Research shows people who kept their New Year’s resolutions tended to break them down into smaller steps and reward themselves when they complete each step. They also tell their friends and colleagues about their goals and the steps as they are taken. They focus on the benefits of success and keep a diary or talk to a coach, mentor or spouse about their progress.

I’ve updated my two-page annual personal marketing plan form for attorneys with all of this in mind. The plans include mechanisms to ensure you review progress, set deadlines, discuss what is holding you back. Get get a free copy of the individual marketing plan. I have four versions, one for for defense litigators, another for corporate, business/transactional lawyers , a plan for family law lawyers and a form for those with contingent fee practices.

The research I’m relying on about successful resolutions is from Richard Wiseman, a psychologist at the University of Hertfordshire.  He led the analysis and a team who interviewed 700 people about their strategies for achieving New Year’s resolutions. Wiseman also found out that 78% who failed to keep their resolutions focused on the downside of not achieving their goals.

If you are a solo or in a small firm where talking to colleagues is impossible or awkward, you might employ “The Buddy Call”.  I found it in 7 Insanely Simple Ways to Ensure Your Project Gets Done.

“I run a small business… there are many tasks I want to work on that don’t have solid deadlines. A couple years ago I started a twice monthly check-in call with a colleague who also runs a small business. We discuss our highs, lows, accomplishments, and goals for the next couple weeks.

Since we look up to each other and know we’ll be checking in, it motivates us to get things done. Two added benefits are that together we’ll often find better ways to approach a particular goal, and we now have someone to discuss revenue, employees, and other topics that are often confidential or taboo.”