Resolutions Require Passion

Change waves the flag of new beginnings everywhere we gaze. New Years resolutions lurk just around the corner; 2010 strolls into our lives within the next few days. Frequently people resolve to lose weight, make more money, exercise more, and spend more quality time with the family.

Resolutions officially commence on January 1 and all too frequently collapse by January 10 or even January 3. Review the "for sale" column of the news paper, Craig's List, or e-Bay and find fantastic deals on exercise equipment; ads appear in abundance by February. All of the well intentioned folks who requested exercise equipment for Christmas or purchased with high hopes for their New Years resolution have given up by February. What does that say about our persistence as a society?

The common joke in most gyms, particularly in a ski resort, is that the six busiest weeks of the year are two weeks before ski season, two weeks before bikini season and the two weeks after New Years resolutions. Our good intentions live a very short life span.

No wonder 97% of all businesses fail. Regardless of the type of business: franchise, brick and mortar, home based business, service business or retail business, only three per cent succeed. Look at our track record as a society. Persistence and resolve to commit to a goal until the goal has been achieved remains dismal at best.

Why do statistics reveal such a high failure rate? Examine the goals and the reason for stating them in the first place.

1. Did you set a goal you passionately desire to achieve or a goal you thought you should desire? Most people set goals they think they should set: lose weight, spend more responsibly, spend more quality family time, earn more money or start a fitness program. Guilt or responsibility fades much faster than a deep passionate personal desire.

2. Examine the language of your decision. Using words like "I'll try," "Maybe," "If," or "I'll see how it goes" set you up for failure from the beginning. Wishy washy words and luke warm feelings predict failure. Any time the statement "I'll give the business 3 months and see if it works" leaves the lips, failure waves the red flag of disaster.

3. Life offers very few guarantees. One steady rule of predictability remains true. If the goal is an absolute life threatening necessity, the odds of success skyrocket. People almost always get their "must" goals.

How seriously did you commit to your New Years resolutions? Examine your motivation for setting each resolution. Did you select goals you absolutely must find a way to achieve? Is your goal something you passionately desire? When you speak about your goals, what language do you speak and think? What feelings do you associate with each goal?

Our current economy entices many people to decide to start a new home based business. Good news about home based businesses is not only the low start up cost, but also the higher profit margin and faster return on investment. The bad news about having a lower start up cost is the lack of long term resolve because of a smaller loss of investment in case of failure. A large portion of the population wants to make more money and in many cases actually needs to make more money, but how many really commit to the follow through.

Regardless of the goal the bottom line remains the same. Weight loss, fitness, new business or any other decision, the more passionate the desire and the more solid the commitment, the greater the likelihood of success.

A new business or any other worthwhile goal requires an investment of time, effort and money. How badly do you desire success? What are you willing to do to achieve it? The more you desire success the more important it is to seek the help of a mentor to guarantee your positive results. Seek resources.