I never thought there would be a day year that I would actually make new year’s resolutions, but I’m doing them now. For next year - 2008, with hopes that I will actually follow them through.

Last week, I read about a study on the performance of companies who had visions implemented in their working environment versus those who did not. The study compared 18 visionary companies with 18 non-visionary firms over a 65-year period. Naturally, the visionary companies performed over 6 times better than the comparison group. Even their stocks performed 15 times better than the general market!

Visions and long-term goals such as New Year’s Resolutions help guide our activities and lead us to places we would like to be. Think about it: In a racing competition, it doesn’t matter how hard you are paddling a boat. If you don’t have someone steering it, you will end up working really hard just to find yourself moving in circles.

Life goals are no different. You will find yourself going nowhere in your career, hobbies or relationships if you don’t channel your attention appropriately.

I’m no life guru, and I don’t have a 10-step self-esteem recovery program or anything so I’ll just leave it as that.

Here are my New Year’s Resolutions for the upcoming year listed in no particular order:

1. Manage my cashflow better (already started!)

2. Generate more residual income

3. Improve my tennis to the point of winning a local tournament

4. Meet more like-minded people

5. Get more involved in organizations, clubs, events or conferences

I hope you guys develop new year’s resolutions of your own too. 2008 is going to be a good year. I can feel it

- Peter Kao