The reason your new year resolutions fail is because you tie them to time not events/actions.
Between now and 31st December, you’ll create a list of things you will not achieve by 31st December 2026 and convince yourself that you will achieve them.
I’ll tell you why.
Between now and 31st December, you’ll create a list of things you will not achieve by 31st December 2026 and convince yourself that you will achieve them.
I’ll tell you why.
When you say you want to achieve XYZ by March 2026, what exactly do you mean?
I’m sorry, but it means nothing.
The only way you can measure it is to wait till March 2026.
You’ve created a binary situation in which you either succeed or fail AND one that can only be determined by the end of March 2026.
I’m sorry, but it means nothing.
The only way you can measure it is to wait till March 2026.
You’ve created a binary situation in which you either succeed or fail AND one that can only be determined by the end of March 2026.
This creates two problems: on one hand, your definition of success is achieving your unrealistic goal and this explains why you feel defeated. In the real world, success is a spectrum not a binary choice.
Because of how you’ve defined success, achieving 75% of your unrealistic goals is unacceptable. And it gets more complicated when you’re actively comparing yourself to others.
But this is a different conversation.
Because of how you’ve defined success, achieving 75% of your unrealistic goals is unacceptable. And it gets more complicated when you’re actively comparing yourself to others.
But this is a different conversation.
On the other hand, there’s no way to measure how far away you are from your goals until we get to the end of March 2026.
And without this feedback on whether or not you’re making progress, it’s easy to lose focus and completely abandon the goal before the end of February.
And without this feedback on whether or not you’re making progress, it’s easy to lose focus and completely abandon the goal before the end of February.
It is not possible to think long term if you can’t think short term.
What you consider strategic planning is actually postponing the day you’ll feel bad about yourself.
What you consider strategic planning is actually postponing the day you’ll feel bad about yourself.
I’ve found that saying you want to be XYZ is better than saying you want to be XYZ by March 2026.
At first, you’ll think there is no deadline, but in reality the deadline is everyday. Not a random day in 2026; a date that is not even a product of clear thought or based on data. It’s just wishful thinking.
At first, you’ll think there is no deadline, but in reality the deadline is everyday. Not a random day in 2026; a date that is not even a product of clear thought or based on data. It’s just wishful thinking.
If the deadline is everyday, it means you’ll need to DO something everyday that will make you become XYZ.
It may not sound intuitive at first, but the list of things you’ll DO everyday should be your new year resolution, not the outcome.
If you understand what I mean, you’ll also realise that you don’t have to wait until the new year to start doing those things you’ve identified. You can start doing them now.
It may not sound intuitive at first, but the list of things you’ll DO everyday should be your new year resolution, not the outcome.
If you understand what I mean, you’ll also realise that you don’t have to wait until the new year to start doing those things you’ve identified. You can start doing them now.
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