David Searns | Co-CEO
Happy New Year! Well, it’s that time again.
The time when some people make resolutions…
Others set ambitious goals for the year…
And lots of people, well, do nothing.
Which camp are you in?
I’ve always been an “anti-resolution” person. Just look at the data:
- 23% give up within a week.
- 43% quit by the end of January.
- And just 9% of resolution setters achieve their goals.
Why do so many people fail at New Year’s Resolutions?
Because resolutions are little more than a wish…a hope for better eating, weight loss, less drinking, better relationships… You know the list.
And a goal without a plan (AKA, a New Year’s resolution) has almost zero chance of success.
That’s why I’ve always been in the “ambitious goals” camp. Just this past week, Rick Houcek, author of one of my favorite weekly newsletters, 2-Minute Monday Motivator, challenged his readers to “do the impossible in 2025.”
Here are his instructions:
1) Set 3 impossible goals for yourself.
If you look back at your biggest achievements, they probably seemed impossible at the beginning! 2) For each goal, define six critical components:
- Written them down...and read them daily.
- Have a clear, specific description of the end result you want.
- Include a precise plan of action (written!) with due dates for each step.
- Define clear benefits to you for achieving the goal (write these down too).
- Make a list of “what could go wrong” and your contingency plans when these things happen.
- Sign it.
3) Get this done by January 1.
This issue of SMART IDEAS Weekly will be published on January 4, but that’s okay, you still have time.
With Rick’s process, you define what you want, when you want it, why it matters, and what you will do to make it happen.
If you complete this by January 6 or 10 or 31, that’s fine…as long as you do it!
Personally, I’m a big believer in Rick’s process. It works.
But, it’s also a lot of work…and most people won’t do the work. (In fact, only 3% of people even have written goals!).
As someone who is very goal-focused, I have always believed that having well-defined goals and a strong implementation process is the only way to ensure success.
And then I asked my wife about her goals for the year…
Now, if you don’t know, my wife is also the Co-CEO at Haley Marketing. She’s a brilliant woman, who is incredibly driven, and when she sets her mind on something she will absolutely make it happen.
However, she does not believe in goal setting. In fact, we recently had a debate about this.
I asked Vicki about her goals for 2025, and she said, I don’t set goals for the year…they are too limiting.
I said “what?”
What do you mean goals are limiting?
She replied that in her mind, goals create a ceiling for achievement, and she doesn’t want to be limited by a ceiling.
She also mentioned that goals create too much emphasis on an outcome—and once you achieve that outcome, there is often a big emotional letdown as you struggle to figure out “what’s next?”
Instead, she likes to think about the direction she wants to head in various aspects of her life, and what needs to be done to be successful in those areas.
While I am a goal-oriented person, Vicki is process-oriented. And this strength is a superpower that she uses to focus on the habits she needs to be successful in various areas of her life. One of the brilliant things she does is to make “doing the right things” her priority…not focusing on the goal to achieve.
For example, she’ll never set a weight goal. Instead, she’ll create a rigorous strength training plan. She knows that what the scale says is meaningless…but having a consistent program to build muscle will put her on the path she wants to go.
Same with business. She doesn’t like to forecast specific sales or EBITDA goals. Instead, she’ll look at what has to be done to drive growth, and then figure out how to implement the processes that will make growth happen.
There’s a lot of brilliance in her approach:
- It makes you focus on the journey more than the destination.
- It helps you build the habits that are essential for success.
- It frees you from the potential limitations of the goals you set.
Vicki also mentioned that what makes her approach work is that she “defines herself” by the habits she wants to have.
For example, if she’s struggling with motivation to go to the gym, she will say to herself “I am the type of person who works out daily because my health is my priority. I am not the type of person who skips workouts or takes the easy path.”
So, what about you?
What will be the best path for you in 2025?
Making a resolution? (Please say no!) Setting an impossible goal…and creating your action plan? Picking a direction…and building the habits for the change you want?
Whatever you pick, I want to wish you all the best for a happy, healthy, and highly successful 2025! |
