New Year's 2008: Why Your New Year's Resolutions Fail and What to Do About It

January 1, 2008. This begins a whole new year for each and every one of us. A new chance to run for President, a new chance to conquer the world. Or, maybe just the opportunity to do something good for yourself, something that you can stick with for the entire 2008 year and beyond!

Every year we all make New Year's resolutions. We come up with these corny ideas that we hope are going to do us some sort of good, and that we will follow through. For instance, we decide to quit smoking, or to write the book we have promised ourselves we would complete.

But then, about mid-March, or maybe even sooner for some, we realize we haven't achieved the New Year's resolution. Either we went back to smoking after two weeks or the book idea hasn't even resurfaced since New Year's day.

So, why is it that we make these New Year's resolutions and don't keep them? Because they are just list items we have put on a piece of paper. They have no plan, no course of action, and thus not much chance of being accomplished.

This year, if you want to make good New Year's resolutions and New Year's goals that you can keep, then read on....

For 2008 and beyond, you can't just make a list on a napkin drunk on New Year's eve of what you want to accomplish in 2008. You have to start working on it ahead of time.

1. Start with brainstorming ideas. What are some things you would like to accomplish in 2008 and beyond? Do you want to lose weight, become a singer, or eat only healthy foods? Make a general list of all the different ideas you have, no matter how crazy they seem.

2. Pick one of the ideas from the brainstorm. Let's just say it is to lose weight.

This is the point at which you were last year, with the goal to lose weight. I would be willing to bet you jotted this down on December 31st at a party, that for 2007 you wanted to lose weight. But, chances are, you are back at the same weight you started at the beginning of the year. Am I right?

The reason for this is that you didn't go through the next steps that would have helped to ensure your success...