NY Resolutions? Let's Get Real
Hi Friends,
I don't know about you, but I'm finally getting over the hump of holidays and year-end and new year and all that jazz. I am slowly easing into a rhythm for 2019, and almost never accidentally write "2018"!
So now is the time I would rather talk about New Year's Resolutions... you're hopefully over the panicked rush of the first days of the new year, you've dusted the glitter off from the holiday party, and you're ready to reflect for a few moments on some #lifegoals for 2019. Here goes!
Is Listening to a Book the Same Thing as Reading It? It would not be fair of me to ask you to consider what goals, large or small, you want to set up for this year if I was not willing to share some of mine as well. I want to continue one goal that I started last year with relatively decent success: that is, I want to read at least one book per month. And that means, really read it. Like sit on the couch and take it in. Regardless, this article by a reading researcher gives a good pro's and con's listing of audiobook vs print.
How you can ditch your car, save money and live better? If we haven't met in person, you may not be aware that I am a devoted non-car owner. I sold my Subaru Legacy Wagon in 2010, and haven't looked back. (Here's a link from my old blog about why I did it...) I have owned a fake Italian scooter (the Genuine Buddy 125 pictured to the right) since 2007 and just ticked over to 29,000 miles on it! I also ride a snappy little bike called the Electra Loft 7i for errands around town. Or take the bus. Or walk, God forbid!
And before you think I'm getting all judgey on you and think that if you own a car I think you're disgusting, please have no fear. I simply want to throw out a challenge to say that all of us could indulge a little less in gas guzzling. Even if that means taking one less trip a day in your car or, if you're like me and live on the coast and are single and able to give up a car, consider it. In the almost 10 years that I've been doing it it, it has only become easier, especially with Uber, Lyft and Zipcar. I have decreased my impact on the environment and it is tremendously cheaper. And yes when I need to drive, I do. I just rent a car. Just pause and consider it. That's all. I don't need to recommit to this, but want to lean in 2019 back into the bike and bus more and not just take the scoot everywhere.
15 Bad Work Habits I’m Ditching This Year (and You Should, Too!) Numero Uno on the list is one of the TOP issues I address with clients. When I ask groups about this, I get a raised hand and "guilty as charged" response from about 3/4 of the group. Explore the rest on the list and see where you might need to make a change. Let me know if you want to talk through any of the others!!! (See #7...)
How Can You Keep Your New Year's Resolutions? and Want To Be Happier This Year? Follow This 2019 Productive Habits Calendar (With Author Gretchen Rubin) Here are not one but TWO dandy motivational plans for how to dig in to your resolutions. I'm especially impressed with the second one -- it maps out a reasonable year-long strategy for incremental change. Don't freak out - just give them both a peek.
The 19 New Leadership Books to Read in 2019. I cannot recommend any of these because I haven't read any of them yet, but I DO recommend Adam Grant as a resource for leadership development... I am currently reading Leadership: In Turbulent Times by Doris Kearns Goodwin and completely nerding out on it. Its combination of history with leadership principles is a happy place for me. Listen to Larry Wilmore's interview of DKG if you need to get motivated to pick up the book - it did the trick for me.
How to Motivate Yourself to Do Things You Don’t Want to Do. Last resource - might be saving the best for last. If all the previous links feel overwhelming, start here with something small. Incremental changes more often than not lead to longer-lasting change than ambitious moonshots. Be gentle with yourself.
I will end with a hearty quote from Leadership: In Turbulent Times, relating a hard lesson learned by Lyndon Johnson:
I don't know about you, but I'm finally getting over the hump of holidays and year-end and new year and all that jazz. I am slowly easing into a rhythm for 2019, and almost never accidentally write "2018"!
So now is the time I would rather talk about New Year's Resolutions... you're hopefully over the panicked rush of the first days of the new year, you've dusted the glitter off from the holiday party, and you're ready to reflect for a few moments on some #lifegoals for 2019. Here goes!
Is Listening to a Book the Same Thing as Reading It? It would not be fair of me to ask you to consider what goals, large or small, you want to set up for this year if I was not willing to share some of mine as well. I want to continue one goal that I started last year with relatively decent success: that is, I want to read at least one book per month. And that means, really read it. Like sit on the couch and take it in. Regardless, this article by a reading researcher gives a good pro's and con's listing of audiobook vs print.
How you can ditch your car, save money and live better? If we haven't met in person, you may not be aware that I am a devoted non-car owner. I sold my Subaru Legacy Wagon in 2010, and haven't looked back. (Here's a link from my old blog about why I did it...) I have owned a fake Italian scooter (the Genuine Buddy 125 pictured to the right) since 2007 and just ticked over to 29,000 miles on it! I also ride a snappy little bike called the Electra Loft 7i for errands around town. Or take the bus. Or walk, God forbid!And before you think I'm getting all judgey on you and think that if you own a car I think you're disgusting, please have no fear. I simply want to throw out a challenge to say that all of us could indulge a little less in gas guzzling. Even if that means taking one less trip a day in your car or, if you're like me and live on the coast and are single and able to give up a car, consider it. In the almost 10 years that I've been doing it it, it has only become easier, especially with Uber, Lyft and Zipcar. I have decreased my impact on the environment and it is tremendously cheaper. And yes when I need to drive, I do. I just rent a car. Just pause and consider it. That's all. I don't need to recommit to this, but want to lean in 2019 back into the bike and bus more and not just take the scoot everywhere.
15 Bad Work Habits I’m Ditching This Year (and You Should, Too!) Numero Uno on the list is one of the TOP issues I address with clients. When I ask groups about this, I get a raised hand and "guilty as charged" response from about 3/4 of the group. Explore the rest on the list and see where you might need to make a change. Let me know if you want to talk through any of the others!!! (See #7...)
How Can You Keep Your New Year's Resolutions? and Want To Be Happier This Year? Follow This 2019 Productive Habits Calendar (With Author Gretchen Rubin) Here are not one but TWO dandy motivational plans for how to dig in to your resolutions. I'm especially impressed with the second one -- it maps out a reasonable year-long strategy for incremental change. Don't freak out - just give them both a peek.
The 19 New Leadership Books to Read in 2019. I cannot recommend any of these because I haven't read any of them yet, but I DO recommend Adam Grant as a resource for leadership development... I am currently reading Leadership: In Turbulent Times by Doris Kearns Goodwin and completely nerding out on it. Its combination of history with leadership principles is a happy place for me. Listen to Larry Wilmore's interview of DKG if you need to get motivated to pick up the book - it did the trick for me.
How to Motivate Yourself to Do Things You Don’t Want to Do. Last resource - might be saving the best for last. If all the previous links feel overwhelming, start here with something small. Incremental changes more often than not lead to longer-lasting change than ambitious moonshots. Be gentle with yourself.
I will end with a hearty quote from Leadership: In Turbulent Times, relating a hard lesson learned by Lyndon Johnson:
But to what end did one accumulate such power? Regardless of one’s impressive title, power without purpose and without vision was not the same thing as leadership.
