My 2017 resolutions

Yes, I will share with you my 2017 resolutions! Of course, like many of you, my past resolutions haven’t really worked satisfactorily. Partly, we fail because we take resolutions casually and as if they are an option. If we can approach resolutions as a must-do mandatory task, we stand a much better chance for success. Below are my 2017 resolutions.

Spirituality

In 2017, I want to boost my personal relationship with God. Going to church has been very regular as well as general participation in church activities. However, personal relationship with God has room for improvement. In 2017, I commit to read the Bible more and to pray more regularly not only before meals and occasionally before sleeping or when in trouble or problems.

Health

I will maintain the schedule of eating healthy food. I need to watch and cut on drinks that can affect lifestyle diseases. I will maintain my daily regime of playing the squash game for one hour. In addition, I need to re-introduce morning cycling or walking for 40 minutes at least four times a week. I need to reduce my driving speed again having relaxed a bit in 2016 so that I minimise risk of road accidents.

Family

I need to continue to create space and time for family in my life as they are the most important unit in my life. I need to improve on interaction with the wider family – scheduling meetings and get-together events and connections. I need to visit my uncles, aunties and cousins more – this has been a major weakness in need of serious and immediate resolving. I need to maintain regular contact and visits to my parents and to support them accordingly.

Social aspects

I am blessed with a good and expansive network of friends, associates and peers. I need to continue to expand this. While I have a good network in Blantyre, I am still a ‘new’ person in Lilongwe. I need to break into the Lilongwe circles. I need to find avenues and strategic social circles that can help me break into the Lilongwe networks, riding on my friends who are already well-connected like Martin Kaluluma Phiri, Mayamiko Mwinjiro, Washington Chimuzu and Kingsely Gwaza, Dr. Mark Lungu, Dr. Francis Chinjoka Gondwe, Gift Kawamba and Dalitso Sambo, among other well-connected Lilongwe friends.

Career and financial aspects

On the career side, I need to read more strategy books and publications. I need to read more of the Mckinsey Consultants business and strategy reports. I need to sign up to the Harvard Business Review (publication) so that I can constantly be in tandem with current knowledge in the business, leadership and management space. I also need to read technology magazines to boost my functional knowledge. I have stayed a few years now without an official mentor. I have already identified two senior leaders whom I will approach in January, requesting them to become my official mentors in leadership and career aspects. I need to expand the impact of my delivery at work. I need to raise the game to another level. Specifically, I want to speed up my work rate on some of the activities that I ‘shelve for later’. On the financial side, I need more focus on my investments. I will chase only three big projects that are already in the pipeline to improve and expand rather than constantly starting new lines of opportunities.

Efficiency and effectiveness

As has been the case the last few years, every year, I need to do one or two more things that make me even more efficient and effective than before. For 2017, I will boost my efficiency and effectiveness by avoiding ‘trivialities’ – I will spend much more time on high wealth, maximum impact and major developmental activities while completely ignoring trivial things that waste time and energy. This way, my effort, time and energy will be even more productive and impactful than ever before.

In short, the above are my 2017 resolutions. I hope this inspires you to write down your resolutions as well. All the best in the new year!

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