Welcome to 2011. It’s here whether you like it or not. The gym is packed.

A new year brings new opportunity. Change is a good topic and everyone’s talking about resolutions. The idea of New Year’s Resolutions is good, both for individuals and even for organizations. With that in mind, I’ve pulled together some thoughts on making your resolutions happen this year.

1. Be SMART about your resolutions. Kinda cliché, however it’s a smart approach that people often neglect. Specific. Measurable. Attainable. Relevant. Time-bound. I’ve also used strategic for the “S”, meaning there is good context or purpose being met with the resolution.

2. Quality not quantity. This is true for organizations or teams, but especially for you as an individual. Too many can be tough to manage and make it harder to achieve.

3. Track it. Measureable is so important when it comes to the SMART method. Really need to be able to track progress against the target to show progress and get that sense of accomplishment. The resolution or goal shouldn’t be taken lightly. The more diligent your tracking is, the more it will be top-of-mind and be a better environment to lead that behavior change in. Especially for health items, Google Health has nice tracking features to establish a target and track progress.

4. Write it down. On paper. Write the resolution down on paper with a pen or pencil. Writing it down will help you be more likely to remember it. Not just once either, jot it down in different places from notebooks to post-it notes in drawers or your gym bag as you start off with the resolution. Use technology as a friendly reminder but don’t rely on it exclusively.

5. Tell a friend. There’s strength in numbers. If you get an opportunity, tell a friend about your resolution. Talking about it will help you remember it. Leveraging your social network in particular can be helpful in getting that friendly nudge to make your resolution stick.

Change can be good. The New Year is always a good time to evaluate current/future goals, whether it be a commitment to a hobby or re-visiting the social media targets for Q1.

Behavior change is not easy. Don’t get frustrated.

For me personally, my primary goal for 2011 is dedicated to the marketing team at Mad*Pow, especially Megan and Courtney.I certainly have dropped the ball since jumpstreet.  I’m re-dedicating myself to this blog and being more active in outlets to communicate and talk strategy. At least one blog entry per week is my KPI. I’ve met some amazing people in 2010 and been on great initiatives. If spreading the word on those experiences can help others, I’m in.

So, what are your resolutions for 2011?