The resolve behind business resolutions

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Leanne Hoagland-Smith. | Provided photo~Sun-Times Media

Updated: January 1, 2012 10:49PM

Today being the second day of the year, many small business owners, crazy busy salespeople and citizens from young to old have made those infamous New Year resolutions (think goals). Research tells us the majority of these New Year resolutions will be forgotten by the end of February.

In the movie, “National Treasure,” the character portrayed by Nicholas Cage engages in some free thinking regarding the behaviors of those who signed the Declaration of Independence.

“It was.., it was firm, it was adamant, it was resolved.”

Fifty-six men signed this resolution and understood the consequences of their actions. Just imagine what would have happened if these individuals viewed this resolution as many view New Year’s resolutions?

This moment in history reveals why so many resolutions fall to the wayside only to be picked up the next year and to suffer the same fate. For when people commit their resolve to writing, this becomes a far more important action. Something almost magical happens when the action of writing is connected to one’s resolve. Yet as discussed in past columns, many people have greater resolution around the common written grocery list than they have for their businesses, their professional and personal lives.

One of the definitions by Webster for the verb resolve is “fixity of purpose.” And here is another potential reason for resolutions to fail is a lack of knowing or having clarity around one’s purpose. In the book, “The On Purpose Person,” author Kevin McCarthy describes being on purpose to having a light switch turned on.

For resolutions to be successful, to materialize to their fruition suggests an internal commitment to one’s own values and ethics. Staying firm, staying adamant is difficult in today’s busy world where one fire pops up after another is put out. Business people are human beings. Letting this and that resolution slip by because of some other priority becomes a habit of thought or an attitude.

If you want to see those New Year resolutions to have successful endings, then consider writing them down, aligning them to your passion, purpose and plans and making sure they are yours. Remember those 56 signers of the most important resolution in mankind’s history. If they could forge a new country, surely you can turn your resolutions into reality?

P.S. Shout Out: To any individual here in Northwest Indiana and around the globe who have a plan of action and a resolve to make it so in 2012.