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Resolutions, Here We Go Again.
Reflecting on 2021 Resolutions: A Personal Scorecard and Adjustments for 2022
Last year, I shared my New Year’s resolutions and the process I used to create them in a blog post titled “New Year’s Resolutions, Once More Unto the Breach.” I divided my resolutions into three categories: Business, Personal, and Relationships. Upon reflecting on my progress, I scored myself on a scale of 0 to 10 in each area:
- Business: 5.65
- Personal: 4.60
- Relationships: 8.20
While my performance was not perfect, I still made some progress. I realized my long-term goals, or 3HAG, remained mostly unchanged, which meant my resolutions were still relevant for 2022.
Enhancing Resolution Success in 2022
To improve my success rate in 2022, I decided to implement the advice of social psychologist Wendy Wood, who emphasized the importance of tapping into the unconscious mind to facilitate change. Wendy, an expert on habits and the author of “Good Habits, Bad Habits: The Science of Making Positive Changes That Stick,” suggests that resolution success is less about willpower and more about persistence. She advises minimizing friction that prevents achieving goals and increasing friction for actions that hinder success.
Addressing Friction in Failed Resolutions
To illustrate how I applied Wendy’s approach, let’s examine three resolutions I struggled with last year and discuss how I can modify friction to increase the likelihood of success.
Have five coaching clients on annual contracts.
I fell short of this goal, but I did have several clients on shorter-term contracts. I discovered that my mindset was focused on selling annual contracts rather than addressing clients’ immediate needs, which led to positive outcomes and repeat business.
- Friction to reduce: Shift my mindset from selling annual contracts to addressing clients’ problems.
- Friction to increase: Develop a questionnaire to identify prospects’ most significant issues before proposing a solution or relationship.
Practice yoga three times a week.
I only practiced yoga three times throughout the year, which I attributed to insufficient time allocation.
- Friction to reduce: Schedule yoga sessions in my calendar every Sunday for the week ahead, allowing for an hour and twenty minutes for each session and a shower afterward.
- Friction to increase: Share my commitment and calendar with a friend to hold me accountable.
Develop a monthly calling plan for “old” friends.
My performance in this area was mediocre. I often forgot to call friends, so I needed to address the friction points.
- Friction to reduce: Schedule a weekly calendar appointment to call a friend, including their name and phone number.
- Friction to increase: Reach out on social media to inform friends about my intention to call and leave messages when they don’t answer, inviting them to call back.
I look forward to updating you on my progress next year and encourage you to examine your 2022 goals by considering how adjusting friction can help you achieve them. Feel free to share your resolutions with me if you’d like someone to hold you accountable or reach out if you’d like to discuss this further.
Copyright (c) 2022, Marc A. Borrelli
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