“Why do New Years Resolutions fail? Mainly, because they are only a statement, or what we wish for in the coming year. There are usually no action plans, no deadlines, no backup plans. Sometimes they are unrealistic resolutions, with no other thought or plans beside the statement.”
Catherine Pulsifer
(perfect timing, I needed a new LinkedIn Profile Picture)
Alexandria, NSW
(December 13, 2019)
We are quickly approaching the end of the year and surprisingly, the end of a decade (yikes!).
This is usually the time when people make their resolutions, set a goal – make some bold statement that will somehow get them closer to whatever it is their heart desires.
Next thing you know, it’s December of the next year and you look back and say, “well, shoot … I didn’t do what I had wanted.”
Does that sound relatable? I’ve been guilty of it!
Let’s breakdown the quote above and I’ll use my favourite example to show you how I made my five year resolution come true and how you can apply this to your own life:
According to Catherine Pulsifer, “most resolutions fail because they are only a statement, or a wish for the coming year.”
…
Ever since 2015, I would tell myself, “this is the year I’m going follow my dreams and live in Australia.”
That was my yearly statement, and yet each year would pass and I would still be laying in bed on December 31st cringing at the fact that I allowed another year to go by without doing what I had wished to do.
Because that’s all it was, an empty statement that was nothing more than a wish.
…
Pulsifer goes on to say, “there are usually no action plans, no deadlines, no backup plans.”
…
When I was in Australia in 2015, I said to myself, “I can make this work? It wouldn’t be that hard to live here.”
I had just bought a new car and was about over $20,000 in debt and I had no idea how I was going to pay it off.
I had no action plan, no deadline, and no back up plan.
When I was in Australia in 2016, I said to myself, “alright, this is the year I do this! I’ll sell my car and pay off the balance of the loan with what I had saved (action plan). I’ll leave in the new year (deadline)!”
Sure, I could have done that … but what was my back up plan? What would happen when I came home? I was not established in my career (at that time) and I didn’t have my education to fall back on as I was a university drop out.
…
Pulsifer ends with, “sometimes they are unrealistic resolutions, with no other thought or plans beside the statement.“
…
My resolution was not realistic. I had a place to live when I got to Australia and that was it. I didn’t think it through and I threw around this common statement, “I’ll go to Australia in 2020”.
After all, 2020 was close enough to be excited for but far enough that I could make excuses not to pursue it so hard.
…
In 2018, I did what I thought I would never do and I completed my degree, something I had always wanted to do but always believed I was never good enough to accomplish.
I began to realize throughout that year, I could do anything, IF, I choose to make it happen.
So I did the following:
…
I had an Action Plan: I needed to save $20,000 to pay off my car and have enough money to set me up for when I arrived in Australia in what I thought would be 2020.
I began saving $500 a month and forced myself not to touch any of it.
…
I set a Deadline: I was going to pay off my car at the end of 2019 and save the remaining money to fund the first leg of my trip. If I kept on my current savings plan, I was going to make it!
…
I had a Backup Plan: I knew pursuing my dream of moving to Australia would mean sacrificing the career that I loved. I needed to build my network outside of the four walls of my company so when I came back to Vancouver, someone within my network would give me a job.
…
In order to prepare myself for my big move, I needed to go back to Australia and really investigate if this dream of mine was something I really wanted to pursue.
So, I arrived in Australia on December 17, 2018 which is exactly one year ago today.
(December 17, 2018)
I stood at my favourite beach and said to myself, “the next time you’re on this beach, you’ll be here because you live here, not just because you’re on holidays.”
(June 18, 2019)
Long story short (you can read all of the details in my two blog posts), six months after that resolution, I found myself back in Cronulla (much earlier than expected … again, long story) to kick off my 365 Day Radical Sabbatical looking out at that very spot with tears in my eyes and whispered, “I made it back.”
…
Today, marks one year since that very day in Cronulla in 2018 and six months living out my dream of being in Australia. I’ve reached the halfway mark and I have six more months to go!
There has been so much that has gone on this past month!
I have been so busy with work these last few weeks! We have been go-go-go with events! Our team has hosted events for over 250 people in the span of six weeks, it’s all been a blur!
Alexandria, NSW
(December 4, 2019)
One thing I’ve learned was to stop taking things so seriously and find time to have fun or crack a laugh. Believe me you, there is no shortage of that these days!
Alexandria, NSW
(December 4, 2019)
You can always have a balance of having loads of fun at work then taking time to deliver a class act for your consumer. Something that we do during each event:
Mascot, NSW
(December 5, 2019)
I’ve learned there’s something significant about producing an event.
You can have a productive kick off meeting, a solid plan laid out to follow, delegate necessary tasks, establish clear deadlines and coordinate jobs with the best vendors.
You can do all of that and still watch it all crumble around you.
Suddenly, everyone comes together and are scrambling to pull it all together last minute and fires are being put out just before the doors open, the one thing you wanted to avoid the entire time.
Finally, participants arrive, the doors close, the session begins and you sit down somewhere secluded (for me, usually in tears) and begin figuring out what went wrong, what was missed, what could’ve been done differently, and what could be improved on.
Just when you think it’s the end of the world, you remember the people’s faces during registration. Their laughter and enthusiasm as they greet you, their eyes widen as they see the room, their fascination of the materials they’ve been given, and the display of excitement at the sheer fact that they are able to attend.
You remind yourself that in the end, everything was for them and their experience.
Then you let out a sigh of relief, you can finally exhale after feeling like you’ve held your breath right up the final hour and smile. .
That moment is always worth it.
Mascot, NSW
(December 5, 2019)
Usually when I’m under pressure I like to eat.
Don’t get me wrong, I’ve had my moments … but I have found you can literally “have your cake and eat it too” and trust, I’m finding ways to do both (look at my souvenirs my mum sent me from home).
If it’s not food that I find comfort in, it’s having a much needed night out, dancing at my favourite spot, The Retro!
I’ve always loved 80’s music, and I’ve been very fortunate to work with people that feel the same way about it.
Sussex, NSW
(November 29, 2019)
We recently had our WorkIt (shared office space) Christmas Party.
When we received the invite for our Christmas Party, we were informed it was going to be a Cocktail Theme, so we all had to dress up.
I tell ya, we were one of the best dressed attendees!
Alexandria, NSW
(December 13, 2019)
And you best believe that we made up our own afterparty with a trip to my spot, The Retro, right after!
Alexandria & Waterloo, NSW
(December 13, 2019)
The Retro
Sussex, NSW
(December 13, 2019)
Finally, now that I’ve recovered from all of the food and drinks from our Christmas Parties, it’s time to go back into the ol’ fitness routine.
I’ve had a great time at Anytime Fitness, the morning classes have been great and I even got a Personal Trainer (I know, me of all people with a PT).
Our local Anytime Fitness Owner, Jen has been so amazing these last few months and has been keeping me on a solid routine.
Engadine, NSW
(December 7, 2019)
And this week after almost two and a half months of enjoying my current workout regime, I decided to shake up my routine and visit my old friends and F45.
Needless to say, I still got it!
…
The last six months in Australia have been amazing, and it couldn’t have been made possible had I not acted on my resolution.
Why did my resolution succeed? I did the following:
- I had an action plan
- I had a deadline
- I had a back up plan
I took my statement and my wish and made it my reality.
What is your resolution(s) for 2020 or for the new decade?
Is there a statement or wish you have been saying year after year, but you’ve never followed through with it because you lacked the action plan, a deadline, or a back up plan?
I think it’s time you finally do whatever it is you need to do and take the necessary steps towards making it your reality.
May this New Year be the one where you make all of your dreams come true.
Thank you for being a part of my journey, I hope we can continue together in 2020.
Onwards,
-Zaighum
“All of your dreams can come true, if you have the courage to pursue them.”
Walt Disney
ZP's Radical Sabbatical 