🎵 You Say You Want To Make a Resolution🎵

Blogging, happiness, humor, lessons learned, Teaching and Education 1 Minute

Well, you know
We all want to change the world

– Opening lines from the song Revolution by the Beatles

It’s getting close to that time of year when people start creating New Year’s resolutions.

Even though I’m not sure if I’ll be setting any resolutions for 2022, I thought I would share the latest Pinkcast from Dan Pink in which he shares advice on how to set such resolution in just seven simple steps.

Actually, it’s just one resolution.

Here’s the video, which is then followed by a list of the seven steps:

  1. Look back on the previous year. New Year’s resolutions begin with old year’s regrets.
  2. Fill in the blank: “If only I _______________.”
  3. Make a long list of your If Only regrets.
  4. Pick the one — and only one — that bugs you the most.
  5. Make that — and only that — your New Year’s resolution. Less is more.
  6. Put an action plan into place by setting private commitments on the even-numbered days of January.
  7. Tell others what you’re doing so they can hold you accountable.

It seems like solid advice, but it also seems like a sales pitch for his latest book, which is about regrets. This is the third Pinkcast in a row that seems to be a sales pitch.

I have no problem with that. Authors need to promote their work, and he has done a great job of building up his subscriber list, so what not use that list to market his book.

I wish Dan the best with his new book; it is on my reading list.

And while I don’t have any resolutions in mind, I hope none of you have a resolution to stop reading this blather every day…

*image from musicasamedium

Published by Jim Borden

A 60-something guy trying to figure out the world, and his place in it. Happily married for 40-plus years, three wonderful sons. Accounting teacher, fitness enthusiast, blogger, reader.

Published

66 thoughts on “🎵 You Say You Want To Make a Resolution🎵”

  1. What I regret I can’t resolve at all, so a resolution won’t help. I only regret that which I cannot change. I change everything else because I want it to change. No reason to save them all for every January. Fix them as they show up. Actually, that should be the new automatic resolution for everyone lol

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      1. That’s why I adopted it. It’s easy to remember, and fairly easy to keep up – you don’t have to restrict yourself like most resolutions require. I can stuff myself on chocolate and keep my resolution

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  2. I don’t like Step #7. When you tell others how you plan to improve your life in some way, it seems all they try to do is sabotage you. Best to keep your resolutions a secret. That’s one resolution I made in years past. Another resolution I made is to not make anymore resolutions. How am I doing?

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      1. You’re not supposed to know how my resolution to not make a resolution is doing, and my not telling you is evidence of how well I’m keeping it a secret. Which I’m resolved to do.

        I find my revolutions quite revolting.

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  3. I’m not sure I agree with making one’s resolutions public. I get the concept of making yourself accountable by putting it out there. I see many people who do this on social media. Many have daily posts regarding their process with exercise, diets, giving up alcohol, or some other drug. This rarely works for most people long-term, and I wonder if their self-esteem takes a more severe blow when they fall off the wagon.

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    1. I think there are a couple of options to not making your resolution public: just tell one person so that you have some accountability, or write it down somewhere where you will always see it…

      goodpoint about the potential negative impact on your self-esteeem if you fail to keep a resolution…

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  7. I don’t usually do resolutions, but have already talked myself into finally doing something about the book I have been thinking about writing for years. I’ve just added ‘don’t buy any of Dan’s books’ to the list – I don’t like blatant self-promotion!

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      1. Thank you, Robbie. I guess it’s a necessary evil for an author, but I’m a long way off being one of those. Please don’t hold your breath waiting for my scribblings, if I ever get there – it could be bad for your health 😉

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  8. I don’t know. I get really tired of book promos mixed in with content. It might have to do with how icky I feel whenever I do a promo (which is maybe every 18 months). If I feel so disgusting, should everyone else? Which version of Revolution do you prefer? I like the slow version far better.

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    1. I think these days self-promotion is a necessity. I think as long as that’s not all you do, it’s fine.

      and I just learned last night while reading about Revolution that there were different versions! I also like the slower version…

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  9. Why would we ever stop reading your blog? 🤪☺️ It’s clever content!

    Hmm there’s something I don’t love about looking on the year past with regret… But I can get on board with improving oneself so maybe I should pivot it that way..

    Not sure if I’ll be making intentions or a resolution this year.. In general I just want to keep doing things that help keep positivity in my life and make me feel grateful and eliminate all that cause me strife… So I guess same like everyone else lol

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    1. thanks for your kind words – you go on my nice list for Santa 🙂

      and it does seem like a somewhat depressing approach to look back on your regrets and make your resolution based on that. But I guess that’s the point of his book, many people look back on their regrets and wish they had done things differently.

      but I like your resolutions/intentions for the year – it would be great if that were everyone’s goals!

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  12. Hi Jim – thanks for the pinkest video – I am going to do the list now – even though I am not that into resolutions he has a nice seven steps – 🙂

    and merry Christmas to you and your family

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  13. I used to love new year resolutions and make lots of grandiose lists. Then I realize there’s nothing magical about January 1st, I can (theoretically) make or break a habit any day of the year.

    However it is amusing to look back on my old lists.
    For about 3 years I had a burning desire to learn how to juggle…never followed through on that one. Maybe 2022 is the year?

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    1. I’ve gotten like you over the years as well, but I do like to start resolutions on a Monday or the first of a month…

      and as someone who loves to juggle, that’s a wonderful resolution to have!

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  15. Stop reading your blog? You’re far too funny and clever for that to happen! There’s something about following steps to make me do something, that makes me not want to follow any steps. Hmmm…

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  16. The one “resolution” I have made this year is to let go of my ex by not asking the one person in the family that still talks to and sees him anything more about him. Having said that, I’m thinking that some of my “resolutions” going forward would probably be based on regrets. Having said that, I will eagerly await release of this book because it sounds like a tool I could use to move forward with the rest of my life. Thanks for that, Jim, as well as following my blog(s).

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