Of course, many people make New Year's resolutions… but how many of them actually keep them? According to one study, 23% of resolutions fade away within the first 7 days. But don't let that stop you! The following are 10 of our most effective ways to not only create resolutions, but also help you turn them into reality...

1) First, Take This Simple Test to find out just how serious you are about reaching your goals. If you can't get past this first step, don't just go through the motions because you're "supposed to" make resolutions for New Year's – you're likely to fail. Instead, stop and ask yourself, "What goal is worthy of my time and effort and would be exciting and motivating for me to work toward?"

Next, schedule a 15-minute appointment with yourself and answer these 4 foundational questions:

1. "Which of my goals did I accomplish in 2004?" (You did have goals, didn't you?)
2. "Could I (or should I) have done more? If so, why didn't I?" (Now's not the time to be easy on yourself…)
3. "Have I set specific, measurable goals for 2005? If not, by what date will I do so?"
4. "How will I apply what I learned last year into 2005 to make the biggest difference in my life?"

Fact is, most people won't answer these questions. Why? Human inertia: that powerful, life-wasting force that stops many of us from realizing our life's potential. So how do you break through? Take baby steps! Here's how...

Step 1: Right now, cut and paste the 4 questions above into an empty document. Congratulations… you've accomplished step 1.

Step 2: Schedule 15 minutes right now when you'll type your answers to those questions in that same document.

The mere act of taking Step 1 can help push you past the human inertia that may have been shackling you in years past. It's a simple technique called "chunking down," or "Swiss cheesing"... reducing tasks into bite-sized, manageable pieces. Taking Step 2 puts a process in place that helps keep you moving forward. Make sure every action plan ends with a step that requires further action!

Now, follow these time-tested ways to keep the momentum going...

2) Restructure! Most resolutions don't work because they're no more than wishful thinking… fluff and no more. First, change the verbal structure of your resolutions: Don't say, "I'll go to the gym and lose weight." Instead say, "I'll join the gym tomorrow at noon… exercise three times a week... lose 20 pounds... and once again fit into these old jeans." Assigning dates and numbers gives your goals substance, making them real and reachable.

3) Simplify! The Queen Mary weighs over 81,000 tons – nearly 35,000 tons heavier than the Titanic. Yet the rudder – the part that ultimately determines the direction in which the entire massive ship moves – weighs "just" 140 tons. Compared to the rest of the ship, the rudder is small! But to everyone on board, it's the most important part of all. Ask yourself, "What is the ‘rudder' of my resolutions? What's that one thing that makes all the difference?"

For example, let's say you want to write a book containing the world's best chocolate recipes. (Yum!) A million things need to be done to make it happen, including research... learning to write a query letter... deciding whether or not to hire a literary agent... determining which publishers might be most interested... learning how to format your manuscript... how to get publicity for your finished book to drive buyers to bookstores... and much more. Overwhelming, isn't it?

Instead, find the "rudder" and simplify! In this example, that all-important "rudder" is the very act of sitting down at your computer and starting to write! Say, "I will sit down every day for at least 30 minutes and write at least 500 words." Type some topic ideas. Write the first sentence... first paragraph... first page... whatever! It's getting yourself writing that will ultimately produce a finished book with your name on the front cover!

4) Focus on Your Vision – The rest of your life will be shaped by your current vision of your future. Establish a powerful picture of how you want to think, feel, act, and live three years from now. Constantly refer to this vision to guide all your 2005 decisions, goals, actions, and communications. This puts YOU in the driver's seat rather than the "fickle winds of fate."

5) Recognize the Value of Rest – Just as you can't start a car with a dead battery, you also can't think creatively with an exhausted body and mind. A tired body's instinctive goal is relaxation and sleep. Everything else, besides survival itself, is secondary. Listen to your body... give it the rest (and play) it needs to recharge itself... then dive back into your work refreshed. You'll get more done in less time... and have more fun, too.

6) Clean Up Your Life – Messy desks at work… unorganized kitchens at home... overstuffed garages... and lots of loose ends that need tying. All these things pull your attention away from your goals... drain your energy... and chip away at your self-esteem. Make a list of what needs "clean-up." Do at least one each day, if for no other reason than to have a weekend that's yours to spend as frivolously as you wish!

7) Delegate and Win – You can't do it all yourself. Admit it. Even if you could, others may be able to do it better, which ultimately benefits you. Don't be afraid to "buy it done." Stop letting nagging tasks slow your progress! If it's been on your to-do list for weeks... delegate it and get that aspect of the project moving!

8) Learn More, Earn More – Feel frustrated at work? Perhaps you've gone as far as you can go with current capabilities. It's time to learn more... develop new capabilities... and take the next step. What could you do in your present job (or a completely different one) if you knew twice as much as you do now? Interesting, isn't it?

9) Know Your Own Strengths –Your first question in any endeavor shouldn't be, "What can I do differently?" but "What can I do better using my present talents and abilities?" By focusing first on what you do best, you plan from a position of strength and think in areas that are most familiar to you. Bottom line: You don't have to change everything! You simply have to channel your strengths in other directions.

10) Take Charge of Your Attitude – Do you start your day in neutral? In other words, when you wake up, is your attitude poised to respond to whatever situations occur to you, or do you consciously determine your mindset? Each of us becomes a victim of circumstances – and other people's moods – when we start in neutral. Our mood (and the resulting entire day) is then shaped by the ping-ponging back and forth between some people's good moods and other's lousy ones. Force yourself for just one day to see the positive side in things, no matter how small. The effect snowballs. Read the books, "Success Through a Positive Mental Attitude" by W. Clement Stone, and "The Magic of Thinking Big" by David Schwartz. You won't believe how the change positively impacts your energy, health, effectiveness, and the attitudes of those around you!