My One Word for New Year's Resolutions this (and every) year

Yes!! - it's 2021... and as has been my tradition, I'm serving up some goodies on a Saturday for you to think about - (check out the #SaturdayServing hashtag for more insights)

And it's the 1st Saturday of the New Year and so we've been speaking about resolutions, given that I've been banging on about goals for a little while now - having just completed a successful Masterclass on Goal Achievement, bringing together 10 years of reading, training, highs, lows, failures.

So people ask me about goal setting a whole lot - and I have a lot to say on the matter (as you can imagine) - both from training and personal experience.

And yet - when it comes to resolutions, I only really have 1 word to say on the matter which is simply this:

DON'T

Don't bother with resolutions

Don't try and lose weight

Don't try and start that new project

Don't bother with that new business

Don't pay off your debts

Don't cook more and eat less tak out.

Don't try and earn more

Don't try and help more

Don't try and make a difference

Don't bother.

That would literally make for the most miserable (albeit realistic) articles for the start of the year. It sound's nihilistic and yet - only 8% of resolutions set are ever achieved anyway. So more than 9 out of 10 fail, so what exactly is the point.

The point is this...

You should NOT set another goal at New Year's or indeed any other arbitrary point (and this bit is so important, I'm actually going to put it in bold

UNLESS YOU ARE COMMITTED

That's the only reason to try to make a change - is that you're committed to seeing them through.

Unfortunately, that's not predictable by the calendar date - and for many, the idea of a new year just brings more pressure and no more commitment, and so it's just not worth it.

We seem to have forgotten the meaning of commitment, especially in the context of their goals, so a quick refresher is always useful:

Commitment Issues

Commitment is one of the most powerful forces in the world, and I like to define it as the constant decision to stick to your word. You make the fact that you said that you were going to do it the number one reason for your action (obviously underpinned by some power whys and having done all the other deeper purpose, beliefs, identity and values work) - but your WORD is your BOND.

The great reason why it's so powerful, is because it means that the decision to ACT in accordance with your WORD continues LONG AFTER the mood that you made the original commitment has LONG GONE!!

And that's the problem. Cause we keep having one-night stands with our biggest goals, and keep failing miserably to make lasting change.

Because you don't see people's commitment when things are easy, or even at the beginning. You see it when they don't feel like it. When it's hard. When it's taken far longer than they expected and they want to give up.

Reknowed Author, Coach and Mentor John Assaraf gives a really powerfully definition for Commitment that sticks with me powerfully, as the idea is often confused with commitment. He says that:

If you're INTERESTED you'll do what's convenient, and if you're COMMITTED, you'll do what's required

But since the human race seems to have commitment issues when it comes to our goals here are 3 powerful tools that will help you to support sustainable change

Power Tool Number 1 - An External Force

I know, it bugs me too - but it's physics. Newton's first law of motion - or the law of inertia states that

An object at rest stays at rest and in motion stays in motion at the same speed and in the same direction unless acted upon by an unbalanced (external force)

It's the reason why people get other people involved when they're serious, and want to actually get it done faster, farther and to keep it that way.

Those serious about body transformation hire personal trainers and nutrition experts

Those who want changes in business or personal life seek support from business or personal development experts, coaches and mentors.

And it's why, if you're committed to making the changes that you claim you want to make in your business or life that you get an external force.

Know that you will keep going the way you're going... whether still, or in a motion you don't want to go in without an external force to help you on your way.

Power Tool Number 2 - Robust Systems

The most exciting thing of all - I've been banging on about this forever and I'm so obsessed with systems it's in the name of my business.

Because they work

Because they change the game

And because they are the difference that makes the difference

There are loads of different types of systems... I talked through 7 different types in my recent masterclass.

But your systems are what will make your goals attainable and achievable.

And there are blueprints now.

There are systems that helped me to lose over 100lbs, or to write over 2000 daily emails supporting women in business without a single streak break, or even to create quantum leaps in earnings and profit in business.

There's a system for the things you want to attain and the very best use of your time is to work out what they are, how they work and how to DESIGN the systems to work for the realities of your life and for the things you want to achieve.

Knowing how to design those systems and to implement them take a specific set of learnable and transferable skills, but they are what will make any goal you wish to achieve both inspiring and achievable.

Power Tool Number 3 - The Supportive Squad

Who you associate with is EVERYTHING. There is a reason why we are reminded that a bad apple will spoil a whole barrel - and as for the whole 5 people rule, it's even deeper than we thought.

Studies have shown that you are more likely to put on weight if one of the 5 people that one of YOUR 5 people hangs out with puts on weight... even if you don't hang around with them. Crazy right!

Your life is being influenced by people you don't even know. So imagine how much who you are choosing to spend your time with is impacting upon you.

And let me be very clear. They will have an impact on you, intended or not.

So the most powerful thing that you can do is be INTENTIONAL in your associations. Real and virtual.

Be wary of who you spend your time with, what you associate with for information, inspiration, education and motivation.

We live in a world obsessed with aesthetics, and yet it's said that the power of association is stronger than the power of beauty. And so it pays to be really clear about who you associate with and the kind of mindset and focus you need from that group.

It only pays to surround yourself with like minded people if you have the kind of mind that will get you what you seek. If you don't then it's going to be time to think about upgrading the squad and the various ways that they impact upon you. I'm not telling you to ditch your friends or family (or so called 'toxic' people - another article for another time) - but I am saying that your time is yours, so be wise in your choices.

Your squad of people, books, podcasts, programmes, articles (thanks for getting to this point) are a key driver to making your quest for change and improvement easier or a whole lot harder.

Everything around you inpsires or expires you - Jim Bunch

So it's important to be mindful of this powerful but often overlooked fact.

So the fact is while I don't believe in New Year's resolutions what I do believe in is powerful systems and methods that create holistic success for women in business, that change the game.That allow women to:

• define success on their own terms, thereby working out what a 'win' means to them
• Take a powerful look at where they are now
• Create a plan to get from where they are now to where they want to be
• Work the hell out of the plan
• Support their business, their lives as well as nourish them - mind, body and soul in the process.

It's a powerful 'Holistic Success Method' and enables women to build businesses in a totally different way from that which is often promoted as successful out there. It enables incredible success in all areas of their lives and is available for women in business who are looking to take quantum leaps in their businesses in this next phase (not year, phase) without neglecting their health, lives and whatever they love in the process.

It comes with incredible content, coaching and a growing community of incredible women who have exactly the kind of minds you want to associate with. If you'd like to explore what it could look like to support you on your journey and building your business differently this year, feel free to reach out to me.

But the incredible thing is that with this simple 3 step formula of External Force, Systems and a Power Squad - you don't NEED resolutions... especially since change by willpower alone is never sustainable, and we are already as disciplined as we will ever need to be (it just depends on what we are being disciplined to). You don't need resolutions, because you have an implementable success formula - that lasts way after the new year glow has dimmed. And I'd take that any day of the week. or Month... or even year.