A message from Jake...

I was once told that my current circumstances are largely the result of the decisions I made a year ago.

After stripping away excuses and doing some honest reflection, I've found that statement to be... uncomfortably accurate. In a few chapters of my life, hauntingly accurate. Like "oh wow, past me really set future me up for this" accurate.

That idea has stuck with me ever since. It's become a quiet catalyst as I continually, and very imperfectly try to become a better version of myself. Emphasis on imperfectly. 

And that brings us to the season of New Year’s resolutions.

Every January, we hear about people enthusiastically declaring what they’re going to change in the coming year. And honestly, I get it. The New Year offers a psychological fresh start, a mental reset button we all pretend is more powerful than it actually is, but still incredibly useful. It feels easier to let go of last year’s missteps and recommit to positive change with renewed motivation.

It’s also a season of reflection. Making resolutions naturally highlights the gap between where we are and where we want to be. That awareness can sting a little, but it also increases ownership, and ownership is where change actually begins.

At the same time, we’ll hear the skeptics. The eye-rollers. The “New Year’s resolutions are pointless” crowd. They’ll argue that resolutions are half-hearted attempts at change. That they are vague intentions lacking clarity, consistency, and commitment. And let’s be honest… they’re not wrong either.

Most of us have made resolutions we didn’t stick to. Probably more than once. Probably the same one. Probably involving a gym membership.

As a habitual goal-setter, I’ve spent a fair amount of time thinking about why resolutions get such a bad reputation. I think part of the problem is that resolutions and goals are often treated as the same thing. They’re related, yes, but they’re not interchangeable. And misunderstanding that difference may be why so many resolutions quietly die by February.

A resolution is a declaration of direction or intent.
A goal is the specific plan that makes that declaration real.

Think of resolutions as the headline and goals as the bullet points. The resolution sets the “why,” and the goals define the “how.”

For example:

Resolution: “I resolve to get in better shape.”

Goals: “I will exercise five times a week, track my calories, and lose 15 pounds by March.”

See the difference? One is inspirational. The other is actionable.

Backing resolutions with clear, measurable goals, especially SMART goals, dramatically increases the odds of success because it introduces accountability. Resolutions can be powerful motivators, but without goals, they tend to remain well-intentioned wishes that never quite make it off the vision board.

As someone who regularly sets the direction and then does my best to build goals around it (with mixed but improving results), here are three best practices that help me commit to meaningful change:

1. Cultivate self-awareness - Setting resolutions exposes the gap between current reality and desired outcomes. While not always comfortable, this awareness strengthens ownership, and ownership is non-negotiable for growth.

2. Align with purpose and capability – Goals should connect to something meaningful while still being realistic given your resources and skills. When goals align with values, strategy, and capacity, commitment increases and execution improves.

3. Develop discipline and consistency – Discipline helps you overcome impulses and take action even when motivation wanes. Consistency keeps you moving long enough for those actions to become lasting habits. Alone, each is limited, but together they turn effort into meaningful, long-term change.

New Year's resolutions don't fail because they're pointless. They fail when they're treated like wishes instead of commitments. With clarity, some structure, and a little grace for imperfection, they can be far more powerful than their reputation suggests.