Believe or not – today is Quitters’ Day.

Today, the second Friday of the new year, is the day the many people give up on their new year’s resolutions. So many in fact it’s been given the name Quitters’ Day.

When I found stats on the success of goals set around New Year even I was surprised by the numbers. One in four people quit in the first week, 64% after the first month. Just 9% – yes 9% – of people successfully keep their New Year’s resolutions according to the research I found.

Shocking but somehow not surprising.  And the main reason for this high rate – people just aren’t prepared for the change. To really be effective at change you need to do the prep.

So often – particularly as the end of the year approaches, we start telling ourselves next year I’ll be better. We tell ourselves all the things we think we should be doing. Things that are often based in our perception of what others want. I should get fit, eat less, be healthy. I should work harder so enjoy my job more. I should be more organised so I can fit everything in.

Doing things because we should seldom works and certainly setting personal goals that have no real connection to what you want are destined to fail.

Rather than thinking about things from the should perspective, start your goal setting with what it is you really want and why you want it. The key to making our goals real is understanding why we are doing them. This needs to speak to the heart.

• I want to find a new role – why? So I feel like my work has purpose.
• I want a promotion – why? So I feel valued with the work I do.
• I want to feel confident in myself – why? So I am comfortable sharing my expertise to improve the culture within my workplace.
• I want to be fitter – why? So I can have more fun active times with my family.

It is the why that will drive you to succeed so make sure it really speaks to the true reason you want to take on this goal. If you are doing this because you think you should or because others thing you should then chances are like many people today you will be giving up on those goals.

When I work with people I dig down into the why and that is where we find the gold. For example understanding what gives you a sense of purpose will help you find what your role needs to deliver for you to feel that. Going blindly into a new job hoping it will be better seldom works.

Once you have your why you can start thinking of the steps you need to take to get there. These examples all have multiple ways of being achieved and a series of small steps will get you there.

And the best thing about small steps is you get to celebrate each on while also checking in and refocusing along the way that your goal is still what you want.

So – if you want 2023 to be a year where you go for goals and don’t give up then find your why. If you need help I’m here – together we can dig deep to find out what really drives you.

Make 2023 a year of small steps to success not one where you give up on what you really want.