December 31, 2008

Resolutions

For some reason, most of us find it necessary to make resolutions as we embark on a New Year. First of all, we think we’ll fool ourselves this time in to thinking that we’ll do what we say we’ll do on December 31st. Most New Year’s resolutions don’t see the end of January. This begs two questions: why do we lie to ourselves? and who do we think we are we fooling?

We mean well. We want to do these things and we think our friends, family and colleagues want to hear that we’re trying to improve. Keep in mind; they’re doing the same thing!

According to dorothy.com who asked 2,000 people over the age of 18; Two-thirds of those surveyed have made a resolution in their lives while only 17% have kept them. One third cites financial issues as the biggest hurdle in reaching their goals – that seems low.

Time is a huge one – for some strange reason we feel that our time is under someone else’s tutelage. And this is interesting, 33% of the sample said they use social networking and search engine tools to achieve their goals.

It was startling to find out that more men kept their resolutions than women. 74% of the women missed the mark while 58% of the guys did the same. Perhaps it’s because we make fewer promises or ours are not as adventurous? That’s just my guess.

This year, I thought I’d ask followers on Twitter if they had any New Year’s resolutions. Thanks for all the responses! Here is the Top 20 (in no particular order):

Exercise more
◦ Make me the priority
Worry less
◦ Get to know more social media friends
Talk less
◦ Pay less attention to the News
◦ Play more
◦ Take better care of myself
Stay away from negative people
◦ Stop drinking
◦ Find balance – for real this time
Write more
◦ Live with passion
Collaborate more
Act more than say
◦ Release the past
◦ Replace negative thoughts with positive thoughts
◦ Laugh more
Enjoy what I do
◦ Work less

Whatever your goals or plans for 2009, I hope you reach them.

Happy New Year!

km

 
© Kneale Mann knealemann@gmail.com people + priority = profit
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