I find that new year typically brings out one of two feelings in people.
Either:
- A sense of renewal, charged with fresh energy and a determination to start the year strong.
- An existential panic at how quickly time is passing by and how many more business goals you have left to achieve.
(That second one doesn’t sound much fun, does it?)
Whichever one you’re currently feeling, this thought might naturally follow: “I must set some New Year’s Resolutions – and stick to them!”
Now, I can’t knock the enthusiasm. After all, Finder found that an incredible 66% of Brits are likely to set resolutions for 2024 – with most focused on personal life goals such as increased exercise, weight loss, or reduced stress.
But from a business point of view, New Year’s Resolutions are rarely the way to go. Here’s why.
New Year’s Resolutions Are Built on a Fundamental Misunderstanding
The web is drowning in guides with encouraging names like “39 New Year’s Resolution Ideas And How To Achieve Them” and “How to Start Your Year With Success”.
A quick flick through and you’d be forgiven for thinking that business results are easy to come by. This year, maybe, you can achieve everything that you wanted to.
But here’s the rub:
New Year’s Resolutions are built on the age old ‘silver bullet theory’. The idea that a single solution exists which can supercharge your efforts.
And in the real world, silver bullets don’t work.
As a business owner, you know that goals are a more regular part of life – and you know that creating positive change (or eliminating damaging habits) takes small steps of regular commitment to reinforce your efforts and build an outcome.
The Answer? Build Better Habits
Rather than relying on a once-a-year shot for the moon, the best business owners know that improvements rely on small steps taken regularly.
Incremental change, and habitual change, are far more powerful tools than a one off goal – no matter how spectacular. Moments of magic might get you through a game, but they’ll rarely be enough to grind out results over the course of a long season.
Routines and habits allow you to build your success, bit by bit. They also give you regular opportunities to reassess, take stock, and adjust course if needed. So you can be sure you’re heading in the right direction.
So, how’s it done?
1) Clarify Your Objectives
Before you can create tangible goals, you need to know where you’re heading. That means taking stock of your current situation, and looking into the future.
Take a look at my tips for setting your business goals, and dive into my free actually-get-it-done business plan template if you haven’t created one already.
Once you’ve established your longer-term vision, it’s possible to break that down into smaller goals which will feel much more achievable and dare I say palatable.
(My free template takes you through that process too).
2) Create a routine
Now you’ve set your objectives, goals and actions, it’s time to create the conditions in which you’re most likely to achieve them.
Habits, by definition, require no thought to carry out – and that’s a fairly ambitious target at this early stage.
Instead, start off by building a routine that gets you taking those actions regularly. This requires repetition, and a dedication to maintaining the routine.
Keep things small and achievable, and try associating a new routine with a pre-existing habit (why not email one lapsed customer with your morning coffee, for example?) Post-it notes and visual reminders to carry out those small actions regularly can also be helpful for establishing your routine.
3) Stay the course
Building a routine – let alone a habit – is difficult. You might start off strong but it’s easy for boredom or busyness to creep in and push you off course.
Make it as easy as you can to regularly take those positive actions and make good choices, and if you’re lucky they’ll become second nature.
Remember, pushing hard today isn’t what’s important: it’s being able to come back tomorrow and take the same action, however small.
4) Find someone to keep you accountable
If you run your business on your own, it can be a lonely experience – and the lack of colleagues can make it even harder to stay accountable for your efforts.
Consider taking on someone with the expertise and experience to keep you true to your wishes, help you celebrate your achievements, and support you as you take those micro-actions that build something special. Find a coach or mentor who fits your needs and have a conversation to discover what’s possible.
Here’s To The Slow and Steady
In today’s world, it’s so tempting to be lured in by silver bullet promises. Quick fixes, overnight solutions that get us to our goals – seemingly without any effort.
The truth however is that slow and steady really does win the race. By setting out your objectives and creating routines and habits that carry you to them you can build lasting, satisfying success that will take you and your business where you want to go.
Kind Regards,
Chris