What’s your New Year’s resolution?

It's typical of this time of year to look back on what we achieved in the previous year and make some big plans for the year to come.

As with all New Year's resolutions, however, once January has passed, it's all too common to find ourselves in the cut and thrust of business as usual - with our game-changing plans falling by the wayside.

Making resolutions happen

So what's the trick behind making New Year's resolutions that actually stick?

(Whether on a personal basis, or more professionally?)

There are a couple of reasons why people's promises to themselves at this time of year are often left unfulfilled.

Reason #1 - Too many ideas

If you're anything like me, when you find yourself with the time to really hatch your masterplan - you find yourself suddenly having tens, if not hundreds of ideas to tweak and change things.

Suddenly everything can be improved, in one way or another.

Reason #2 - No energy left to act

This can be really exciting, and initially very invigorating. That is, until it comes for the time to act and having too many things to do becomes overwhelming.

Perfectionists among us will be familiar with this feeling of paralysis that comes from knowing exactly how something needs to be done, but then finding yourself stuck when it comes to making it happen.

This is when you hit the wall.

If it's fitness, it's that moment where the fridge is empty and you order some food in, or it's cold outside and you don't have impetus the make it out for a run.

The same goes in business, where ideas for a wholesale changes are met with the reality of what it would take to actually make it happen.

The power of massive action (applied smartly)

Now, there's nothing wrong with being ambitious.

But it's equally important to not try to do everything at once - as that massively increases the risk that the house of cards will topple.

The reason for this is that you want to reinforce your new direction and build on it, rather than try to build Rome in a day.

Simply put, you need to open the door, before you walk through it.

So what does that look like?

#1 - Work out what really moves the needle

The benefit of having a laundry list of ideas is that some are going to be more impactful than others.

This means you could (and in my view, should) pick a few things that will really make a difference to focus on, - to keep things from being too much.

In a way, this is taking more responsibility for the change, as you will have distractions, and you'll only be focusing on the things that really matter and will move the needle.

This takes a little bit of consideration, as a lot of the time, the things that actually work are often simple, and are not the things that we're most excited by.

(Think going for a walk each day for fitness, rather than hiring a personal trainer and meal planner, who might last a month or two).

Over time, being consistent with a couple of simple things may likely make much more of a difference than throwing the kitchen sink at something and losing motivation when a lot of effort has been spread thin and momentum doesn't shift.

The trick is to find out what will really work, and you'll genuinely stick with.

#2 - Start with just one thing

Now you've worked out what it is that will have a meaningful effect (and that you can sustain)... Pick the one thing that's at the top of the shortlist.

The exercise of breaking down what you're looking to do and then starting with a single thing will be empowering.

Think of this one thing as the central pillar to your plan for change.

It has the most impact, is usually the most simple thing, and hopefully the easiest adjustment you can make.

By sticking to this - you'll have a foundation to add additional improvements down the line (that's where the bigger plan begins to unfold over time), which will have a compound effect to your results.

It will also stand as evidence of your commitment to the change, and provides you with positive reinforcement each and every time you fulfill it.

If that one thing still feels like a lot, start small and build up. (Think about doing 5 press ups a day, leading up to 10, 20, 50 and 100.)

#3 - Take massive action and do it now

Now the plan has been simplified, you have the energy to act.

Instead of being excited (and then exhausted) by the scope and scale of your plan - you should now have energy to act and sustain your single change.

Do not dawdle. Get started right away.

Oftentimes people suffer from a "next year" or "tomorrow" syndrome - keeping change indefinitely on the horizon.

The hardest part is getting started, and with your plan broken down to its core pillar, you have everything you need to start making the difference happen.

Why wait?

Wrapping up

So, if you have a big idea for your business, I implore you to take decisive action but to be selective in making one meaningful and impactful change.

You'll find that having this "central pillar" will make it easier to add more as you're going along, and the positive feedback loop starts to work it's magic.

It's a virtuous cycle!

Wishing you all the best for 2025, and looking forward to seeing your big ideas come to fruition! Have something interesting planned for this year? I'd love to hear about it. Get in touch the usual way, by dropping me an email.

If there's anything Virtuoso Legal can do to support you or your business, don't hesitate to get in touch.

Liz

Add me on LinkedIn!