It’s a new year, and you know what that means – it’s time to set those lofty goals! You know, the ones that most of us fail to live up to which makes us feel worse than if we had set no goals at all. Here are just a few examples that you may have tried in the past:

I am going to exercise every morning (assuming we can actually wake up).
I will increase my profitability by 20%.
I will lose 15 pounds.
I will answer my emails and texts within 12 hours.
I will pray 30 minutes a day (harder than it sounds!).
I will save 10% of my income.
I will stop eating carbs (tried this one – epic fail!).

Rather than setting goals that are destined for failure, consider making more modest changes that, over time, can result in real measurable change. Let’s call it the 4% rule. 4% doesn’t seem like much, but there is a cumulative effect over time that results in measurable, visible outcomes. In other words, progress. For example, if you made $75,000 a year, saved just 4% each year, and earned only 4% interest, in 25 years, you would have over $128,000. We are often asked by our clients whether people can change. I tell them – yes, and even a change of only a small percentage made in the right area of their lives and leadership can produce significant results. So, as you look to this year, consider where a 4% change can help you grow and succeed. 4% of the typical 40-50 hour work week is just 75 minutes. Below are a few areas to consider investing 4% of your time into this year.

1. Pursue a few authentic relationships.

I recently read the story of a man who, along with his wife, had become very popular on social media. He left his leadership role in a well-known company to join his wife in the business of marketing themselves as the “brand.” Outwardly, they looked like the perfect couple, but privately, their marriage was in trouble and he was struggling. One day, he was found dead, and the article concluded with this sobering sentence – “the man who’d surrounded himself with friends since childhood, who had nearly half a million followers at his command, had died alone.” While having hundreds of relationships can be beneficial as noted in the next point, consider investing that 4% of time in a few authentic, high-value relationships – the kind mentioned in Proverbs 18:24, friends that stick even closer to you than family.

2. Expand your network.

An often-quoted African proverb says, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go with others.” This rings true for most leaders who have experienced some level of success. You cannot rise much beyond the strength of the network of people you create. Relational networks are different from those smaller, authentic relationships mentioned above. They provide connections to resources, staffing candidates, trusted vendors, new job opportunities, and potential customers. Building robust networks costs almost nothing. In addition, sustainable networks are mutually beneficial – each party both adds value and receives benefits. What would happen this year if you invested 75 minutes each week into expanding your network?

3. Learn something new.

The older we get and the longer we are in a particular position, the easier it becomes to stop challenging ourselves and to begin the proverbial “coasting.” For many leaders, 4% per week is about 1.5-2 hours. If you were to invest that time in learning something new, something that would add value to you as a leader and to your organization, what might that be? Ways to manage stress? Future trends? A new idea for a product or service? Stronger business acumen? How to better manage change? Learning can come via an online course or certification as was recently accomplished by one of our senior consultants. Or perhaps reading a book or a few articles on a particular subject. Or having a coach work with you as a personal “trainer.” So, consider if learning something new may be your target for this year.

4. Spend time with your team.

I was talking with a leadership team about the cost of replacing just one staff member who leaves. It can easily take 100-150 hours to find, hire, and onboard a new staff member, and the cost could easily be in the tens of thousands of dollars. Fortunately, this particular team of leaders “gets it” and takes the importance of investing in their staff very seriously. So, consider what something as simple as 75 minutes a week of face time with your team to listen to them, re-recruit them, and show interest in them could mean to your team members.

5. Invest in your spiritual growth.

About 75% of Americans would describe themselves as being spiritual. While that can mean a lot of different things to different people, it also means leaders are not one-dimensional. They have an interest in the spiritual part of themselves, and it is worth nurturing. I have a client, who is a business leader with a strong faith, who invited his employees to something he called “team church.” Once a month, they would go to a church service together, and then he would take them out to lunch where they would have a lively discussion about what they heard and what they thought about it. It was not expected for the employees to attend nor required. There was no hidden agenda in it. It was just an invitation for those interested to invest in the spiritual side of themselves. Is this the year to invest those 75 minutes (or part of them) in your spiritual life?

6. Just take a walk.

While I would like to work out the way I did when I was 18, that isn’t going to happen. But I do take walking seriously and use my Apple watch to monitor how I am doing with both movement and my 10,000-step goal. I often walk the property surrounding our Center offices while holding conference calls to break up the amount of time I am seated in front of my computer. I often see another business owner in our building who takes a walk with his team almost daily. That’s awesome! He is investing in relationships, spending time with his team, and getting some exercise! Recent research has shown that even fewer steps than the magic number of 10,000 can result in a statistically healthier and longer life. Should you consider adding just a bit more exercise into your day this year?

Which area will you invest 4% of your time into this year?

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