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Resolutions and Plans
Ed Fowkes • 24 December 2024
A Blank Canvas Full of Potential
The dawn of a new year inevitably brings a certain sense of possibility - a fresh chapter, unblemished by missed targets or yesterday’s chaos. For entrepreneurs, it’s especially tempting to seize this moment to map out grand ambitions. But…
The truth is many New Year’s resolutions fall flat.
Why?
Because they’re often shaped more by wishful thinking than by strategic intent.
Business owners, in particular, can ill afford the luxury of setting goals that are vague, unrealistic, or detached from their core priorities. If they interfere with our ability to make money, we don’t get paid. And moreover time is our most precious asset. Our resolutions should work as a lever, propelling us closer to meaningful progress, not as a weight pulling us into distraction or frustration.
Here I shall try to cut through the noise and offer practical, impactful guidance tailored to the entrepreneurial mindset. Together, let’s explore the dos and don’ts of setting resolutions that stick - resolutions that don’t just gather dust by February but instead align with your values, elevate your business, and foster a life you actually want to lead. Setting resolutions isn’t just about dreaming big; it’s about laying the groundwork for disciplined, purposeful action.
Try to ensure that this year, your resolutions work as hard as you do.
Why New Year’s Resolutions Often Fail
New Year’s resolutions are a tradition. They are as old as time. But they are also one of the most routinely abandoned commitments. For us entrepreneurs, constantly juggling priorities, the reasons for failure are not just predictable, they’re painfully familiar.
Vagueness
Resolutions like “be more productive” or “grow my business” might sound aspirational, but they lack the clarity needed to translate ambition into action. Without specifics goals drift aimlessly, like a boat without a rudder. You may work harder, but what will you work harder on?
Overreach
Entrepreneurs are natural optimists, often setting resolutions that are wildly ambitious. The worst are those misaligned with the resources or time we have available. Aiming for the moon is noble, but without a detailed flight plan, you might even crash before liftoff.
External Influence
How often do we set goals based on what’s trendy, rather than what’s truly meaningful or what aligns with ourselves? Whether it’s chasing a new social media platform, adopting the latest tech fad, or expanding into a market everyone else is raving about, resolutions that don’t align with your deeper purpose will quickly lose momentum.
Starting TableNetwork Felix and I drew up a big plan. But the road we drew to achieve it was actually misaligned with our ambitions for life. We made some successes early, but we then spent much of the first year learning some hard lessons about ourselves.
Reflection
A lack of sufficient reflection dooms many resolutions before they even begin. Without pausing to assess what worked and what didn’t over the past year, you risk repeating the same mistakes. Resolutions without insight are just recycled failures dressed up in January’s optimism.
This brings my mind to the annual cycle accountability product we are now putting together at TableNetwork. In your business’s Autumn, you need to gather data about the year that’s passing, how it went in the Spring and Summer when you sewed seeds and made hay. Unless you gather good data, and then analyse it, the plans you make for next year during the Winter season will likely be unfounded. Knowledge is power, and half of the valuable knowledge your business can use to its advantage is knowledge of what happened last year.
For business owners, the stakes are high
When a resolution fails, it’s not just disappointing - it can have tangible consequences for your business, your team, and even your personal wellbeing. The good news is that failure is avoidable. With the right approach, you can create resolutions that don’t just survive past February but can become the foundation for sustainable growth.
Let’s explore how this is achievable.
The Dos of Setting New Year’s Resolutions
Most of the friends I’ve had in my life who are business owners, take time out over
Christmas to reflect. Some just do it because it’s the thing to do. They are copying others’ practice. The more successful aren’t undertaking a seasonal exercise. For them it is far more than that. The end of year reflection is an opportunity to realign, refocus, and redefine priorities. The time off is often a blessing from the heavens above, and the key is to shift from wishful thinking to intentional planning.
Here are some essential dos to ensure your resolutions drive real impact.
Be Specific and Measurable
Ambiguity is the enemy of progress. Resolutions like “increase revenue” or “get healthier” are destined to fail because they lack clear parameters. Instead, frame your goals with precision, making them SMART: “Increase revenue by 15% in Q1 by expanding our digital marketing efforts” or “Dedicate 30 minutes daily to exercise.” Specificity gives you a target; measurability keeps you accountable.
Align Goals with Your Core Values
Resolutions that conflict with your deeper values will inevitably feel like a chore. From exercise you find boring to work that goes against your ethics, you’ll soon want to give them up.
Take the time to evaluate what truly matters to you, both in business and in life. If family is a priority, set boundaries around work hours. If sustainability is a value, ensure your growth plans don’t compromise that ethos. When your goals align with your values, motivation flows naturally.
Break Goals into Micro-Resolutions
Grand, sweeping resolutions can feel overwhelming. The solution? Break them into smaller, actionable steps. ‘Achievable’ reduces overwhelm. Instead of resolving to “launch a new product,” start with “research customer needs in January” or “test three prototypes by March.” Small wins build momentum, making larger goals feel achievable.
Add Implementation to an Existing Schedule
This should really be top of the list when it comes to resolution dos, but it fits in well here. When we want to make a habit, we need to easily assimilate it into our daily routine.
When I decided I wanted a small amount of daily exercise en-route to skiing, I placed it before my morning shower. This was something I did every day and I only had to think for the first week before it was a habit I could not avoid.
So think about what you do already. What can you sandwich each resolution between so it just falls into place.
Build Accountability Systems
Accountability is the glue that binds intention to action. Share your goals with someone who will challenge you - a mentor, a peer group, or even a business coach. This is one of the greatest values that our Tables provide. Founders collaborating and sharing insights, then ensuring each other carry out agreed actions, can be invaluable for staying on track.
Remember, accountability isn’t about pressure; it’s about creating a supportive environment for success.
Celebrate Milestones
Entrepreneurs are notorious for moving the goalposts. The moment one objective is achieved, another is set - without so much as a pause to acknowledge progress. This relentless pace leads to burnout.
Build in moments to celebrate milestones, however small. Acknowledging progress isn’t indulgent; it’s actually necessary for sustaining our motivation. So enjoy it!
Regularly Review and Adjust
The entrepreneurial landscape is dynamic and your resolutions should be too. Schedule quarterly check-ins to evaluate your progress and assess their effectiveness. Are the goals still relevant? Have market conditions shifted? Adaptation is not failure; it’s a sign that you understand the value of agility.
By implementing these dos, you’re not just setting resolutions; you’re crafting a sustainable roadmap. Resolutions that are specific, aligned, and actionable are more than ambitions - they are commitments to your future success.
So what about the do nots?
The Don’ts of Setting New Year’s Resolutions
While good intentions pave the way for success, they can also lead to failure if approached carelessly.
Many entrepreneurs sabotage their resolutions before they’ve even started. We do this by falling into common traps that repeat and repeat. Here are some to avoid. Ensure your goals aren’t just another January cliché.
Don’t Confuse Activity with Productivity
It’s easy to mistake being busy for being effective. Resolutions like “post on social media daily” or “attend more networking events” may sound proactive, but without a clear purpose, they’re just noise. Before committing, ask yourself:
How does this activity directly contribute to my business
Growth?
Revenue?
Customer Satisfaction?
If the connection is weak, scrap it.
Focus on outcomes, not optics.
Don’t Set Too Many Resolutions
Ambition is admirable, but overloading yourself with goals guarantees overwhelm and/or abandonment.
Resolutions thrive on focus. Choose two or three high-impact areas that matter most to you and your business. Remember, it’s better to achieve a few transformative goals than to scatter your energy across a dozen mediocre ones.
I like to implement one change at a time. Cement each change over a week or two then start another. 30 positive changes a year can lead to great things.
Don’t Be Overly Rigid
The entrepreneurial world is anything but predictable. Market shifts, customer demands, and unforeseen challenges can render even the best-laid plans obsolete. This is nothing new. Just think about tales of mice and men.
Don’t treat your resolutions as immovable. Flexibility isn’t a weakness - it’s a strength. Review and refine your goals regularly to ensure they remain relevant and realistic.
Don’t Ignore Personal Wellbeing
Many entrepreneurs prioritise business at the expense of their health. This is a recipe for burnout/ill health/bad marriage/loneliness. A business is only as strong as the person leading it and a life is only as good as the happiness enjoyed by the person who lived it. Avoid resolutions that demand unsustainable hours or sacrifice personal care. Incorporate habits that support both mental and physical health - exercise, mindfulness, and quality sleep are not luxuries; they’re essentials.
Don’t Chase Trends Over Substance
Whether it’s hopping on the latest social media platform or adopting a buzzword-heavy strategy, chasing trends rarely delivers long-term value. Resolutions should be rooted in substance, not fleeting popularity. Focus on what aligns with your business’s core strengths and customer needs, not on what looks impressive in the short term.
As an example here, TableNetwork spent the first 18 months almost exclusively posting on LinkedIn for marketing. Our market is entrepreneurs and business owners, and LinkedIn has a higher % of these than any other platform. While our marketing could be much better, I gained 3000 connections (of exactly the demographic we were looking to attract) in these 18 months, while the cost of time in and money spent was kept to a minimum.
Don’t Overlook the Power of Reflection
Setting resolutions without first reflecting on the past year is like plotting a course without knowing your starting point. Take time to assess your wins, losses, and lessons learned.
What strategies worked well?
What habits held you back?
By anchoring your resolutions in this understanding, you build on a foundation of insight rather than blind hope.
Avoiding these common missteps, you give your resolutions a fighting chance. Success in business and in life isn’t about doing more, but doing better. With clarity, focus, and a healthy dose of flexibility, your resolutions can become the engine that powers both your personal growth and your business success.
Practical Tips for Success
Setting resolutions is only half the battle. The real challenge lies in implementing them consistently. This is especially so for entrepreneurs as we are likely on one edge of the spectrum or another, don’t have our to do list given to us, and are constantly distracted by shiny pennies floating past.
To turn resolutions into results, we need practical strategies that fit seamlessly into our busy lives. Here are some tried-and-tested methods to ensure we can start the year strong, and maintain the same momentum.
Start with a Clear Vision
Imagine it’s the end of 2024. What does success look like for you, both personally and professionally? Paint a vivid picture of your future, and then reverse-engineer it. Resolutions grounded in a compelling vision become more than goals; they become stepping stones to a future you’re excited to create.
I like to draw a tree, with each branch representing a minor milestone on the road to the big picture. You can even divide material and social achievements by placing one on the left and the other on the right.
Use the Power of Habit Stacking
Building new habits can feel overwhelming, but habit stacking offers an elegant solution. I covered this above but say it again here as it’s so valuable. Link your resolution to an existing routine.
If you resolve to read more business books, pair it with your morning coffee, or listen to audible on the train journey. This small adjustment transforms aspirations into habits without requiring extra effort.
Embrace Proactive Planning
Business owners often spend their lives operating in a reactive mode, putting out fires instead of pursuing strategic goals. These are not the successful nor those happy at work. Block out time each week or each month to focus on your resolutions. Treat these blocks of you time as sacred non-negotiable appointments with your future self. This habit keeps your priorities front and centre, even amidst the chaos.
This is why we structure Tables as we do. This reflection time is hugely important to maintain proactivity in our business lives.
Leverage Technology to Stay on Track
The right tools can make a world of difference and the world is changing so fast that the competition takes leaps and bounds ahead of us if we don’t keep our eyes open and our brains working. Use apps to help you keep your resolutions, break them into manageable tasks, or even keep you accountable. CRM systems can streamline customer follow-ups, while time-tracking software can highlight where your hours are best spent. The above are just pointers, and not all methods work for all people.
Prioritise Resilience Over Perfection
You will encounter setbacks. A marketing campaign might underperform, or a personal habit might slip. What matters is how you respond. Adopt a growth mindset, viewing obstacles as opportunities to learn and adapt. Remember, progress is not linear; but resilience ensures you stay the course.
Surround Yourself with the Right People
Entrepreneurship can be isolating, but success is rarely achieved alone. Join peer groups like Tables and get into mastermind sessions, problem solving and hold each other to account, or merely communities like TableNetwork, where like-minded individuals share ideas, and on occasion offer accountability and solve challenges together. The right support system can amplify your results exponentially.
Align Goals with Your Calendar
Businesses are made and broken by deadlines.
Resolutions are dreams until they’re scheduled.
Break your goals into quarterly, monthly, and weekly tasks. For example, if your resolution is to expand into a new market, allocate Q1 for research, Q2 for planning, and Q3 for execution. Assign specific dates to ensure steady progress.
Celebrate the Journey, Not Just the Destination
Entrepreneurs often fixate on achieving the goal, forgetting to appreciate the progress along the way. Build rewards into your plan – celebrate milestones with a team dinner, a weekend getaway, or simply a quiet moment of gratitude. Acknowledging your efforts keeps motivation high and burnout at bay.
I personally tend to work for a long time before I surface at all, so I have a method whereby I celebrate the decision to do something. That way I’ve enjoyed it even if it fails, and I remind myself at the start that I’ll get to enjoy myself at the end.
Measure Progress with Tools and Systems
One of the most effective ways to ensure your resolutions stick is by incorporating structured measurement tools into your routine.
Our upcoming BusinessMARK test is designed specifically for entrepreneurial business owners, offering a comprehensive assessment of your business’s performance across key areas like customer satisfaction, profitability, and innovation. Pair this with an annual cycle accountability syste, where you revisit and refine your goals at regular intervals throughout the year, and you’ll create a dynamic feedback loop, ensuring your resolutions remain relevant, actionable and aligned with your evolving priorities.
After all, what gets measured gets managed.
By incorporating the practical tips above, you can transform your resolutions into a structured, actionable plan. The key is consistency, adaptability, and a focus on what truly matters.
As the year unfolds, you’ll find yourself not just chasing goals, but systematically achieving them. Success in 2024 isn’t a matter of luck - it’s the result of disciplined, intentional effort.
As you put pen to paper and write your resolutions, ask yourself: Are these goals worthy of the life and business you want to create?
To Round Up
New Year’s resolutions, when crafted with care and pursued with purpose, are far more than fleeting ambitions. They can be a blueprint for progress, a catalyst for growth, and a reflection of your vision for the future.
For entrepreneurial business owners the stakes are higher than most; your resolutions don’t just shape your personal path but also ripple out to your team, your customers, and your business’s trajectory.
As we step into 2024, reframe the way you approach resolutions. Focus on clarity over vagueness, substance over trends, and resilience over perfection. By doing so, you can avoid the usual pitfalls to create goals that inspire action, deliver results, and sustain momentum throughout the year.
The Key to Success Lies in Your Mindset and Methods
Be specific.
Stay adaptable.
Celebrate progress.
Lean into systems and support networks that hold you accountable and remind you why you started in the first place.
So, as you sit down to plan your resolutions, remember: This isn’t just about setting goals for the year ahead; it’s about setting the foundation for the business and life you’ve always envisioned.
The real question is not what you’ll resolve to do but who you’ll resolve to become.
Make this year count.
December 2024
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