How to Make Sure 2020 Ends Up Better than 2019

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Now onto the last article of the decade!

Tonight the ball will drop in Times Square, and tomorrow everything will change. Or will it?

For years, we've done a great job of convincing ourselves that next year will be better.

Another year is coming to a close. Has this year been substantially better for you than last year?

Think back to the promises you made last December. For many, this is a list of New Year's resolutions, which is probably stuck somewhere in your desk drawer.

Open your draw and pull the list out. How'd you fare? For many, the answer will be "not so well."

Making a list of what you hope to achieve is the easy part. The keyword here is hope, as hope is not a strategy. The Implementation of these goals is where most people get stuck.

Don't despair. You're not alone. I recently attended a panel discussion where business owners discussed why their organizations failed to achieve specific goals. The panelists said they had brought in great consultants to help them create the strategy needed to achieve these goals. Each of these consultants offered to assist in the implementation phase. All the panelists declined.

They thought they could implement things on their own. They were wrong.

I understood completely what they were saying.

If you could have done something already, you would have done so.

But the truth is, there aren't enough hours in a day for you and your staff to do everything well on your own.

Here's a three-step plan to ensure the New Year will indeed be better than this year.

Step One: Look at your New Year's resolution list. What's the one item that you didn't get done this year that would be a game-changer in 2020?

Don't have a list? No problem. What's the one thing you'd like to accomplish this year?

This is the area you should be focusing on.

Step Two: Break this list down into actionable items. Block out time on your calendar to work on these items. If something is on your calendar, you'll get it done.

Step Three: Get help. There's no shame in admitting that you need help.

I'll let you in on a little secret. I have help. I have a coach who helps keep me on track and people I rely on to do things that I don't do well. For me, this has been the biggest game-changer.

So, as you sit down to complete your New Year's resolutions today, don't just make a list. Think about how you will implement everything on your list and who you can tap into for help in the coming year.

By doing so, you will ensure that 2020 will indeed be the best year ever.

Happy New Year!