So … how are those New Year’s resolutions coming along? Still on track?  Did you even make any this year?

Remember all the corny jokes we made about having that “2020 vision in 2020” as we put 2019 in the rear-view mirror?  How silly we were … if we had only known then what we know now!  2020 was unprecedented and historic.  For many, it was long, tragic, painful, and felt like it would never end.  For others, it served as a “reset” and helped provide focus to what is important and worthy of pursuit.

Six weeks ago, we turned the page to 2021. All is better now, right?  Not quite – but we are in a brand new year and I think that we are (or will be) meeting 2021 wiser, hardened, and with much more resolve to weather whatever this new year has waiting for us.

Every year, millions of people make New Year’s resolutions, hoping to spark positive change in their lives. Chances are, more than a couple of the top ten most common resolutions will look familiar to you:

1. 1. Exercise more
   2. Lose weight
   3. Get organized
   4. Learn a new skill or hobby
   5. Live life to the fullest
   6. Save more/spend less
   7. Quit smoking
   8. Spend more time with family and friends
   9. Travel more
   10. Read more

Despite the best of intentions, once the glow of a fresh new year wears off, many people struggle to make good on their resolutions. In fact, a study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychology revealed that only 46% of people who made New Year’s resolutions were successful. That means over half of the people who resolved change for the new year will fall short of their goals.

Not surprisingly, in 2020, that rate of “success” was WELL below the norm – with only 7% having self-identified as having met ALL of their resolutions and 19% saying that they had met SOME of them.  I’m pretty certain (or maybe I am just very hopeful) that 2020 will be an outlier as we look back and plow forward. Think about it: if one of your resolutions was to travel more, chances are that one didn’t happen in 2020.  However, if it was to read more, you may have had more down time on your hands last year to accomplish that one.

I’m not one to make resolutions, honestly.  Not that I believe that they’re a bad thing, but I prefer to set manageable and attainable goals.  I don’t always achieve them, mind you, but the goal mindset is a more meaningful approach for me.  “What’s the difference?” you might ask. For me, I can resolve many things, but if I don’t make them SMART (see below) and set a plan in motion to achieve them, I’m much more likely to fall short.

If you’ve spent any time in a corporate setting managing people (or being managed), or done much reading on leadership, you’re very familiar with the SMART goal framework, which stands for: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Time-bound. A SMART goal is one that has a clear beginning and end. It’s something you can actually do and something that can help you get what you want from life.

Specific. A specific goal is clear and absolute. It identifies what you want to accomplish and who and what you need to achieve the goal.

“Losing weight” is not a specific goal. “Losing 15 pounds over 10 weeks by making dietary changes and exercising at least four times per week” is a specific goal.

Measurable. You need a way to track your goals. You can use numbers if you’re trying to reach a weight-loss, fitness or financial goal.

“Doing 25 push-ups and 50 sit-ups per day” or “saving $5,000 by the end of June” are measurable goals.  You can look back and see that you either did it or you didn’t.

Attainable. Your goal should be something you can realistically accomplish.

“Saving a million dollars by the end of the year” on a $50,000, $100,000, $200,000 or even $500,000 annual salary isn’t an achievable goal. However, “saving $250 per month” could be attainable.

Relevant. A goal should be something you care about and want to do. It should relate to your life in some way.

If you’re happy with your career, there’s no reason to resolve to find a new job. If you don’t want to read more … don’t make it a pursuit. Focus on what you want to get from your life and the areas where you’d like to most improve.

Time-Bound. Your goal should have a due date or deadline so you can stay on track and measure your progress toward achieving it.

For me, there’s a great deal of value in the journey (goal setting).  But there’s also a great sense of accomplishment once I reach the destination (achievement of the goal).  That is, taking the time up front to identify what’s important is very telling and helps me focus.

When you set SMART goals, you gain a better understanding of what matters to you and what you want to get from your personal or professional life. Once you start thinking about relevant and attainable goals, you can weed out the “resolutions” that sound good on paper but aren’t going to get you where you want to be.

So … how are those New Year’s GOALS coming along?

Michigan Legislative Consultants is a bipartisan lobbying firm based in Lansing, Michigan. Our team of lobbyists and procurement specialists provide a wide range of services for some of the most respected companies in America. For more on MLC, visit www.mlcmi.com or connect with us on LinkedIn and Twitter.