Today, Neil dives into the topic of New Year's resolutions and the common pitfalls that accompany them. He notes that while many people set ambitious goals at the start of the year, the majority will abandon them by February. Neil encourages listeners to embrace failure as a natural part of the journey toward self-improvement, advocating for a mindset that views setbacks as opportunities to learn and grow. He introduces the concept of 'new day ones', highlighting that every day presents a fresh opportunity to start anew, rather than waiting for the next January 1st.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

It's normal to fail when trying to achieve significant changes in life. Instead of viewing failure as an endpoint, see it as a learning opportunity and a chance to try again.

Unlike New Year's resolutions, which are limited to once a year, every day can be a new "day one." If you stumble, you can start fresh the next day without waiting for a specific date.

Using a habit tracker can help identify patterns of success and failure. Recording daily activities with checkboxes allows for reflection on what went wrong and encourages accountability.

A "zero day" (a day when you don't meet your goals) serves as a reminder of unmet standards, while a successful day (marked with an "X") reinforces positive behaviour and achievement.

Regardless of how many days you've been working on your goals, it's important to keep pushing forward. Celebrate your progress and maintain momentum, whether you're on day one or day 157.

BEST MOMENTS

"The problem, of course, is that New Year's resolutions only come around once a year. And those resolutions are often trying to fix long-term problems with a moment's decision."

"If you, like me, track your habits, you can spot the patterns which lead to failure and to success."

"Zero days suck. The good news is that the day after a zero day is a new day one."

"New Year's Day is a completely made-up thing, based on the assumptions of someone else, long ago in history."

"If today is your new day one, I salute you too. Get going, keep going. Kick ass and keep score!"

VALUABLE RESOURCES

www.Neilcowmeadow.com

[email protected]

HOST BIO

Neil Cowmeadow is a maverick peripatetic guitar teacher from Telford with over 19 years’ experience in the business of helping people. Learn how to start, grow and love your business with Neil’s invaluable advice and tips without the buzzwords and BS!

This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/