Continuous Learning

*This is the second article in the New Year’s Resolution series*

What is an intuitive approach to address our problem - failing to achieve New Year’s resolutions?

If you have managed moderately complex projects, the answer should be obvious. You can apply project management practices to maximize your chance for success:

• Defining objectives (i.e., goal setting)
• Create work plan with detailed tasks
• Status reviews

Well, have you? And are you successful doing so?

If you find such approach is sufficient, you probably will not be reading this article right now

The fact is, many of us are capable of getting quite a bit of things done, but we still do not achieve our resolutions. Project management techniques work, but it is not the complete solution. This should not be a surprise. If you have worked on complex efforts, you know that execution is only part of the solution - you must also strategize.

Are you bracing for the inevitable question that will come in the New Year’s party?

Yes it is that time of the year again. You know the drills. Every year we toast and tell others about our New Year’s resolutions, and every year, we fail to deliver. Sometimes we are joking, but often we are serious about making changes. But what generally happens is that right after New Years we make a bunch of changes and stick with the changes for a bit, only to find ourselves back to where we start, and make the same pronouncement at next new year party.

Don’t you find the cycle tiring and de-motivating?

The odds are, this year it could be pretty much the same. Below is my prediction of what would take place for those who decide to start exercising as their resolution:

You are likely to start thinking in the following lines: “Yes, I need to start exercising. I feel weaker than before, and I am obviously fatter. I haven’t done my annual check-up yet, but my guess is that I am also getting less healthy. Exercise is the way for me to start doing. I was too busy last year and did not go frequent enough. This year I will make sure I go much more frequently and get more exercise done!”

You are then likely to do the following - join a gym; or if you are already a gym member (which means you are paying money for something that you don’t use), Keep reading →