It is a time to Reflect, Regroup, Refocus
and either continue on with vigor, course correct or totally reset and move forward in a new direction.
Whatever the New Year means to you it is at least a great time to evaluate whether or not you are on track to getting to where you want to go.
Goal setting however seems to be more difficult than you would think and if you have a New Year Resolution you are aiming to tackle this year…history has shown that the odds of seeing it through are not in your favour.
Here is a breakdown on some of the New Year Resolution data:
The following shows how many resolutions are maintained as time goes on:
* past the first week: 75%
* past 2 weeks: 71%
* after one month: 64%
* after 6 months: 46%
Another interesting tidbit:
45% of adults usually set New Year’s Resolutions;
17% infrequently set resolutions;
38% absolutely never set resolutions.
Only 8% of people are always successful in achieving their resolutions.
19% achieve their resolutions every other year.
49% have infrequent success.
24% (one in four people) NEVER succeed and have failed on every resolution every year.
That means that 3 out of 4 people almost never succeed.
Of those who do set resolutions here is what they are focusing on for the New Year:
34% set resolutions related to money
38% set resolutions related to weight
47% set resolutions related to self-improvement or education
31% set resolutions related to relationships
(these add to more than 100% because some people set multiple resolutions)
It appears that the younger you are, the more likely you are to achieve your resolutions
* 39% of those in their twenties achieve their resolutions every year or every other year
* Less than 15% of those over 50 achieve their resolutions every year or every other year
And I thought this is interesting, the less happy you are, the more likely you are to set New Year’s Resolutions.
This is especially true for those who set money-related resolutions:
41% are not happy
34% are moderately happy
25% are happy.
And here’s the punch line – There is no correlation between happiness and resolution setting/success. People who achieve their resolutions every year are NO happier than those who do not set resolutions or who are unsuccessful in achieving them
So why are we having so much trouble following thorough with New Goals and Objectives?
I think it has more to do with our approach than our intentions. Yes, your goals have to be realistic and reasonable but I get the feeling that the bigger problem has more to do with stick-to-it-ness, grit, determination and in the end, really understanding how to get the job done.
When I work with my athletes, I really do believe there is very little we cannot accomplish as long as we stay away from the realm of fantasy.
Can every athlete play professionally? No, not at all.
Can they all get a good scholarship and have a great collage career? No, not at all.
But who’s to say who can and who can’t?
I have seen first hand the greatest young talent fall to the wayside and disappear from sport and at the same time I have seen mediocre and athletes perceived to be of below average talent and potential rise to the top and not only play sport at the highest level but impact sport at the highest level.
So if you are not quite where you would like to be at this point in time do not be discouraged by the Resolution numbers above.
Here’s what I say to every single person I work with:
“A problem accurately defined is already partially solved. And, if you want to get where you want to go you are going to have to be a master problem solver”.
When we look at Talent Identification and the world of scouting the accuracy in predicting future success in sport is abysmal!! Absolutely Terrible!!!
Even with all of the statistical analysis and modeling that has taken professional sport by storm – the use of past and current stats to predict the future success of an athlete reeks of a fixed & myopic mindset – give me an athlete for 6 weeks, a little feedback and insight and we’ll blow your current statistical analysis out of the water!!
So do not fret!
Here’s a little game plan for you to consider. Setting goals is like taking a trip.
First, you have to decide where you want to go and be very clear here, the more accurate the better.
Second, take a good and hard look at where you are at – be very insightful here and even get the input of others so you have a really good and holistic view of your current situation.
Third, start planning the trip – it’s like laying out a road map and plotting the course.
Getting there is Half the Fun
It’s is also true in sport getting there is half the fun..
Along the way we will be hit by obstacles, detours, breakdowns and unforeseen distractions.
And we’ll also be presented with some awesome shortcuts, we’ll find the wind at our back at times and once and a while we’ll hit the autobahn and …..Pedal to the Medal Baby…hit speeds only dreamed of with little effort.
So, if you have a desire to get somewhere significant this year the process is not as difficult as you might think.
Clearly define where you want to go, set out your course for getting there and adapt to all that happens along the way.
It is very difficult to go it alone so put a small dedicated team together to help you along your way and maybe the most important thing I can share is this:
Understand that YOU are in charge of this excursion – you are the “Captain of the Ship” and the success of this journey is totally on your shoulders!
All too often people want to be told what to do, looking to others for guidance and direction. To follow along and step just to the side of taking full responsibility for being successful – it may be a human thing – to be just outside the line of fire but it has NO place in the world of Top Performance.
OWN IT
If you are going to totally trust your future to someone else be prepared for a long and hard road, even with the very best of intentions there is NO ONE who will be more invested in your personal success than yourself.
So put together a really good team. Get the experts and support you are going to need and captain them all the way to the Promised Land it’s the only way to do it.
So here’s to the New Year, I’d say good luck but luck has very little to do with it.
Once you lay out your plan and get to work…I think I’d rather say this….
So here’s to the New Year – Own it!
Jeff
