Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die

Dan and Chip Heath, who wrote “Made to Stick:  Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die,” are two of my favorite authors.  Recently, they wrote a column titled “Make Goals not Resolutions” which appeared in the February 2008 issue of Fast Company.

The Heaths note that we often make resolutions;  like New Year’s resolutions, like the resolution to eat more healthy food, to exercise more, as well as resolutions relating to our work.  These resolutions make us feel good, but lack accountability.  Even when there is a significant reward for being accountable, the failure rate for accomplishing these resolutions is very high.  It’s high because fulfilling resolutions requires a change in personal behavior which can begin by changing your mental environment.

So, instead of making resolutions, get in the practice of being concrete.  Visualize what success looks like and the steps you need to take to get there.  And, keep in mind that you decide what’s normal behavior — e.g., setting goals, holding yourself and your staff for reaching them, and actually reaching them — by looking at what’s going on around you.  “Indifference is contagious!”

.  .  .  .  .    jim