The Secret to Successful New Year's Resolutions

This is the time of year when many people put together their list (either on paper or mentally) of the ways in which the coming months are going to be different. But of course, most New Year's resolutions ultimately end up going unfulfilled. In most cases, I think that's not because of a lack of desire.

More likely it is because, when it comes to any significant change, people tend to underestimate the time, effort and discipline required in the crucial early stages.

So my reminder to you as you plan your change agenda for 2014 is this:

Commit the time and energy to "beat gravity."

Every long-term worthwhile endeavor is going to take extra effort at first. I compare it to a rocket that has to expend many more times the energy to clear the launch pad than it will use for the rest of its journey into space. But once it "beats gravity," momentum takes hold and acceleration occurs rapidly and much more easily. It's just a matter of achieving that important threshold.

The gravity we struggle against in our daily lives can take many forms: the habits we have formed, the push-back that comes from team members or patients or other key people around us and the lure of our comfort zones. These are not insurmountable challenges but the weight of their resistance will always feel greatest at the beginning. The ability to get past early resistance is one of the most defining characteristics of high achievers.

It pains me to think of how many people in this world will never realize how close they were to a liberating breakthrough in their lives when they gave up. When you sit down to work out your goals for the coming year factor in that extra upfront energy and commit yourself to following through. It is easy to get discouraged or weary in the face of constant "gravitational pull," but if you're prepared to front-load your efforts you will beat gravity. When this happens the momentum will take over and you'll be able to reach new heights.