At the beginning of the new year we try to set new goals, improve our lives, create a list of desired accomplishments and make the year better than the last. The big hurdle is sticking with these resolutions, seeking them through 110%. Looking back on your resolutions of 2010, did you accomplish everything (or even 50% of the items) on your list? Sadly, there’s a good possibility most of those things didn’t get any attention for more than a couple months.

I, like you, am a victim of my own bad habits. There’s nobody else to blame for the failures. In one hand I typically set the bar pretty high for myself, sometimes to unrealistic challenges, while other times I keep certain things at levels that aren’t even going to require effort to accomplish.

Now that 2011 is upon us, take an approach that may be a bit different than previous years. Grab a full-size piece of paper and a pen, then write out each goal you have in mind. The order doesn’t matter but just make sure you write them all down including as much detail as possible. Once you’ve done so the next step is very important and probably something you’ve never done before. Next to each goal I want you to write the date you wish to accomplish/reach the goal. Getting specific such as “By March 2011″, “June 1st” or another specific date. Do NOT write “Within 90 days” because that does not set a time frame – the start date has no value. Lastly, go into your calendar such as Outlook, Google Calendar, iCal, or whatever program you use the most, and add all your goals with the corresponding dates attached. Be sure to set up a reminder (even multiple) prior to that date to help make sure you’re on track.

You may be surprised but this approach may very well help you stick to those resolutions unlike years past. For me, this is exactly what I’ve done. In years past I’ve been terrible with using a calendar even in my work/business life, but have been trying to make that change. Now adding goals with dates…I KNOW I’ll be more determined. Measuring my success rate will not only be exciting but educational, and I certainly look forward to hearing how this works for you.

Will you stick to your 2011 resolutions? I’d love to hear how it goes for you.

By human nature we get frustrated easily. It’s a quite common characteristic of being human. Each of us has goals (at least I sure hope you do) which we strive to achieve in a certain time of our lives. Maybe it’s buying a fancy car, paying off your credit card debt, road tripping across country. Whatever your goals are, keep pushing forward to reach them.You will hit obstacles, challenges, bumps and road blocks but if you act like a cockroach (as Diane Hochman explained), you’ll find a way around to get to the destination. And, Diane has also helped teach that you don’t have to make it complicated or have it perfect to get it started.

The main point I want to make is ‘Don’t give up before you start’. What I mean by that is to realize your business, goals, dreams and success take time, plain and simple. You could work for 24 weeks on your website, spreading the word about the service for sale only to make a handful of actual sales. Do you give up? No. All that time you’ve spent for 24 weeks would be a waste, right? How do you know the success of the site is not simply 2 weeks away because you haven’t advertised on a certain website yet? You don’t.

Someone I’ve loved listening to, Gary Vaynerchuk, spent a couple years building his internet-based Wine show before it picked up steam. Now…he’s doing extremely well with a huge book deal, thousands and thousands of fans, speaking at events, and so on. You see, all the hard-work he continually spent on his brand for those initial years is and will continue to pay off for the rest of his life and business.

That being said, please make your own judgement calls. Maybe a certain business is simply not worth spending 2 years trying to build – that I can’t tell you without knowing lots of details. However, do not give up too easily or too early. There is no doubt in my mind that Gary smiles when he goes to sleep thinking to himself “I knew my hard work would pay off”. OK, maybe not that thought exactly…but you get the picture.

Personally, I’ve seen some great things happen with my business. Had I given up after a few months of trying to grow them, I’d continue to struggle and struggle…and struggle. Whatever you do, be passionate and ready to give it plenty of time, and hard work. Set your mind. Focus. Do whatever you can to make it happen.