LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
BY LAURA SHELTON, CMP
Happy New Year
give up. Don’t allow a ‘fall off the wagon’ to keep you on the ground. Continue to try keeping your promise by making consider- able cutbacks in your participation of that behavior or practice. Habits and business practices are engrained in us—sometimes going “cold turkey” just won’t work. Rec- ognize your setback, remember to focus on the goal, the benefits it will produce, and move forward.
Forgive yourself If you do find yourself falling back
M
aking a New Year’s resolution is a phenomenon imposed by the beginning of a new calendar year.
Instead of a celebratory gesture toward positive change, this phenomenon seems to have evolved into a response from guilt associated with actions done over the prior year or even most of a lifetime. We think of the many things that we wish we hadn’t done and resolve to stop doing those things once the calendar rolls to January. Because of the guilt association, this doesn’t usually work. If you’re interested in making a New Year’s resolution—whether it be business or personally related, there are many effec- tive ways to go about keeping that resolu- tion for the long term.
Be persistent If you really want to make a change in
your life or business practices, be persistent about it. If you cheat once or have a difficult time keeping a promise to yourself, do not
from the promise you have made, be for- giving. Just as you might forgive a child for making a mistake, even a repeated mistake, so should you forgive yourself. Remember, this is a resolution you have decided to make. If it’s difficult for you to keep this promise, allow some time to change the habit, and give yourself a pat on the back for realizing that the behav- ior requires change. You are in control of your own behavior, and with time and persistence you’ll get there.
Take baby steps Often and especially with New Year’s
resolutions, we become excited about the prospect of making a big change, but once we are faced with that change, it seems too overwhelming. This is one of the reasons that resolutions normally fail to work. Don’t give up. If you have a problem with working too many hours and not delegating enough, start by slowly delegating tasks and having faith in your employees. If you personally want to get back into shape, start with a little added exercise and small changes to your eating habits. As you become confortable with the small changes, add more changes until you are at your goal.
Take baby steps and change one behav- ior at a time. In no time you will notice you’ve made a significant difference in your life.
Visualizations Another great way to assist with keep-
ing New Year’s resolutions is to visualize yourself in the state that you wish to be. You can visualize yourself at a healthy weight, visualize yourself physically healthy or visualize yourself enjoying that 100 percent work phone and email-free vacation you’ve always wanted to take knowing that everything is taken care of at the office. Tis works wonders with your subconscious; the part of your mind with which you may or may not have direct contact. Over time, visualizations can automatically change your behavior for the beter, leading you into the direction of that which you’d like to accomplish. Take five or 10 minutes at least once a day to quiet your mind and see yourself as you wish to be. If you resolve to do this each day, you should begin to see results aſter only a month or so. No mater what your goals and/or
resolutions are for 2013, these tactics will help you to achieve them. All of us at DATIA wish the utmost success for DATIA members during the coming year. With our resources and education, we hope that we can help you achieve these goals. Here’s to a very happy and prosperous 2013. ❚
Best,
Laura Shelton DATIA Executive Director
6
datia focus
winter 2013
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