Why New Year’s Resolutions Fail & How To Set Yourself Up for Success

 

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Every year, millions of people take the opportunity to use January as a fresh start. In our home, my husband and I sit down in the beginning of the year to set our goals and intentions for the year ahead.

When the kids became old enough to participate, they started joining us for this important ritual. How we set our resolutions changes each year, depending on what’s on our mind or what process I’ve read about most recently and want to ‘test’ out. But we always do it.

I believe that one of the most important steps we can in our lives is to take is a step back. To pause and reflect on our lives. To identify what’s working – and what’s not. To consider what we want - and what we don’t. To identify what’s most important to us – and what no longer serves us as we move forward. This time to pause and reflect also provides space to identify what we want before we move forward again.

That’s why I love the process of setting New Year’s resolutions. I love the act… the ritual…the space…to stop and reflect on our goals and intentions for the new year. It’s a chance to bring consciousness and intention to our lives. To our days. To our year. It's no wonder people have been setting New Year's resolutions for almost 4,000 years!

Having a clear goal, vision, intention, ambition, dream, or desire allows us to create and envision the life we want to live and move forward with clarity and focus.

So, if you’re going to be joining the millions of people who are thinking about what they want to create for themselves in the coming year, wouldn’t it would be helpful to know why so many people (up to 92%!) fail and what you can do to set yourself up for success?

Check out my latest Lifehack article here to learn why most resolutions fail and more importantly, what you can do to set yourself up for success.

2019 is going to be a great year, because you are going to make it great. Expect great things because great things are about to happen.

As I prepare to take a holiday break with my family, I want to take a moment to extend my gratitude to all of you. Thank you again for your support and encouragement, your trust and your time. ​

Wishing you and yours a beautiful holiday season and an incredible, happy and healthy New Year.

Here’s to an awesome 2019 and to living a life you love!

 
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How To Escape The Curse Of Competence
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How To Escape The Curse Of Competence
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“If you want something done, ask a busy person.”

I’ve watched that saying prove true again and again over nearly 30 years of coaching and consulting. The capable people get tapped for everything.

Can you lead the presentation? Train the new hire? Fix the project? Join one more committee? Of course you can. You’re reliable, experienced and willing to step in.

But just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should.

My latest Forbes article explores what I call the curse of competence: getting pulled into work because you’re good at it, not because it is the best use of your strengths, supports your growth or brings you joy.

If you feel like you’re the one carrying everything, I wrote this piece for you.

Inside, I share:

  • How to recognize when competence has quietly become obligation

  • The real cost to your energy, growth and joy

  • A simple YES filter to use before automatically agreeing

  • Graceful ways to say no, redirect an opportunity or make room on your plate

This isn’t about becoming less helpful or less generous. It’s about protecting your capacity for the work only you can do.

The goal isn’t to do less. It’s to stop giving your best work away so you can be brilliant at the work that fulfills you.

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Your Talent Development Budget’s Been Slashed. Now What?
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Your Talent Development Budget’s Been Slashed. Now What?
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A trend is evident across organizations: budgets are tightening, and talent development is often one of the first areas to take a hit. As investment in AI climbs, budgets for training, leadership development, and teambuilding are decreasing.

It’s logical on paper. AI is the future. It promises speed, efficiency, scalability, and cost savings. Organizations are transforming to meet future demands, and AI investments are vital for long-term success.

However, there’s a risk quietly building beneath the surface: we’re optimizing organizations through AI while underinvesting in the humans doing the work. That’s a dangerous tradeoff.

What happens when we inadvertently deprioritize the growth, development, and human connection of the people managing these AI processes – and everything else that keeps organizations running smoothly? The unintended consequences may not show up on a dashboard, in OKRs or KPIs today or tomorrow. But they will. Disengagement, eroded trust, and talent loss often don’t announce themselves until it’s too late.

As budgets shift and AI investment accelerates, the real question isn’t: How much can AI replace? Instead, it’s How can we best-equip humans to succeed and thrive in an AI-powered workplace?

The answer is not to slow AI development, but to match it with an equal and continued commitment to the human-forward development of people.

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​Change Leadership Made Simple: How Great Leaders Can Inspire Teams Through Uncertainty
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After years of coaching leaders through change - and navigating plenty myself - I’m excited to share my latest Forbes Coaches Council article:

​Change Leadership Made Simple: How Great Leaders Can Inspire Teams Through Uncertainty.

Change is everywhere - at work and in life.

New initiatives. New strategies. New technologies. Shifts in leadership, roles, objectives. Career transitions, promotions, layoffs.

Sometimes we choose it. Sometimes it chooses us. But we’re all experiencing something new.​

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Self-Awareness: The Leadership Game-Changer
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Self-Awareness: The Leadership Game-Changer
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We all think we know ourselves. But do we really? In this article I wrote for TalentCulture, I discuss how leadership self-awareness isn’t about good intentions or taking one personality test—it’s about consistently understanding how your behavior affects others.

If you’re thinking, “I’ve done the work”, here’s the catch: you may think you know yourself. Odds are, you mostly do. But real self-awareness isn’t static. And the blind spots that held you back five years ago? They may still be showing up in subtler, more impactful ways.

When leaders fail to recognize that they might be the problem, their teams suffer—and so does business performance.

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Power Of The Pause
Power Of The Pause

One of the more undervalued and less frequently discussed behaviors of great leaders is the ability to pause— to step back and stay calm under pressure. Pausing is a critical yet often overlooked skill that allows a leader to block out the noise, chaos, and competing opinions of others and identify the best way forward.

In this Forbes article, you’ll learn to master the power of the pause with one of my favorite leadership tools --- the AHA Method.

Where can you start using the power of the pause in your leadership and life?

Power Of The Pause

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Survival Isn't Success: Leaving A Toxic Work Environment
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Survival Isn't Success: Leaving A Toxic Work Environment
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Many of us have experienced the murky waters of a work culture gone wrong. In this article on Forbes, I unpack the signs—and impacts—of a toxic work environment and what to do if you find yourself there.

Survival Isn't Success: Leaving A Toxic Work Environment

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Creating A Collaborative Workplace: Six Strategies That Actually Work
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Creating A Collaborative Workplace: Six Strategies That Actually Work
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We all know that collaboration is critical, but many leaders struggle to harness it effectively. Leaders can't simply tell their team to “Be more collaborative!” They must dedicate time and intentionality to making it happen. This Forbes piece is chock-full of tips and strategies to get back to basics and effectively foster a collaborative environment.

Creating A Collaborative Workplace: Six Strategies That Actually Work

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Have you Heard of "Lucky Girl Syndrome?"
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Have you Heard of "Lucky Girl Syndrome?"
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I was thrilled to be contacted by the team at Katie Couric Media to weigh in on a timely topic called, “Lucky Girl Syndrome.” I had a wonderful discussion with the reporter on the benefits of positive thinking, the downfalls of toxic positivity, and how “luck” plays a role in creating the lives of our dreams. We talked about the seductive and trendy nature of "manifesting" and the importance of "putting in the work".

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Bring on the Confidence!
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Bring on the Confidence!
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Looking for ways to build your confidence? Check out this podcast and article to help you - and your kids -have the confidence to seize opportunities, take chances, embark on the next steps in your life or career, and live a life you love.

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How to Figure Out Your Next Career Move
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How to Figure Out Your Next Career Move
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If you’re considering making a move or looking to develop your career further, this is a great time to take a step back, and reflect on what’s most important to you and what you want for your future. In this article, you’ll learn what’s going on with this seismic shift in careers, why it can be so hard to make a move, and five clear and simple steps to take if you’re ready to make a change.

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Tracy Kennedy#tracykennedycoaching, #discoveryournext, #newyearsresolutions, #newyearnewyou, #setyourselfupforsuccess, #newyearresolution, #consciousnessandintention