Time for an Industrial Resolution?

I know it’s almost mid-January and most of us have already made (and likely abandoned) any new year’s resolutions we were going make this year—but—in the off-chance you needed more time to weigh and consider, like me, I come bearing (downloadable) tools for success. Like most of my species I tend to make, but suck at keeping New Year’s resolutions. Until last year that is. At which time I decided to take a page out the Department of Motor Vehicles playbook and afford my resolutions the gravity and legitimacy they deserve by creating what else? A form.

As any bureaucrat knows, nothing works better to convert a half baked idea into an honest-to-god, “thing” than committing it to a form. But “wait”, you say. What sorts of New Year’s resolutions might qualify as “Industrial”? Losing 10 lbs., joining a gym maybe? Possibly, but probably not. I’m referring to the more weighty, bigger-fish-type industrial-sized resolutions. Thus, I share with you, the Industrial Resolution Form (13-6A). (Use this link to download a 2-up PDF, if you’d like to print some out for yourself).

Industrial Resolution Form 13-16A
When life poses complicated problems nothing lends order to chaos like a form.

How to Use Form 13-6A

I created and used this form last year to make two New Year’s resolutions and here’s the process I used: (full disclosure…I accomplished one of them. That’s one more than I usually keep.)

I recommend limiting these to no more than 2 or 3, manageable, high quality resolutions to give yourself a fighting chance at success.

  1. Fill out the blank part after “I will….:” Keep it simple. Don’t describe the process, just the result.
  2. Fill out the “I will celebrate by….:” with some sort of reward, big or small, but commensurate with the size of the goal. Industrial Resolutions merit Industrial rewards. By default I usually start small so I include a “Or Maybe Even a…” to think a little bigger.
  3. Find someone you trust to serve as a witness and to whom you can be accountable. This should be someone who won’t necessarily monitor your success (we don’t want to create invites for co-dependents) but someone who will simply give you a big hug or pat on the back when you accomplish your goal. If you can’t find someone, let me know and I’ll email you a pre-signed Foolish Fire Officially Witnessed Signature Form (13-6A-W). Virtual hugs and pats included.
  4. Set a realistic timeline. A resolution, even an Industrial-sized one, doesn’t have to be a year-long enterprise. If you can polish it off by the end of next week, awesome. Set a start and finish date. Tweak if necessary. We’re all adults. Start off the year being nice to yourself.
  5. Find an envelope, (you’ll note that when printed this form fits nicely into an A7 envelope) put your forms inside but don’t seal it right away (I found that I needed to make a few changes during the ensuing 2 or 3 days.) When I was sure my goals were realistic and achievable, put the envelope somewhere you’ll see it frequently. I pasted mine on the inside cover of a new sketchbook I started January 1. Your refrigerator is a good place. On the outside with magnets, or even in the inside. You’ll see it a lot and it will always cause you and others to ask, “what the hell is that doing there?”. Strategery!
  6. That’s it. Simple. I opened my 2012 envelope on Tuesday, January 1. Ironically, I’d forgotten one of the resolutions I’d placed in there, and of course it was the one I didn’t accomplish (sorry, more details would be TMI). But, the resolution I did accomplish was to focus on improving Foolish Fire. Which I did, I hope, and am doing again in 2013. My reward? A new drafting table so I’m not always usurping the dining table for hand-lettering work. And here it is. Thank you DMV!!
My New Drafting Table
This was my reward for accomplishing one of two 2012 New Year’s Resolutions.
Scroll to Top