New year resolves for the leader

The word “resolution” makes us doubt. How many times have we created failed “New Year’s Resolutions”?

Among us, how many would say, “I promise to live healthy and eat healthy this New Year”? But people in the health and fitness industry would tell you that their “Christmas peak of business” hits the highest point in January then drops.

Rather than using the word “resolution,” it would be better to use the word “resolve” as this word carries a heavier punch that requires a serious sense of commitment to make things happen.

You have worked hard. You have made sacrifices. You have built your business and money is no longer a problem. But improvement doesn’t stop, it needs to be done continuously, because of this, do consider the following resolves for the New Year.

1. RESOLVE TO GET ORGANIZED.

You haven’t been sleeping well. You have too much going on and you feel like you’re running out of time. Make a resolve to have more time for what you want to do.

Plan your days as early as now, lock off the dates in your calendar for yourself and for your family. The workload will always be there, but we grow old fast and our kids grow up faster. Think about it, you made your business empire but what if you forgot to build memories with the people who are most important in your life? Don’t allow this to happen.

2. RESOLVE TO SPEND TIME MEANINGFULLY.

How much time last year was wasted on activities that never added value to your success goals and simply sucked away your precious time and energy?

Do you really have to always attend social activities? Do you always have to be present in those unending store openings?

Delegate these to your top generals and appear only in important company activities and town hall meetings that would inspire your leaders to perform better and become better.

3. RESOLVE TO EXPAND YOUR SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE.

Are you spending too much time playing golf? Attending endless meetings? Are you not delegating or trusting your people so they can learn more?

Have the resolve to read more books and attend important seminars. Never allow the world to pass you by.

Get a personal coach to help you improve the way you make speeches. Do you know how many top leaders in the business field are simply horrified when asked to give impromptu speeches simply because they feel incapable? Get an established business mentor to share ideas with you on how to improve your business and avoid mistakes. Get someone to teach you a technology you can use that can help you monitor your daily business activities. Get someone who can help you with your physical well being and diet. Make personal growth and professional growth lifelong habits.

4. RESOLVE TO INVEST MORE ON TRAINING AND EDUCATION.

Many business owners and professionals do not delegate. They always say or think: “no one can do the job as well as I can.”  They always ended up having to do things themselves because they don’t invest in training their leaders to become creative.

Stop trying to do everything. You are not getting any younger and your energy level is not as high as it used to be. A great result isn’t a product of one individual; it is a product of teamwork.

5. RESOLVE TO GET BETTER CLIENTS.

Unreasonable clients can take away from you the opportunity to provide better customer service to your other clients. Visit your most important clients. Apply the Pareto Principle.

6. RESOLVE TO CLEAN UP LOOSE ENDS.

Everybody makes mistakes. These mistakes include personal or professional relationships that have gone sour.  Also, mistakes include our physical well being and finances. 

Mistakes are things you cannot delegate and they will not magically go away if you ignore them. A resolved loose-end can boost your confidence and improve your concentration as you feel a surge of energy and joy in your daily life.

7. RESOLVE TO LEAVE A MEANINGFUL LEGACY.

There are two things we cannot fight against. The first thing is time as every person grows old. The other is gravity as everything sags, including our energy.

You have been successful. Now it is time for you to enter the most important stage of your life: the significance stage. Make your life and all your accomplishments matter. Leave a godly legacy for everyone. This is how you find meaning in your work and in your life.

(Start the New Year right with Francis Kong learning leadership and life skills as he present Level Up Leadership on Jan. 21-22 at EDSA Shangri-La Hotel. For further inquiries, contact Inspire at 09158055910 or call 632-6310912 for details.)