A Nigerian leadership expert, Godman Akinlabi, has revealed why 80 per cent of New Year resolutions fail before the end of February every year.
Speaking on the essence of New Year resolution and its effect on people’s psyche during an interview on Arise TV, Akinlabi who doubles as the Lead Pastor of The Elevation Church, Lagos, highlighted selfish living as one of the reasons why New Year resolutions suffer an early demise.
New Year resolutions have become a yearly ritual that, according to reports, are largely short-lived. According to reports, the failure rate for New Year’s resolutions is said to be about 80 per cent, and most lose their resolve by mid-February.
Research goes on to show that 23% of people quit their resolution by the end of the first week, and 43% quit by the end of January.
Ahead of the New Year 2024, a poll from Forbes Health and OnePoll revealed that getting in shape is the most popular New Year resolution. However, the Ohio State University revealed that only 9% of Americans who make resolutions complete them
Asked why most New Year resolutions fail 80% of the time, Akinlabi said, “The reason is that there’s a good feeling and motivation that comes with helping other people and not living your life for yourself. A selfish life will not really end well. We’re not an end in ourselves, we’re a means to an end for other people and when we position ourselves like that, life has a way of creating opportunities for us but when we position ourselves in such a way that it’s about me, myself and I, our world starts to shrink to the level of the things that pertain to me only but when I’m broad-minded, I choose to help other people, I choose to see things from other people’s perspective and I choose to position to help other people succeed then success will not be far from me.
“The reason why people may not be able to achieve New Year resolutions when it’s only focused on them is because they will lack the providential help that the universe portends. especially when you lend yourself to helping other people, and creating opportunities for other people. What you make happen for someone, God has a way of making it happen for you so that’s how you achieve your aspirations also because you’re helping other people to achieve their aspirations.”
Addressing the most significant challenges and opportunities for today’s leader, Akinlabi highlighted the lack of clarity and uncertainty “that we have in our world today and this is global, it’s not local to any location. Currently, everywhere in the world, there’s a measure of uncertainty and ambiguity. You know, we still live in the vocal world where you have a lot of volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity. We feel like, maybe it’s dying down but all of a sudden, it’s picking up again with the antecedents of last year’s wars and different economic tumours around the world and it poses a whole lot of challenges to leaders, people leading organisations, families, world conglomerates.”
He however argued that there are loads of opportunities that will come out of volatilities and uncertainties, stressing that “when the wind is contrary, it doesn’t mean that all the opportunities are gone. It heralds new opportunities for people to harness and that is where leadership becomes essential because the leader knows the way, shows the way and leads the way even amid uncertainties. Uncertainties create opportunities for leaders to show they’re true leaders. The test of a true leader is not in a time of peace, sometimes. it is also in the time of war, volatility and what have you.”
Akinlabi warned that focusing on “‘what am I going to do differently as I get into the new year” can sometimes be to the detriment of “‘who am I supposed to be in this new year’, because who you are essentially is more important than what your do. Who you are determines what you do. If you do what is contrary to nature, in a matter of time, you start to feel pain and then you revert to the status quo.” He urged leaders to think of New Year resolutions from the point of view of “‘Who do we need to become as an organisation?’, ‘Who do I need to become as a leader?’ because who you are is what determines what you do. When you become a flexible, motivated, visionary person, a person who can handle diverse perspectives at a time and create clarity out of a multiplicity of perspectives, then I’m becoming a better leader and with that, I’ll take better actions, and that’s what resolution is all about. There’s no point thinking of what to do better without thinking of who to become and which are you need to go.”
Akinlabi advised that “Growth is essential if I will be able to handle bigger stuff. What broke me down last year should not be able to break me down this year,” while urging Nigerians to have a growth plan, or a personal development plan, because that is essential. “What I couldn’t handle last year, I should be able to handle this year,” he added.
Speaking on his personal goals and resolutions for the year, Akinlabi said, “I want to be closer to God in 2024, I want to serve the purpose of God for my world and I’ve created plans and goals to reach more people, to help more people gain clarity, to help more people find their voices around the world, not just to be where they are but to be relevant where they are. I also set a goal for myself to be healthy this year.
“I also set a goal for myself to be healthier this year. I want to be able to exercise more, focus on my mental health, and make sure that my mind is always in the right place. I’ve set goals to spend more time with my family. I’m going into the third decade of marriage, and I need to do better than I’ve done before and I want to be able to take care of my family. I’ve set goals in different areas, for instance, in my relationship with my wife, I want to be able to have a date night, at least maybe twice a month, just take her out and have some fun. I set goals for my finances, I want to make more money in 2024 and it comes out of the value that you give to other people so I’m preparing myself to give more value.”
Advising others, he said, “Money flows in the direction of value, when you become more valuable, money will come to you. Don’t seek money directly, go for more value propositions. Look at the different areas of your life and set particular goals that will get you closer to where you are supposed to be at the end of 2024.”
