Mark Bouris thinks New Year’s resolutions 'suck'. We asked small business owners if he's right

Entrepreneur Mark Bouris thinks New Year’s resolutions “suck”. “There’s nothing that makes January 1 a special day to review and set goals. You should be doing it every week, or at the very least, every month,” the innovator writes on LinkedIn.

The Mentored founder encourages setting thematic goals: “Instead of your resolution being, “I’m going to achieve thing X by time T”, think about it as, “This year I’m going to focus on improving thing X." This, Bouris argues, creates a due north by which to make a decision or set smaller goals throughout the year.

Following a year many may wish to forget, we asked small business owners how they were approaching 2021, and — importantly — their thoughts on the efficacy of setting New Year’s resolutions. 

• Janet Hogan: I define the 3 biggest themes I'm going to focus on each month, as well as the 3 biggest threats to achieving them (eg. too much time on social media!), so I can keep my eye on the accelerator and the brake at the same time. 
• Edward Mandla: New Year Resolutions might suck but whether you like it or not, your clients and your staff probably have them. Much can be achieved by understanding those resolutions and aligning yourself to them.
• Mario Turcarelli: You can live your life like a Jellyfish, floating comfortably on the warm currents, without purpose or direction. Or you can set a direction for your business, have a plan, matched with passion and purpose. 
• Peter McDonald: The only thing that changes on New Year's Day is the date. You can start goals anytime, and evaluate progress / reevaluate goals daily, weekly, monthly or whatever. In fact don’t wait for a date - take control now.
• Lorraine Donachie: New Year should be a time of reflection and celebrating the accomplishments of the year gone by. I do this every 90 days with a focus on what I have gained, rather than what the year lacked. Personalising my daily, monthly, quarterly and annual goals helps me be fully accountable for my results.

What’s your take on New Year’s resolutions? How are you setting your business and professional goals for the coming year? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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Something for you

Each week, I try and end on something to make you smile and think:

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Additional reporting: Cayla Dengate, Monica Fike, Susy Jackson, Siobhan Morrin

Photo credits: Getty Images