My New Year Commitment

Did you know over 60% of resolutions made will be abandoned within 30 days and likely two-thirds will be forgotten before Valentine’s Day? Resolutions often lack a foundation of meaning and lose steam once that initial burst of motivation fades away. Why? Because it’s missing values. Values serve as our guideposts and help us determine what is most important to us. For example, if challenge and growth are your values, you’ll likely stretch yourself with new experiences. Perhaps a new job? A new skillset? Or a new hobby or family tradition?

As Vince Lombardi had said, “Once a man has made a commitment to a way of life, he puts the greatest strength in the world behind him. It's something we call heart power. Once a man has made this commitment, nothing will stop him short of success.”

As we gear up to welcome 2021, I am ditching resolutions and will make commitments to myself, my family and friends and my colleagues and clients. I encourage each of you to see what commitment statement below resonates for you and ask that you share your own statements and/or comments.

First, I must start with purpose.

Pursue your Purpose

“I knew that if I failed, I wouldn’t regret that, but I knew the one thing I might regret is not trying.” — Jeff Bezos

The most important thing to remember is that you can create your own purpose and meaning at work. Don’t fall into the trap of believing that you must find the right role to be fulfilled, or that it’s the responsibility of your boss or your company to create purpose for you. All work has dignity, no matter what you do for a living. Your work matters, and you can foster your purpose and create meaning for yourself.

How many Zoom rooms are you in during a typical day at work? A couple? Four or five? Maybe as many as nine or 10? Interacting with others is something that happens every day, and you probably take it a little bit for granted. You go in (on mute), do your thing, then you leave again.

But look at it in a different, more purposeful way. What if you decided never to leave a room until you did something to contribute, make a difference, or leave it better than when you entered?

Purpose can be a difficult thing to define. In short, it really comes down to the choice to engage with all you've got rather than struggle with everything you're not. Do something that honors both your beliefs and passions, while giving something back to yourself, family, community and company.

By giving something back, we inevitably find purpose in the act. By cultivating more of these activities, you will find your life has more meaning and purpose behind it.

Accomplish More with Less

Covid-19 has forced a radical shift in working habits and we have all been challenged to do more, with less. In fact, we’ve adapted to less hugs and handshakes but with more responsibilities of our work commitments coupled with teacher, dog walker and much more. This hard, but necessary lesson has frankly forced us to reconsider the way we work.

By “letting go,” it is not meant to cut back on existing effort, but challenge – or even stop – entire categories of activity that are not necessary or useful. By embracing this, it allows us to focus on what we need to accomplish and makes our output more meaningful because it concentrates on what matters. In fact, with this kind of focus, it’s amazing how creative, resourceful, and energized people can be. I encourage each of us to consider what more we can we do with only what is necessary and required to achieve great results.

You can only be fulfilled and accomplished in life when you effectively maximize yourself. - Sunday Adelaja

Embrace Change

?“Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.” - George Bernard Shaw

Although it’s not uncommon to be hesitant about change, change can actually be a good thing that brings new challenges and opportunities to the forefront. The key is in managing change, as well as expectations, and being open to new approaches. Whether you gladly embrace change or dread anything new and different, when things start to move in the workplace, consider this advice:

·      Don’t resist new ideas or processes

·      Make an effort to give change an honest try

·      Be willing to jump in and take risks

·      Don’t be so cynical. If you actively fight change, you will find the struggle is twice as hard

In closing, I encourage you to self-identify with one of these commitments which mean the most to you and that you believe will make the greatest impact to your life. Be patient with yourself, don’t take on more than you can realistically accomplish and encourage others to support you as you fulfill your New Year commitment.

Remember, Jim Rohn reminded us, “Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment.”  Wishing all of you all a prosperous new year!