Luxury Academy Managing Director, Paul Russell shares his new year’s resolutions and talks us through setting, and achieving, our own.
January, a time to alter and change, emerging sylph like from the withered chrysalis of the year before, past mistakes obliterated by the glittering vision that is the new and improved you. Appealing isn’t it?
Resist the temptation to set unrealistic goals.
The fresh, blank script that the new year offers just waiting to be written, the opportunity to introduce a new character and act out different plots. It is not surprising that so many of us ascribe to the concept of new year’s resolutions setting both personal and career related goals, but whilst setting these objectives is undoubtedly important, it is the achieving them that will be the marker of success in 2016. The temptation to set unrealistic goals, anchored in hope and fancy, can be overwhelming, resolutions that in all honesty have no place in our real lives or alignment to our intentions. So how to set realistic resolutions, and more importantly, how to stick to them?
Discard easily forgotten resolutions.
First off, discard those trite resolutions that tend to trip off your tongue when an interested party asks what your new year’s resolutions are; hastily answered, easily forgotten. Instead, take the time to really consider and plan your resolutions in the same way that you would set objectives at work, that is, goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound. More time consuming yes, but infinitely more successful at delivering the results you require. And as ever, quality triumphs over quantity. One well considered resolution is more valuable than a dozen reflex musings.
Work with what you have.
When it comes to making resolutions achievable, remember the old adage of not throwing the baby out with the bathwater. Work with what you have and identify small aspects that you wish to improve upon rather than attempting a complete (and daunting) overhaul. For example, you may feel that your career needs a boost this year, rather than a resolution to change career perhaps a goal to improve job related performance through specific training by a certain date. A bite sized resolution that is more readily achievable can set you on the path to a longer term goal, and as you achieve one resolution set another. Goals needn’t, and shouldn’t be the sole preserve of January.
Brush up your skills or learn something new.
To set meaningful resolutions it is often helpful to consider where your organisation and role is heading, identifying any skill-shortages. For example, as Luxury Academy London expands its global operations, and increases its breadth in the luxury market, there are increasing media requirements. Now, whilst I’m an experienced trainer and presenter, media presentation has a different skill-set, on-camera techniques and so forth, therefore it is my goal to undertake specific training to assist me in this area in the early part of 2016. Most of us, if we are clear sighted about our potential shortcomings and astute enough to appreciate the strategic direction of the firms that we represent, will be able to identify areas for setting resolutions that will aid our careers.
Embrace the enthusiasm.
Personal development should be a constantly evolving process; welcome the enthusiasm that a new year can bring, harness it, and use it to your advantage, be mindful in your approach to goal setting, the results could be surprising.
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About the author
Paul Russell is co-founder and director of Luxury Academy London, www.luxuryacademy.co.uk, a multi-national private training company with offices in London, Delhi and Vishakhapatnam. Luxury Academy London specialise in leadership, communication and business etiquette training for companies and private clients across a wide range of sectors. Prior to founding Luxury Academy London, Paul worked in senior leadership roles across Europe, United States, Middle East and Asia. A dynamic trainer and seminar leader, Paul has designed and taught courses, workshops and seminars worldwide on a wide variety of soft skills.
