How did a visit to one of the nation’s largest owners of Verizon retail stores and their annual summit change my perspective on New Year’s Resolutions?
About two years ago, right around the time millions of people were mulling over “New Year’s Resolutions” I was drafting the first version of my personal scorecard.
Put simply, “resolutions” are shit!
New Year’s Resolutions are complete waste of time and energy. A faint promise made on Dec. 31st (potentially alcohol induced) is NOT a roadmap to having what you’re hoping to be, THE BEST YEAR EVER!!!!! You know…like the same BS spewed the year prior!
Furthermore, most resolutions lack the level of detail needed to truly follow through to make any real progress. Empty promise = Empty result. Well spoken resolutions drift away or fall forgotten like the fun and hangover had on New Year’s Day.
Resolution Examples:
- Lose “some” weight (how much?)
- Get in Shape (what does that mean?)
- Save X,XXX $$$ (Ok, for what?)
- Read more (How much is “more” anyway?)
- blah blah blah. The list goes on.
Lastly, as if I needed to hammer home my point any deeper, resolutions are really ALL OR NOTHING propositions. You know how human beings do with ALL OR NOTHING? I’ll tell you. Nearly 100% of the time, “nothing” wins out, because that’s what happens when you deal in absolutes. One slip up and the resolution is broken like one of the Ten Commandments and shame quickly ensues. Momentum = LOST
So what is the alternative?
The answer instead, is what I learned from starring at a piece of poster board at a Verizon summit. A Scorecard. Many of the most successful businesses I’ve ever encountered operate with a keen sense of measuring what really matters and it’s made visual to the point of elementary understanding. The scorecard also serves as a decision-making tool for energy investment.
What is essential?
Below is a snapshot of my personal scorecard. Recently updated for March 2021. I’m obviously biased, but there is beauty in the simplicity.
The four categories listed in my monthly scorecard are my vitality boosters. They are the essential activities I control, which largely impact my overall well-being and positive contribution to those around me.
- Meditation – I have a very active mind. When I mediate, my day is more fluid and my thoughts more organized. I can think deeper. I’m calmer. I sleep better. I’m happier, sharper and more witty. I’m a better Dad and husband. What started as 15x month, I’ve now increased to 18x.
- Exercise – Many things can be considered exercise and I’ve really thought recently about fine tuning this definition. My definition is I’ve got to get my heart rate up 150+ into a target zone for 20+ mins. I could move 20,000 steps in a day…and I may count that if I’m feeling like I earned it. Mowing the lawn, doesn’t count. Exercise calms my mind and usually generates ideas I can act upon.
- Church – I’m a healthier person when I make time for this activity plain and simple. I don’t know how you measure compassion, but mine would be undoubtably higher after attending church (even virtually). My generosity also peaks after church. I feel a sense of relief and release when I’m done in the best of ways. I can’t say I’ve ever been the most religious person, but I do feel the spirituality of a service if that makes any sense at all.
- Education – Consistently consuming new perspectives, new stories, and new ideas is good for the mind. I’ll never stop consuming books as I still love turning pages and making notations in the margins. Call me old fashioned I guess. The audiobook piece is just too easy nowadays as well. Audio can fit into so many aspects of our daily lives. I’ve thought about increasing this one but I do offset a good amount of listening with a variety of podcasts.
As a means to help you the reader take action, I’ve included a link to my scorecard (if it helps you get started). CREATE ONE!! It doesn’t have to be perfect and know it can be fine tuned over time.
SCORECARD LINK – – – > https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HXlvYmZK919m4oNlOV1Yay0dq1Ixkg-r/view?usp=sharing
Lastly, there are two reasons I created a scorecard.
Accountability. Momentum.
The first is very easy to figure out. The second is what I consider one of the biggest keys in life. Finding, generating and harnessing momentum. Conversely, as previously stated, a resolution is all or nothing and largely lives off fear. Don’t mess up, or this year is shot. Blown up. Gone!
With a scorecard you can have a bad day, week, or even month. But the following month always allows for a reset and a kick in the ass to restart momentum.
Here is my December. 2020 was a Looooooong year…and I was over it.
January 2021 I came out refocused and swinging! Momentum…re-established.
Find activities, or actions which are additive to your vitality. It goes without saying, but I’ll say it anyway. They have to be YOUR THINGS!! Not mine. It won’t work otherwise as you’ll be faking it.
