New Year’s Resolutions for 2018

Whether we like it or not, 2018 is almost here. I typically spend the last few days of the calendar year reviewing the year in perspective. I take notes and see how I can improve in the next calendar year. I even make a few New Year’s resolutions. What is a New Year’s resolution? A New Year’s resolution is defined as a tradition in which a person resolves to change an undesired trait or behavior to accomplish a personal goal or otherwise improve their life. In the context of this blog post, I will focus resolutions in 2018 on my nonprofit work world.

In the article titled “Top 10 Resolutions for Your Possible, Most Successful New Year,” the author provides resolutions that help you win at work. The author believes you should write out your New Year’s resolutions to make them real, and these will, in turn, restore, revitalize and renew your spirit in the New Year.

Here are the article’s 10 New Year’s resolutions are as follows:

• Do something you love to do and that you do best every single day.
• Do something just for you every single day.
• Give yourself credit and a pat on the back when you deserve it.
• Strive to learn something new every single day.
• Make professional contacts and network.
• Practice professional courage by stepping out of your comfort zone.
• Listen more than you talk.
• Develop a method to track your life goals, your daily engagements and your To-Do list.
• Take up a new hobby or activity this year.
• Take yourself a little less seriously.

The article titled “8 New Year’s Resolutions to Boost Your Career!” the author points out ways to get the most out of your career, which can be applied to any year. The author feels by following these resolutions, you can catapult your way to happiness, health and success.

These resolutions are:

• Get your career in shape by performing a career health check.
• Get organized with appointments, schedules and activities.
• Build your relationships with current and former colleagues.
• Cultivate a sustainable workplace for maximum benefit.
• Refresh your resume at least on a quarterly basis and add accomplishments.
• Extend your professional skills with postgraduate and online study.
• Take on a new challenge and push yourself to greater heights.
• Jump to the next rung with some type of professional development.

The article encourages everyone to write short- and long-term goals.

While millions of us create resolutions that are forgotten in a few days, the author of “12 Professional New Year’s Resolutions You Should Actually Keep” notes that 45 percent of Americans make New Year’s resolutions, but only eight percent are successful in achieving them.

The resolutions in the article are as follows:

• Designate an electronics-free zone.
• Write something every day.
• Keep up with Google.
• Improve your design skills.
• Invest in video.
• Take breaks.
• Listen to one podcast per week.
• Ask for help.
• Develop a mobile strategy.
• Use your vacation time.
• Read more.
• Move to the next level of your career.

The author feels you must plan for life-changing moves. Do what works for you. Think about your priorities and choose from there.

With respect to New Year’s resolutions for 2018, think about what you would like to accomplish in that calendar year. Note where you are in your career and make a short list of achievable goals and objectives.

My 10 resolutions for the New Year are simple.

• Attempt to improve your health.
• Seek best of class models to improve performance.
• Meet new peers and build networks.
• Write blogs and speak on topics that fire you up.
• Volunteer for at least one organization.
• Consult for at least one organization.
• Take at least one course in your field of study.
• Survey your staff and direct a retreat.
• Ask your supervisor for suggestions in how to improve performance.
• Understand the new tax law changes and how to maximize strategies in this changing nonprofit landscape!

Put on your seatbelt as 2018 will be interesting for all of us. Happy New Year, and I wish all of you the best for the New Year. Thousands depend on us and let’s not let them down.