Over the years, you’ve probably read countless articles and lists of New Year’s resolutions successful people make, so we’re not going to retread a well-traveled road. Sometimes it’s helpful to take a look at this from a different angle.

People who regularly and consistently achieve their personal and professional goals (and live fulfilled lives!) think and act in ways that ensure their goals are met. Often, we focus on what they do.

Let’s consider some ways winners don’t think and act, which can provide some valuable insights.

Five Resolutions You Won’t See Winners Make

1) I’m going to go for short-term victories and not worry about the long term.

Don’t misinterpret this! Short-term goals are great. However, winners always have their sights set on the bigger picture. Seek victories now that are steps to bigger victories down the road.

2) I’m going to wait for the “right time” to change (insert behavior you want to change).

Successful people continually position themselves to take advantage of opportunities when they appear — and have the guts to act quickly. If you are waiting for the perfect moment, you may find yourself looking back over your life and wondering how the right time somehow passed you by.

English author and speaker Leornard Ravenhill summed this up best: “The opportunity of a lifetime must be seized within the lifetime of the opportunity.”

 

3) I won’t make any resolutions my (boss, family, friends, significant other) will think are unworthy or unattainable.

What the people in your world think about you is important — but you don’t need the approval of others to go after your true goals. You’ll earn more respect from the people around you by having the determination to succeed in whatever goals you seek.

4) I won’t ask anyone for help achieving my goal — I need to do this on my own.

Wrong. Winners know that the strategic partners in their lives are partly the reason they’ve achieved their success. Sometimes asking someone else for help conveys your respect and admiration for that person’s knowledge or values. You can’t go wrong with making someone else feel valued!

5) I’m not going to try (insert new thing) again because I already tried that and it didn’t work out.

Good for you if you tried something new and failed! Just because you failed in your first or even sixth attempt doesn’t mean you should give up. Analyze what went wrong and try again, but change it up this time. And if that doesn’t work, try again — winners never give up!

This year, I urge you to make lifelong goals instead of yearly resolutions.

Ask yourself: