Resolutions?  Let’s face it, more often than not we don’t keep them.  With a couple of weeks already over for 2016 how many have you kept?  So let’s change the word to ‘Commitments’ as in “I am going to make some commitments in my life and in my career”.  It feels different – using the word Commitment feels like it has a purpose.  So…..

Make 2016 your best with a year’s worth of commitments for a lifetime of positive results:

  1. Set goals. Take a good look at what you want in life.  Have you committed to these goals by purposefully taking steps toward reaching them? (Write them down – if you don’t your goals are just wishes)
  2. Get a Mentor. Seek out people with the knowledge you desire.  Find people you want to be like – now ask them and I promise they will be flattered
  3. Read. Create a personal reading programme by determining how many books of different kinds (personal development, business, nonfiction) you’ll read this year.  Don’t skip literary fiction; a recent study shows it improves social skills.  (I have just finished one of David Taylor’s Leadership books and just started reading the latest Peter James novel – I recommend both to you)
  4. Improve productivity. Log your activities for a week to assess timewasters.  Make sure you aren’t spending chunks of the day on activities that don’t drive your business forward or improve your life.  (If what I do does not make a difference to people I support, my company www.dosh.org  I will stop doing it)
  5. Wake up early. Get up before your household to contemplate what you want to accomplish – then seize the day.  (I get up 3 hours before I officially start work – it has worked for me over the last 44 years in both careers)
  6. Get an accountability partner. Check in regularly to review accomplishments areas for improvement and next steps.  (Meet regularly, give them your set of goals and then get them to hold you to account)
  7. Do something you’ve always wanted to do. Life is too short so don’t wait to live it.
  8. Take small steps. Whatever it is you seek, just get started.  Commit to some easy, feasible activity to move you closer to those goals every day.  I have always found that looking for small successes and achievements builds my confidence going forward to achieve something very big!
  9. Journal. Whether it’s an idea, a problem you want to solve or an inspiring quote, write it down.
  10. Practice mindfulness. You will improve your effectiveness, well-being and longevity. Research shows that by learning how to stop needless ruminating helps tofocus on the here and now.

My inspiration for this post came from my monthly (USA) Success Magazine which I highly recommend to you.  It comes with a free CD full of great interviews which I carry around with me as part of my learning and development when I am on long journeys.  www.success.com