Once again the annual self improvement race begins. And once again only a few will cross the finish line if we believe the 2014 study by the Journal of Clinical Psychology from the University of Scranton.
These researchers revealed the following about the 45% of Americans who usually make New Year’s Resolutions or what is really the annual self improvement race:
- 52% have confidence in achievement
- 8% have actual achievement
What was also interesting was the listing of the Top New Year’s Resolutions:
- Lose weight
- Get organized
- Spend less, save more
- Enjoy life to the fullest
- Stay fit and healthy
- Learn something exciting
- Quit smoking
- Help others in their dreams
- Fall in love
- Spend more time with family
Earn more money; be more successful in career or business or buy something expensive, all did not make the top 10 list. What this appears to suggest is the annual self improvement race is really about personal self improvement and specifically finding balance in our personal lives, imagine that.
For myself and my clients, I developed the 8 Spoke Life Wheel to determine where to set personal goals and how to achieve personal balance. By the way, did you know Buddha was the first person to write about the Wheel of Life and using that wheel concept for personal growth and balance?
When we look at the Top Ten List of New Year’s Resolutions, the majority of self improvement resolutions fall into these categories:
- Physical (Lose weight; stay fit and healthy; stop smoking)
- Mental (Get organized; learn something exciting) and/or
- Career (Get organized; learn something exciting)
- Financial (Save more, spend less)
- Purpose (Enjoy life to the fullest)
- Ethics & Beliefs (Help others achieve their dreams)
- Social (Fall in love)
- Family (Spend more time with family)
Why Only 8%?
My belief is the reason for the low success rate is because of:
- No written plan
- No proven goal achievement process
- No to weak resolve
No Written Plan
Just as I have written so many times before, people place more faith in the everyday common written grocery list than they do for the rest of their lives. We all know what happens when we forget the written grocery list. We also know failure to bring that list means we are now on the grocer’s plan. Yet, well over 90% of the population does not have a written personal action plan and ends up without achieving what they want, whatever that is.
No Proven Goal Achievement Process
Even the best written personal growth action plan must be supported by a proven goal achievement process including a goal setting worksheet. The process works with the goal setting worksheet (actually the goal worksheet is both a process and a tool). Goal Setting Tip: Through the efforts of myself and a colleague, Laura Novokowski, we have created The Results Tool™. This goal worksheet has an embedded goal setting and goal achievement process.
No to Weak Resolve
The great philosopher Yoda said “Do or do not, there is no try.” The word try for many weakens their resolve. They give up when the going gets tough. Henry Ford said “Whether you think you can or you think you cannot, either way you are right.”
Each of us have the power, the resolve to change today’s results to secure tomorrow’s goals. Our greatest self improvement barrier is ourselves. Pogo said it best “We have met the enemy and he is us.”
Be One of the Few and Not One of the Many
Yes 2015 can be your year provided you are willing to be one of the few to achieve success and not one of the many who does not make it across the finish line. If you want 2015 to be better take these actions:
- Assess through reflection about 2014 what was good, no so good and where you can make course corrections
- Establish a written personal growth action plan to overcome the enemy – you
- Commit your WAY SMART goals to writing
- Use written belief or affirmation statements
- Find an accountability partner – a mentor, a colleague
- Print this posting out to support you in your efforts
- If by mid-February you are not where you want to be, then hire an executive coach.
Only you can take the necessary self improvement actions. So the question returns to:
Will you be one of the many who fail to cross the finish line or
one of the few who cross the finish line?
P.S. The Attribute Index is a great talent assessment tool to discover more about yourself from your preferred decision making style to 78 key talents. Possibly part of the reason you have not crossed the finish you is because you have more confidence in what you don’t do well than what you do well?
Leanne Hoagland-Smith, M.S., is an executive coach who takes an heuristic approach to personal and professional growth. Her task is to support you in bridging the gap between today’s results and tomorrow’s goals. She can be reached at 219.508.2859 central time. Follow her on Twitter or check out her profile on LinkedIn.
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