A New Year - A New Decade - New Resolutions

Over the years most of us have made New Year's resolutions that we committed to with passion, promised to uphold, and pinkie swore we'd abide by for years to come. And by mid-January many of us have dismissed, forgotten or just given up on these pledges.

So why is it that we are unable to stick to those plans of running ten miles a day or putting away an extra ten thousand dollars a month? First of all, we tend to get carried away when we make our goals. On New Year's Eve at 11:59pm, with a glass of champagne in one hand and a silver noisemaker in the other, going to the gym twenty times a week sounds like a brilliant idea. But, at 7:00am the next morning the idea isn't so stellar. One of the keys to any successful plan is to make it realistic.

Another step to success is to determine your goal in advance. Put some thought into what you want to change and why. Do you want a different job because three of your buddies are dissatisfied with theirs and you're making a group pact to find new jobs over the upcoming year? Or are you looking for a career change and better income to improve your situation? The reasons behind your goals will strongly influence your motivation.