Visiting family yesterday I picked up the Sunday comics (they actually still get the newspaper delivered to their home while I read/scan USA Today on my phone while under the covers in the morning).
The comic strip Blondie gave me a good chuckle. It was a spoof on New Year’s Resolutions. All the characters were running around declaring their resolutions to one another. The last panel of the strip has Dagwood commenting how these are the same resolutions people made in previous years.
How true!
How many times have you told others:
- “I’m gonna save more money this year”
- “I’m going to be nicer this year”
- “I’m going to get healthier this year”
- “I’m going to quit smoking this year”
- “I’m going to be more charitable this year”
- “I’m gonna lose that weight this year”
I could add to the list but you get it.
So here’s one action you can take that might accomplish many of your resolutions (pay attention multitaskers and overachievers!):
Make one less stop each week to buy that overpriced uber-calorie coffee drink or deadly pack of cigarettes. Now take half that money and put it in a jar. The other half donate to a charity. Yes, there are charities who appreciate a $2 donation; such as The Double D Diner: The World’s Only Virtual Diner Fighting Hunger.
Think about it. You won’t have to get up at 4:30AM every day to get to the gym. You won’t have to live on salad. You won’t experience complete nicotine withdrawal which causes you to become so cranky you are barking at everyone.
Take this one small step and you’re done. Saved money. You’re nicer. You’re on the road to being healthier, quitting smoking, losing weight and being more charitable. All by making one less purchase each week.
Now how’s that for achieving your New Year’s Resolution?
And think how many people will look forward to seeing you December 31, 2012 and seeing the transformed you; versus having to listen to you tell us that 2013 is going to be the year.
Happy New Year. Now get to work.
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RICH DIGIROLAMO, founder Recess At Work, works with organizations to create happier work environments, strengthen work teams, design new programs, and create better relationships with customers and peers. In his new book Diary of the Happiest Employee on Earth: 52 Provoking Thoughts for Creating a Great Workplace he talks about why it is important to create a great employee experience throughout the year.
Are you ready to take a Recess with Rich, inject some new energy into your organization and create an even better employee and customer experience?
