Phil Cooke

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Posted On
12/30/2009

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5 Comments »

Did Your 2009 Resolutions Work?

It’s always interesting to look back at our good intentions from the start of the year and see if anything stuck.  Last year I wrote a post remembering that every year we make new resolutions, and every year we fail. We just can’t seem to stay committed, enthusiastic, or determined enough to keep our good intentions. But the word “resolution” is simply another way to express the desire for change. And when you discover the secrets to real change, your resolutions will start to stick.  Yesterday, I was
interviewed on Salem Radio’s KKLA here in Los Angeles on the “Frank Pastore Show.”  I discussed a few tips from back then that might help you as you start formulating resolutions for 2010:

1. There Can Be No Other Choice. Most new year’s resolutions fail because the stakes aren’t high enough. When it’s not important, we don’t take our resolutions seriously. What do you need to change that’s really “life or death” for you? An extra ten pounds might not be much to most people, but for a model, actress, or athlete, it could kill a career. Don’t make a resolution unless it’s really critical.

2. Change What Matters. Take control of your priorities, and you’ll take control of your life. We often fail because we don’t take the time to decide what’s really important. A promotion has little value if it comes at the expense of your family. Stop spending so much time on what other people think is urgent, and spend more time on what really matters.

3. Eliminate Destructive Distractions. Release the negative baggage from your life. Stop re-living your last failure and start focusing on the future. The divorce, firing, bankruptcy, or other disaster in your past does not determine your future. As long as you dwell in the past, you’ll never discover your destiny.

4. Finally, Build a Motivation Machine. Discover the difference cheerleaders can make. Long ago, athletes discovered the power of a cheering section.   As you work through the most challenging aspects of personal change, you need people who believe and will encourage you. Stop discussing your problems with people who can’t help you fix those problems.  Get rid of the negative people in your life, and surround yourself with people who are convinced of your possibilities!

This entry was posted on Wednesday, December 30th, 2009 at 10:19 am and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

  • walrus

    New Years resolutions probably don’t work for the same reason repentance in the church fails so often. We focus on  changing behavior when in reality what is required is such a change in our belief system that our actions change as a result. 

  • Aweaver3

    Once again, these are excellent points, Phil.  I did not make all of my 2009 resolutions. I failed at developing a regular excercise routine to get in better shape.  However, my PRIORITY was to finish and publish my second book.  On December 1st, we released Speedsuit Powers on Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com.  The book is a teen ficition novel that deals with key issues teens are facing (especially in urban areas): bullying, peer pressure, overcoming family drama, etc… It is the first book of a series and sales are going very well.

    I spent almost every waking moment (and sleeping moments) working on it. For me to finish I had to do the four tips you suggested in this post (and a few extra). I wrote on my commute to/from work. Wrote during my lunch breaks. Skipped television shows to work on things. Worked certain late nights. Even worked on things while in the bathroom!

    And I also connected with other writer/authors, teens, teachers and counselors, friends who were actively pursuing their own goals, my wife, and read motivational books for encouragement during the entire process.

    Several things that also helped were: setting a timeline for deadlines (which I had to change periodically because I missed a few); put up drawings and other visual aids that I could look at on a daily basis; told people the book was coming – in order to have some positive peer pressure; imagined/visualized the finished book, people’s reactions, impacted teens, speaking opportunities; and prayer – lots of prayer for guidance.

    Now, coming into 2010, my goals are to get Speedsuit Powers to as wide a youth population as possible through active promotion and strategic partnerships, secure monthly speaking engagements/book signings, and create an audio book version, a graphic novel companion piece and release the second book of this series in the Fall. I realize to do these things will take a lot of work and I’ll need to be in excellent health to endure long hours, traveling and an extensive speaking schedule - so developing a regular exercise routine has now become a priority for 2010. And I’m already planning for 2011 and 2012.

    Allen Paul Weaver III Author, Transition: Breaking Through the Barriers and Speedsuit Powers http://www.APW3.com , http://www.speedsuitpowers.com

  • Renie

    Hey Aweaver3 – why don’t you put a link to facebook on your web page. People can tell their friends easier when they visit your website. God be with you in your endeavor to reach teens.

  • norma jean

    quite a commercial for your book, Aweaver3.

  • Aweaver3

    Thanks Renie and Norma.  Working hard to be consistant in helping youth (and the adults who work with them) overcome issues they face in life.  If you decide to purchase Speedsuit Powers, I’d love to get your feedback.

    Allen Paul Weaver III Author, Speedsuit Powers http://www.speedsuitpowers.com


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