Resolutions? Resolve this! Now.

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Long ago, a jingle for the cereal Total suggested “Today is the first day of the rest of your life”. Yes. Yes indeed. It is. So, if that’s the case, why is that we always start anew on January 1st?

You don’t have to, you know. Why not make that resolution when the iron is hot? Let’s say you want to write a book. And you wait, perhaps months, and then declare it to the world on the first day of January that you are going to write a book! 

Bravo! Acknowledgement is a great step.

Now think about this. If you had started the book on June 1 when you first thought about it you could be halfway or perhaps done with it by now. Enough of my needling. It IS a new year, and you want a fresh start. Here’s a few things you may want to consider:
Okay, the obvious. Make those resolutions! Do review your past experience as far as meeting those goals. If you tend to make grand, unattainable goals, slow down a bit. Take it a step at a time. 

Let’s say you want to increase quality followers on Twitter. Instead of setting a goal of increasing quality followers by 2,000, why not break that down into smaller chunks? An additional 500 followers by March 31. Maybe more than that in the 2nd quarter and a bit less in the 3rd quarter of 2013 as you take time off during the summer.  If you’re already taken “baby steps” with your goals and that works for you, continue to do so; just don’t lose sight of the big picture.

Ah, and maybe that time off is a goal in itself! Remember that while we all work hard we need to play hard too. Planning that European vacation in September? You deserve it, especially since you achieved your quality follower goal and exceeded it in the first half of the year! Go ahead and pin those photos of all the sites you want to see in London on your Pinterest travel board! You’ll have the links ready at hand to plan the greatest vacation ever.

When you were a kid, did your mother tell you that it’s nice to share when you refused to give some of your M&Ms to your younger sibling? She was right about sharing; however, she probably never knew what social media could do for your goals. 

Tell your friends, in-person of course, and on-line too. Why? Because you are putting it in writing. You are making a declaration. Publicly. Don’t mean to scare you with that word; remember your settings on Facebook and G+ can easily limit the number of people who are included.  

Perhaps you need someone to lean a little? Your friends and followers will help you, just ask them! Another idea would be to start a secret group on Facebook with select people and keep them updated via the group. Nice and private and the support will be there when you need it.

Best to you in 2013 reaching your “total” goals! Now, back to that Total cereal jingle; alas, the commercial is nowhere to be found! And my curious nature led me to the origin of that phrase from the jingle: It is said to have been said originally by a man named Charles Dederich, who was inspired as a member of A.A. to start his own rehab program for those dealing with drug abuse. From what I read there was a lot of controversy regarding his “dealings” and Synanon was eventually shut down. 

Getting back on the happy track, it is a new year! Wet Willie gave us some worthy advice in the tune below in 1974. Keep smiling when you say hello at our website, or hi on Twitter, Facebook, or Google+.