I have a challenge for you. 

Every New Year people make "resolutions".  And every year, most people fail to keep their resolutions.  Admittedly the top few resolutions are very difficult to keep - lose weight, stop smoking, get out of debt.  But what makes it so difficult to achieve these lofty goals?

I believe the main reason we fail to succeed is that these resolutions are too generic, too broad and not very tangible.  In order to achieve our goals, we must have specific objectives.  And even more importantly, milestones along the way to mark our progress.  And perhaps most importantly, rewards to acknowledge our achievements.

First let's stop calling them "resolutions".  A resolution is a decision or a pledge.  But being "resolved" already sounds defeatist.  Sounds almost like being "resigned" to doing something.  As if it's something we know we have to do but don't really want to so we are resigned or "resolved" to doing it but not really committed to it. 

Now think about how you feel when you are challenged to do something.  Go ahead, I double dog dare you. Remember when you were young and someone would dare you to do something?  And even though it might have been something as foolish as licking a frozen flagpole in the middle of winter, you couldn't back down on a dare?  Well I'm not asking you to lick the flagpole, but I am asking you to challenge yourself.

What do you want to achieve this year?  Determine what your final objective will be.  Then break it down into manageable steps.  And most importantly, don't forget to decide how you will reward yourself for each step that you accomplish. 

For example:

• Goal:  Pay off credit card before December 2009
• Method:  Give up Starbucks coffee and lemon pound cake (anticipated savings of $25/week)
• Milestones: Pay an extra $100 towards credit card every month
• Reward:  One trip to Starbucks for latte and pound cake every month - after paying the credit card bill!
• Final Reward: Credit card paid off and Starbucks once a week instead of once a month.

Now go back and re-examine your resolutions.  Change them to challenges.  Plan your strategy and don't forget your rewards!

And last but not least, I have a Challenge for you.  Did you see the movie "Pay It Forward" (starring Kevin Spacey, Helen Hunt and Haley Joel Osment)?  It's presents an interesting concept of improving the world by one person doing something good for 3 people who would each then do something good for 3 people and so on....  Sort of a pyramid scheme or chain letter (or email) of good deeds. 

Anyway, I would like to challenge each of you to "pay it forward" this year.  It doesn't have to be anything major.  You'd be surprised how sometimes something seemingly insignificant to you can have a major impact on someone else.  So go out and be nice to someone, do something good for fellow human being.  And maybe in doing so, it will have an unexpected impact on your life as well.

So, any takers on my challenge?