Resolutions - 2011

I broke my no-resolutions streak in 2010 but as evidenced by the year-in-review, I didn’t exactly hit it out of the park. In a knee-jerk response to the realization that I’d forgotten or ignored most of my 2010 resolutions, I started an insane list of resolutions for 2011 that included a lot of “doing X every day” and “do Y” once a week, etc.. After realizing that even if I no longer had to work for a living, I still wouldn’t have enough time to keep to that schedule, I scraped the list.

Then, inspired by Michael Hyatt’s “How to Make New Year’s Resolutions Stick”, I started over. I’ve reviewed the original list, identified the big stuff and made what Michael calls “SMART” resolutions for 2011 and I’m going public, also one of his recommendations.

SMART:

Specific—your goals just identify exactly what you want to accomplish in as much specificity as you can muster.

Measurable—as the old adage says, “you can’t manage what you can’t measure.”

Actionable—every resolution should start with a verb (e.g., “quit,” “run,” “finish,” “eliminate,” etc.)

Realistic—you have to be careful here. A good resolution should stretch you, but you have to add a dose of common sense.

Time-bound—every resolution needs a date associated with it. When do you plan to deliver on that resolution.

So without further ado, the 2011 resolutions.

• Identify areas of personal focus by January 15; delegate and/or relinquish everything else by February 28.
• Create concrete plans with milestones and deadlines for each areas of focus by February 15
• Embrace budgeting – Create a workable, comprehensive budget by January 31 with short and long-term goals and stick to it. Track expenses weekly against goals
• Lose 13 lbs by February 1 eating healthfully and hitting the gym a minimum of five times per week and maintaining the weight and lifestyle 85% of 2011 (gotta have some wiggle room)

I am going to check back in on these monthly rather than waiting to read the list again for the first time in late December. Hopefully, with slightly better results.