Do you know people who are quitting smoking? How about people vowing to stop eating junk food? Or people who swear this is the year they stop going into debt? If you’re reading this, chances are you know someone in your life who is “committed” to making a change this year. Traditionally, we call these commitments resolutions, and we all know what happens with those…

Over the holiday break, I did an exercise that has proven to be quite beneficial and I wanted to share it with you.

1. Identify your distractions or go to vices that prohibit you from achieving the goals and life you want. I suggest you physically making a list and putting some thought into what’s got your attention on a daily basis. What you focus on becomes the results you achieve. If you’re focused on worry, you will be stressed. If you’re focused on growth, you will take actions to foster more success.

2. Examine your list of so-called distractions and list 3 things you can stop doing every day that have you pulled in different directions.

3. Now dig deep and identify 3 things you can start doing every day that will enhance your focus and drive you in the direction you want to be headed.

4. Applying these actions is where it gets hard. At best, if you take anything away from this blog, it is retraining your thinking about what the word decision means to you. When a true decision is made, any alternatives that would stand in the way of that choice are completely eliminated. For example: “I’ve decided to quit smoking, so I will start by cutting down and only have 1 at the end of my day.” If you truly “decide” to quit smoking, you make a conscious, focused commitment to never smoke again. There is no alternative.

Decisions must be followed by specific actions that lead to the outcome you desire. If there are alternatives to your decision, you will never reach your goal because something will always you turn you in another direction.

How does this apply in business ownership? In two ways:

First, when you decide something positive for yourself in your personal life, the results will extend beyond your personal reach. Your team is a direct reflection of you. The more focused and disciplined you become as a leader, the more focused and disciplined they become.

Second, not only can you do the above exercise for your own life, but you can do it for your company as well. What is distracting your team from being more productive? What can they stop and start doing that will enhance the success of your company? These are important questions you should be asking yourself at the start of this New Year.

For resolutions to work for you, make decisions – not goals with good intentions.

What decisions are you ready to make? Share on our Facebook or Twitter – #TheBeat