Resolved, that for the year 2009, I, _______________, will ______________ ______________________________________________________________.

It’s that time of year again. Lots of people are making resolutions. But study after study tells us that most New Year’s Resolutions don’t last. It’s not for lack of good intentions. Then why do they fail?

1. The timing is arbitrary. The resolution is not tied to an immediate concern;

2. People frequently make too many resolutions – often adding more to an already full plate than is really do-able;

3. Resolutions made are too complicated and/or take too long to achieve;

4. January, with its “iffy” weather, can often be disruptive to your regular schedule, impeding a strong start.

The odds are long against the success of New Year’s Resolutions – even with the best of intentions. All of which leads us to failure, frustration and fragmentation. Yes, we fail and end up feeling lousy about ourselves. It doesn’t have to be.

In fact, as their executive coach, I typically advise people against making “New Year’s Resolutions,” and (especially during uncertain economic times) making too many resolutions in general. One source traces the tradition of both the celebration of the New Year and the making of New Year’s resolutions to the Babylonians, whose most popular resolution is said to have been to return borrowed farm implements.

If you must make resolutions, personal or business, I recommend:

1. Make resolutions throughout the year as you identify goals you really want to achieve and are willing to commit to and share with someone (a coach, a mentor, an accountability partner);

2. Describe simply both your goal and its effect on your life;

3. Quantify the results you want and tie them to your goal;

4. Make it easy on yourself. Small victories build to larger ones. Overreaching leads to frustration and failure. Remember the Babylonians – return farm implement. What could be simpler;

5. Be real. Limit yourself to 3-5 goals at a time. Too many goals dilute your efforts and challenge your concentration; and,

6. Make them for relatively quick turnaround projects (90 days or less – if you have larger goals, break them into 90 day segments) and keep track of your progress incrementally.

Pope John XXIII once said, “See everything. Overlook a great deal. Improve a little.” That resolution is worth remembering anytime of the year.