It Doesn’t Get Easier. You Just Get Better.

This is the week that New Year’s resolutions die.

I didn’t just make that up, by the way. I read it in The Wall Street Journal.

Also, there was something in there about bonds or treasuries or whatever.

So much for my financial resolutions.

Look, your New Year’s resolutions are doomed. But there’s a better way.

Did you make a resolution to lose weight this year? Sure, me too.

Every December, gym memberships surge by an average of 50% nationwide. How long does that attendance stay up?

Three weeks.

Before the end of January, gym attendance is already dropping like a damp towel.

And it’s not just weight-loss resolutions that crash and burn. How many aspiring authors vowed to write a book last year?

So . . . how’d that work out for you?

Personally, I vowed to write new fiction every day this year.

Just like I do every year. But I’ve already missed a few days. Now, I’m fighting the temptation to give up and go eat gooey cinnamon rolls.

That’s the insidious nature of resolutions. You miss them once, twice, and then suddenly you feel like giving up.

There’s actually a legitimate psychological term for that effect, but I’m too lazy to go look it up. Must be all the sugar.

The one thing you must do this year, if nothing else:

Do yourself a favor and forget about trying to stick to some impossible model of impeccable behavior.

You missed a day? Forget about it. You messed up? Great.

Because here’s the secret:

Success is built on a mountain of failures.

Every time you fail, you get a chance to try again. Every time you think you’re done, you get a chance to turn things around.

If you want to change your life, if you want to achieve something great, understand that it will take time. Accept that. And then take one baby step toward that goal.

Every step you take will get you closer. Guaranteed.

It doesn’t get any easier, whatever you’re doing. But you will get better at it, every time you fail.

And next year this time, you’ll have already succeeded.

What are you going to do differently this year? Leave me a comment.

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