions are moving you toward the end goal.
That’s why I teach my clients at Celeste Giordano Coaching a proven system for reaching their sales, business growth and personal development goals. The system is quantifiable, realistic and incorporates strategies that I’ve personally used to grow my Legacy Business.
Whether your business is in its infancy or you’re trying to break through barriers to take your established business to the next level, the bottom line is you want 2017 to be a game-changer in your business.
If you set resolutions for the New Year and you’re already starting to lose momentum, you’re not alone.
The good news is that if you’re committed to taking the action necessary to make 2017 the most profitable year yet, there’s still time to PLAN for success.
Capitalize on the will-power you feel to create change and act NOW.
- Commit to creating a step-by-step master plan that will keep you focused on hitting your daily targets
- Learn fundamental strategies that will help improve your skills, strengthen your confidence, and advance the efficiency and effectiveness of your business
- Meet regularly with an accountability partner who will keep you honest and focused as you strive to reach your goals
- Regularly evaluate your progress, identify weaknesses and adjust your plan as necessary to stay on track
Want to “Double Plus” your income this year? It doesn’t have to be a pipe-dream. And you don’t have to fall into the trap of settling back into your old ways when grand New Year’s resolutions fail to materialize.
Contact me today to learn sales and business development strategies that will fast-track your journey to growth and profitability THIS YEAR.
Wishing each and every one of you a positive, productive, and prosperous 2017.
Up Next: You’re Invited
We invite our local community to visit us on January 18th, 2017 from 11:30 to 1:30 p.m. at the 1818 Club for the WGC Atlanta Chapter meeting. Pre-registration for the event is $25.00. Click here to pre-register. If you are interested in being a sponsor, please contact celeste@thewomenofglobalchange.com.
We are also opening up several other chapters across the United States. I am honored to help launch the Toronto, Ontario Chapter in March, 2017. To become a presenting sponsor or sponsor at this premier Toronto event, contact Celeste Giordano here. For additional information about WGC, please visit our website!
Celeste Giordano’s mission is to help business owners develop the skills, knowledge and attitude necessary to “double-plus” their income and become effective and inspirational leaders in their fields. Whether it’s taking your successful business to the next level or starting a new venture, she will teach you the exact skills and strategies you need to enroll more quality prospects, build a rock-solid team, and break through obstacles to achieve real profit and lasting success. Celeste is a professional business growth specialist, a master sales strategist, and dynamic speaker with almost 40 years experience in direct sales and managing high-performing teams.
To learn more about Celeste, click here.
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