4 Tips to Make Your New Year's Resolutions Successful

               I have never been a big believer in New Year Resolutions. My thinking is that if you want to change something such as lose weight, work out harder or get rid of a bad habit, then do it when you decide to make the change, rather than waiting, potentially months.

However, it is still a good time to take a look at ourselves and our lives and seek areas to improve. With a new year in front of us, it is a good time to look at the new calendar like a blank page stretching out in front of us. If you are motivated to make some changes, keep some of these tips in mind.

1.           What do you want to accomplish? Think of your own personal goals, not what your boss wants or what co-workers are shooting for. Rather, think of what it is that you are missing or want to get done.

2.          Find the obstacles holding you back. What is keeping you from your own ideas on success? Keep in mind that success does not just mean financial gains, but could, and should, include personal development. Are there talents that you are not using? Skills that you are leaving undeveloped? Once you identify what is holding you back, it will be much easier to overcome that challenge.

3.          Control your priorities. It is easy to lose focus on goals with all the distractions at work or at home. Last minute demands from the boss or urgent client requests can easily shake you from your own priorities. Always make time for yourself, to keep an eye on your path, despite the distractions.

4.          Take small steps. The road to success must include setting realistic goals. If your goal is a big one, break it up into manageable steps with each one bringing you closer to your finish line. For example, if you want to spend more time growing your network, think of two or three people a week to connect with, rather than trying to get through your entire contact list in one month. If your goal is to make better use of your time, set a goal of spending one hour, three times a week, dedicated to that ‘better use’ rather than try for never wasting anymore time.

These four tips can help move your New Year’s goals from the ‘to do’ list, to the ‘done’ list by year’s end.

Combining his law enforcement and corporate security experiences plus a love of martial arts, Eric Smith created Business Karate, LLC. His new book, Workplace Security Essentials, outlines how any business, school, hospital or organization can master the art of self-defense, reduce losses, avoid liability and build a safer workplace. Visit www.businesskarate.com for more. Follow on Twitter @businesskarate