I like January. It's been frigid this year (-27 Celsius a few days ago), but when a new year comes around, it helps me focus on the future and brings fresh energy and hope into the workplace. Granted, feelings pass quickly and without careful resolutions and follow-through, it's easy to squander the new year's energy. So after a good deal of thought, I've decided to make a few 2009 resolutions. Note that these are my resolutions and I don't expect everyone to agree with them. But perhaps you'll find a useful point or two amongst them and then share some of your own 2009 goals.
The new year often brings renewed ambition and resolution (Photo by Per Ola Wiberg)
Channel the Positive.
Most people have a hard time with individuals who think and act differently than they do. As any author, artist, entrepreneur, or freelancer will tell you, there are always people who think you're making a mistake, telling you to get "real" job. Furthermore, most people (myself included) tend to dismiss and sometimes ridicule any idea or thought that we do not agree with. I often find it enjoyable to read blogs of successful businesspeople -- then see how many commenters tell the blogger how utterly clueless he or she is (as if an already successful businessperson cares). So this year, I will purposely not get into pointless negativity among people who think I'm lazy, foolish, or unsensible. Furthermore, I will not dismiss people who have their own ideas and ambitions, but instead encourage them along the way. Because as cheesy as it sounds, a positive attitude does matter, and it can make a difference in productivity and successful behavior.
Reach the Finish.
I think I've only met 2 people in my life who've said that they would never want to start their own business. Fact is, everyone seems to have some idea of what or where they want to be years down the road. In that same vein, I could name dozens of friends who've had "great ideas" in the last 3 years -- but less than 5% of them have actually followed through. Ideas, as long as they stay in your wishful thinking, are useless. Taking some intial steps is better (registering a domain name, creating a rudimentary business plan, etc.), but that falls short as well (and wastes more time than daydreadming). So I plan to finish what I start in 2009, knowing that to complete something and fail is still better than to have never started.
Stay on Target.
I'm the sort of person who thrives on learning new things. This is problematic because I'll often find myself memorizing Rubik's Cube algorithms or comparing football stats on any given afternoon. I also tend to get involved in online discussions of things that have no bearing on my family, career, or future. Let's face it -- although the internet is supposed to increase information flow and productivity, there's a reason why YouTube and Digg have insanely high traffic numbers. This year, I hope to constantly ask myself, "Does this matter?" and, "Will I look back at this time spent and regret it?" We all get 24 hours a day. Those who can focus will find success.
Be a Yes-Man.
Going back to my negative tendencies, I often find myself turning down work or potential projects because they are inconvenient or go against my currently established comfort zone. It's easy for me to see the rise of iPhone apps and think, "No, there are too many players and everything's already been done." Having "No" as my typical answer is not a successful attitude (although I still believe that "No" can be valid in some situations). So every time I'm tempted to quickly say "No" to a project or idea, I'll first consider the fact that Verizon said "No" to Apple's iPhone because it wasn't in their comfort zone (and of course, Cingular/AT&T jumped at the offer). I plan to still be discerning about projects, but I'll stay away from the habitual "No."
Remember that Money is a Good Thing.
Many people (including those in the creative industry) often categorize money as a bad thing. We point to Wall Street crooks, pop bands, and romance novelists as people who have "sold out" in search of more money. Any business that has to use cheaper parts or scale back on customer service must certainly be run by a bunch of greedy executives, we conclude. Sure, there are some who have crossed lines that we wouldn't to make a buck, but many people have not. It's completely honorable and worthwhile to make as much money as you ethically can. If you have the God-given talent to generate services and products people want, do it. People don't fault Apple for being an insanely profitable business (even though they use proprietary hardware and their margins are high above other PC makers). Furthermore, Bill Gates, now the greatest philanthropist in human history, spent his first decade at Microsoft "hoarding" the profits so he could reinvest and make even more money. That said, I plan to maximize my cashflow in 2009 and do positive things with that cash as well.
So there they are, for better or for worse. Go ahead and throw some of your own out...
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