We can Make it in 2011!

By Sandra Idossou

Today January 3rd 2011 is the first working day for most people all over the world. The year 2011 is still a blank page that has almost nothing written on.

The pages will be filled starting from today with every little action we will individually take throughout the 365 days of the year.

Even before the clock finally stroked midnight last Friday December 31st, people all over the world were cheering and filled with so much enthusiasm and positive wishes for the New Year. Many are those who started the year with new resolutions.

This is also the time of the year we receive many best wishes. The most common ones are Peace, Love, Happiness, Health, Prosperity and Success. Much as I personally believe in the Grace of God in all aspects of our lives, all these best wishes for our lives, businesses; nations can only come to pass if only we individually work towards them right from this first day of working.

The start of every New Year is the perfect time to turn a new page and have many new resolutions. It is however amazing that these resolutions are most often the same as those made the previous years.

I read on a friend’s Facebook status this morning “New Year, New Me; that at last is my resolution, New Me”. And I loved it. Because in fact; nothing is new about the year. Every single day is a new year on its own. Every single day is an opportunity to do new things. Every single day should be a new day where we set to adopt new habits that will improve our lives, businesses and nations.

The beginning of 2011 should be a fresh start and a great opportunity to eliminate the bad habits we have adopted all this while. We should all aim today at establishing new routines that will help us grow psychologically, spiritually, socially, professionally and financially.

It is true that resolutions are much easier made than kept and by the end of this month, many would have abandoned their resolutions and settled back in their old patterns of the past years.

It is for this reason that we have to start right from today to write positive actions on the blank pages of 2011. Not tomorrow but today. This is the right time to reflect on the changes we want or need to make and resolve to follow through daily.

It is said that an action that is continuously repeated for 21 days becomes a habit. You won’t be fortunate enough to get things right every time but just be sure to try this new action every single day and by the time you realize it; it has become an acquired habit. If in every 21 days you can adopt a new positive habit, just imagine and count the number of good ones you can develop in 365 days.

For any real change to occur there should be a long term commitment. A Swedish Proverb says that “The best place to find a helping hand is at the end of your own arm.” This says it all. Our helping hand comes from ourselves. We ourselves have the ability to change our destiny. But of course, you also have to surround yourself with positive thinking people who can help you grow, emulate you and bring out the best in you.

Peace, Love, Happiness, Health, Prosperity, Success etc will only come if we do things we are supposed to do on a daily basis. Each of us can make this year a great one.

Each person is responsible for the realization of these best wishes. In fact, the most important element in this year resolution is “You”. No one can improve your life or your business but only “You”.

Take full advantage of each single day. Do things properly as if your future depended on them. Be professional every day as if your salary depended on that single day. Treat customers very well if they were the source of our incomes (and in fact, they are).

Your resolutions should be reviewed, tested, and measured very often. Without continual adjustment and maintenance you might just slip into the old habits you are comfortable with.

Creating something new in your life will take effort and positive action on your part on a daily routine. Be pragmatic and make your new year’s resolution a constant way of living that becomes part of your life for longer than January.

The author is a customer service consultant and the Publisher of The ServiceMag