Career Advice, 10 ways to turn your resolutions into achievements

The majority of us made New Year's Resolutions, but most of us will fall short in keeping them.

"Good resolutions are a pleasant crop to sow," a wise man has declared. "The seeds spring up so readily, and the blossoms open so soon with such a brave show. But when the time for flowers has passed, what as to the fruit?"

It's also been said, "He that resolves upon any great and good end has, by that very resolution, scaled the chief barrier to it. He will find such resolution...like the star to the wise men of old, ever guiding him nearer and nearer to perfection."

Career Advice: No doubt about it, we'll be better off in 2008--emotionally and materially--if we make resolutions and achieve them. Today Is The Day To Start

There are 10 actions you can take to turn your resolutions into achievements on your career path by the end of 2008.

1. Take a hard look of what happened to your resolutions in 2007. Learn from your accomplishments and failures.

2. Make certain your career goals for 2008 are realistic and attainable. They should be a real stretch, but reachable with your best efforts. It's fine, for example, to resolve to win a big promotion, but it's not realistic to expect to make it all the way to the top in one leap.

3. Lay out a plan and work it. Quantify each career goal. Make sure each resolution includes actions to be taken with deadlines, as well as practical ways to measure progress at least once each month.

4. Put unrelenting pressure on yourself to make progress toward your goals every day. Accept no excuses for failing to meet deadlines.

5. Treat your resolutions as binding contracts. Put them in writing. Post your resolutions in a prominent place so they will be seen every day. (The bathroom mirror is a good place.) Share your resolves with other persons you respect.

6. Take credit for progress. Enjoy your accomplishmentson your way to career success.

7. Don't be discouraged by the sheer size of the challenge. Think of each resolution as a series of small, manageable tasks to be accomplished one by one.

8. Have a low tolerance for diversions. Permit them only if they are advancements toward achievements that are more important than the original goals.

9. Start now, this day. Don't let the time slip by until it's too late and another year has gone by - lost forever - without measurable progress toward your career goals.

10. Remember. Nothing provides greater career rewards in terms of material benefits and peace of mind than having a set of goals and feeling at the end of each day that you have made your best efforts, according to a plan, to reach them.

Heed These Wise Words

Take seriously this career advice from Marie Edgeworth: "There is no moment like the present. The man who will not execute his resolutions when they are fresh upon him can have no hope from them afterwards; they will be dissipated, lost and perish in the hurry and scurry of the world, or sunk in the sloth of indolence."


To subscribe to Ramon Greenwood's free semi-monthly newsletter and blog please go to http://www.commonsenseatwork.com>; His advice comes from a world of experience, including serving as Senior Vice President of American Express, an entrepreneur, professional director, career coach and author.