Happy New Year Fellow ASTDers!

I have awakened from my long winter’s nap and am more than ready to offer some keen insights on our field, as well as my own take as a Millennial on current business issues and practices. I have missed the weekly grind of blogging, and I am excited to dive back in head first.

So last week, sparked by new vigor and resolve, I sat myself down and asked, “Self, How did you get behind? What kept you from doing something that you find so rewarding?”

The answer: I stalled out, I wavered

The answer, though simple, explains a lot about how we all fail to give ourselves the consideration and commitment we deserve to complete work, make necessary changes, and achieve the success that we really crave. Because even though I felt energized after each blog post, somehow I still managed to lose steam after my initial burst of creativity and drive.

Indeed, this is something that happens more often than we’d all care to admit. Whether we say we’re going to stick to our guns on recommendations made to senior management or hold firm to a new initiative that we know would add a lot of value to the organization. Sometimes you just need to take a step back and let the dust settle. Whether we make that decision for ourselves or it is based on input from others, it just happens.

Resolve to recommit

Now, there’s nothing really wrong with taking that step back. However, what you do when you take that step back makes all the difference. The way I see it, it boils down to requiring two things from yourself to ensure that your actions (or lack thereof) are merely temporary.

1. Reflect on your personal successes and trials that propelled you to this point. A question for practical application would be, “Why do I feel the way I do about this?”

2. Determine how and when you’re going to step up to the plate and recommit to action.

Here’s how this unfolds for me. A lot happened over the past year in my career:  

• I joined ASTD and became a Board Member for the Savannah GIG.

• I completed the first iteration (20 sessions) of a revamped and values-driven orientation for my company.

• I helped land training as the company’s Wildly Important Goal (WIG) for 2013.

• I started my PhD.

• I met Cami Best-Jones, manager of the ASTD Higher Education Community of Practice.

• I began blogging for this awesome site.

• I was selected as a 2013 ASTD ICE Speaker.

The end result: I became burned out in all my “busyness.”

My new action plan is to set aside time to do the work-related things I love, like writing for ASTD. I will devote an uninterrupted part of my schedule to activities that not only engage my intellect, but also refuel my work spirit —like a Sunday phone call with Grandma. To help with this effort, I am committing to investing in conversations with seasoned practitioners (such as yourselves), so I can create more dialogue and bring fresh perspectives to the table. And I am asking our community leader Cami to help hold me accountable.

Today, I challenge you to also engage in this exercise. What you will find, just as I did, is that the excitement of your personal successes and commitment to the same in the future can—and will—enable you to remain resolute in your practice. As Jim Collins so often recommends, set a goal and engage in the strategies that will help you get there. Engage in them “20 miles,” every day, no matter what.

I salute you all on your journey to remaining engaged, productive, and resolute in the New Year.