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Resolutions For Breaking……….. ??
Manisha Gupta
Jan 2011
Jan 2011
Yes, resolutions, especially New Year resolutions, are meant to be broken. Period. Now, wait a minute. Before the editor throws this article out of his window(S) (remember, earlier it would be window but now with Computers it is Windows!!), I better rustle up something meaningful for you all!
When we talk of resolutions, what exactly do we mean? Resolve to do something. Make up our minds to achieve certain difficult targets. Things or tasks or habits that we normally find hard to inculcate, we keep for the year end, resolving to definitely resolve to do them in the coming year. We make lots of them, even write them down at times, and feel happy just seeing our long list. But, when it comes to sticking to them, we actually try doing it in the first few days or sometimes (though rarely) weeks, of January, and soon enough we've had enough of them, along with the Christmas cake, and we're through with them before we even finish eating the cake. That's about it.
So, why make something if you want to only break it later? Whether it's resolutions, promises or whatever! Because you actually want to achieve those tough targets! Whether it is as small a thing as waking up really early in the mornings or exercising daily or reducing weight or not eating junk food or as big a thing as giving up a coveted job to turn entrepreneur (which is quite a bit of a happening thing these days), to start-up on your own, venture out into the big world of small business, getting to know the ropes and the tricks of the trade, it is almost always a herculean task to fulfill the resolutions. It takes grit, determination, self-motivation, will power and what not, to not slip by in any way. It takes self pushing at every stage, failing to do something even for a day or week, makes it very easy to forget it. But no. you must go on, prod yourself to just do it, again and again and yet again, till it overcomes the initial inertia. And once you're past at least February, with the cold receding and Spring beginning to show signs of arrival, you'll feel more motivated to stick to your set out tasks. By this time it would have been ingrained in your subconscious and become a habit.
Considering small entrepreneurs, the following may be a little list of New Year Resolutions that may help achieve a bit or if not that, at least reduce the hurdles standing in the way of setting up or running a small enterprise.
1. Setting Realistic Goals – a planned approach
2. Focusing on Tangible Achievements
3. Relying more on Competence (connections come later)
4. Earning consumer Trust through Consistent Quality (profits will follow)
5. Improving Continuously through small but Affirmative Steps (don't forget KAIZEN)
6. Minimizing Waste through Innovation, Enhancing Consumer Satisfaction (remember LEAN principles)
7. Making sure Products & Services are Climate & Eco-Friendly
8. Rewarding Talent, Loyalty and Team spirit
9. Creating, Protecting & Harvesting Knowledge and Intangible Assets
10. Valuing Customer Feedback (learn from the Japanese)
11. Aiming High, Striving Ahead and Believing in Self.
So go right ahead and make resolutions and go further ahead to break ………not the resolutions but the hurdles that stand in your way of achieving those targets.
Truly then, New Year resolutions are for breaking……………..barriers!!!
Manisha Gupta is a well-known IPR Trainer she can be reached at ipmanisha@rediffmail.com.
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