Determining what matters most

January of every year sees a multitude of resolutions to start new habits or shed old ones. The aim is always the same: To achieve new goals or re-try past failed attempts. 

But we all know that resolute actions in January typically disappear by December's close. 

Why is that?

Because January's goals are typically determined "in the moment." That is, the goals set in January feel urgent and important at the same time, so people stick with them for only a short time-typically weeks (although I know some who abandon their goals within days). Come March or April, January's resolutions typically fade in both urgency and importance. 

Much like resolutions to improve individual wellbeing, organizations approach each new fiscal year as a fresh start, vowing to improve their profit margins. Their success depends not only on adequately planning for the future, but effectively implementing tactics to realize goals. 

Whether individuals or organizations, setting goals using criteria of importance and non-urgency provides a greater likelihood of achievement than working solely on urgency. That is, success hinges on determining what matters most in the long-term and then implementing solutions to achieve long-term success. 

Brian Tracy, renowned expert on personal and business success suggests the following action items for long term success:

1. Think long term. Write out a description of your ideal life ten and twenty years into the future. This automatically develops longer-time perspective.

2. Evaluate long-term potential. Do more things that have greater long-term value to you.

3. Delay gratification. Develop a habit of delaying gratification in small things, small expenditures, small pleasures, so that you can enjoy greater rewards and greater satisfaction in the future.

Long-term success is rarely about short-term or immediate wins. It takes a lot of dedication and "roll up your sleeves" kind of work to achieve goals. Long-term success rarely occurs by chance. 

Don't wait for chance to make you successful. Instead, get and keep working - don't stop until you realize your goal.

Work-life balance

While work-life balance has been touted by experts for many years; the line between the two is often blurred. Ultimately, work is part of life; much like home and family, friends, volunteering, and other roles that usurp our time.  

"Work-life balance" is about spending the appropriate amount of time in each role that comprises one's complete life. This amount of time is different for every individual. However, individuals who spend exorbitant amounts of time in one area of their life may be setting themselves up for long-term problems, rather than long-term success. 

A study by the Canadian Mental Health Association indicates that 58% of Canadians are "overloaded." This overload comes from pressures from different areas of our lives because we wear many hats while working to achieve our goals - from parent to executive to volunteer to caregiver and beyond. If you feel overloaded, take this quiz to help determine your problem areas: http://www.cmha.ca/mental_health/work-life-balance-quiz/. 

Achieving balance with the multiple roles we play depends on determining what is most important to us and setting priorities to achieve long-term success. 

Much like organizations building and working their strategies, individuals who implement tactics to achieve long-term goals will be far more successful than those who fall victim to doing what is easy most of the time.