I’m not such a huge fan of New Year’s Resolutions. I tend to believe that there’s never a perfect time to get going on a new goal or project– so it’s better to just start now, where you are, rather than wait for the so-called perfect day to begin.  Case in point, I’ve been lax on my blogging (!) and trust me, even though I was tempted, rather than put it off even more and tell myself “okay, when the New Year starts, I resolve to blog 3 times a week,” I’m just going to post a little something RIGHT NOW. You can only start right where you are.

That said, the New Year is a great time to review your accomplishments of the past year, regroup from disappointments, and brainstorm bigger and better dreams for the coming year. If you want to find a creative way to renew this year and ditch the typical resolution fare (in case you haven’t heard, about 97% of New Year’s resolutions fail!), here are a few ideas:

• Have a family summit. This is more of a goal setting exercise, rather than resolutions (apparently, even the Kardashians do this each year!). My husband and I started doing this several years ago. Set aside a special time to review the family accomplishments of the past year, and think positively about the new one. Pick 3-4 big categories in your lives– career, family, health, money, etc.– and come up with a handful of yearly goals in each department. Choose attainable goals/projects (paint the house, ask for a promotion)– along with a few reach goals. The idea is that you’ll check in with your goals a couple times during the next year.
• Pick a theme. Another new year’s trend is to skip the traditional restrictive resolutions (i.e., quit smoking, lose weight) and instead pick a broad theme to inspire your actions during the upcoming year. This can literally be one word–  perhaps it’s “family” or “gratitude” or “relaxation”. This is a lower-stress way to encourage broader changes in your thinking and priorities throughout the year.
• Do a massive “edit”– from closets to Facebook. We hear so much about spring cleaning, but the new year is a great time to “prune” what’s weighing you down from the previous year. Go through, say, your bathroom cabinets, make up bag or closet and ruthlessly toss the items you haven’t used in months. I plan to finally purge the boxes and bags of makeup samples I’ve had for years (in fact, maybe I’ll do this today!). Also, consider pruning your Facebook friends and even your contacts in your phone. If you haven’t spoken or interacted with contacts (or, you just have people hanging in there that consistently annoy you), just press delete. You’ll instantly feel lighter.
• Think “wants” rather than “shoulds”. The top resolutions are consistently to stop smoking and lose weight–things we all should do to be healthy. Yet the #1 reason for failing to keep up the resolution is lack of motivation. Instead of saying what “should” I do or what do I need to do, ask yourself what do I really WANT to change about my life? To keep up that motivation, you really have to want to make a certain life change. This year, pick a small new year’s goal that sparks passion and fun in your life– maybe you always wanted to take a painting or photography class. Do it!

[Editor's Note: The following is the first in our new series Business School Diaries, written by Alexandra Bochicchio, a first-year at a top business school (which we'll call "XBS").]

I officially have finished my first semester of business school!  After living, breathing, and talking XBS for the past three and a half months, I am looking forward to a one-month hiatus.   While school definitely has been fun, it has not exactly been the vacation my friends and colleagues told me it would be.  Specifically no one warned me about the emotional rollercoaster: I fluctuate daily among self-doubt, apathy, gratitude, and excitement.  While I by no means have it all figured out, I do want to share a few things I wish I had known in September.

You’re no different from anyone else. Because I am introverted and hoping to make a career switch out of finance, I immediately thought I was different from my seemingly networking-loving, super-social classmates.  However, over the course of the semester I have realized that we all are at turning points in our careers and slightly nervous to have made the decision to step off the professional treadmill and go back to school.  While people show insecurities in different ways, at the end of the day we all want to be accepted by and learn from one another.

Differentiate yourself. I used to stand out as the smart, former college athlete who worked in finance.  However this now describes 90% of my classmates (just swap out “consulting” for “finance”).  Therefore, I need to find other ways to distinguish myself.  One of my best decisions was applying to be the first-year writer for the XBS parody show.  Although I applied because I thought it would be fun, writing for the show has led to a disproportionate number of conversations with classmates and potential employers.  Graduate school allows me the time and resources to explore things outside of the core curriculum, and I need to make sure I take advantage of this.

Be vulnerable. One of my biggest fears is looking stupid or weak, and I used to live by the philosophy that it was better to remain silent and be thought a fool than speak out and remove all doubt.  However, I have made the best connections with classmates when I let my guard down or am not 100% politically correct.  There is so much pressure to be professional in business school that it is easy to forget how friendships actually are made: I (while not too inebriated) share something personal, you share something, and BOOM! a little trust is formed.

You were let in for a reason. Sometimes a dumb comment in class can lead to a downward spiral: Why did I say that?  That was dumb.  I am dumb.  XBS was dumb for admitting me. This is cockamamie.  More often than not no one notices my stupid comment or action (however, the same can be said for the few times I thought I made a brilliant contribution).  Because admissions are so competitive, schools take it very seriously, and no student is accepted because of a fluke (one exception – is the school currently constructing a library in your name?!).  The sooner I accept this, the sooner I can stop the downward spiral and instead concentrate on trying to say something brilliant (a work-in-progress).

Keep your eye on the prize. My classmates and I asked about twenty-five questions during our last finance class in hopes our professor would let slip a nugget of knowledge which would give us an edge on the final exam.  And XBS doesn’t even give grades.  Our professor said it best when he pointed out most of us have worked for a number of years and some even have families; being overly stressed about an exam is, well, silly.  The stakes in business school are relatively low – I would much rather mess up my net present value calculation on an exam than during an important board meeting (warning – I may be rationalizing a bit).  Although it is a constant struggle, it is essential to maintain perspective and remember everything will work itself out.  This philosophy has served me fairly well thus far; there is no reason to think it won’t in the future.

–Alexandra Bochicchio

It has been just over three months since I shared a few of my go-getting goals with you.  There were a few times I fell off the wagon, cringed when I wanted to stay home instead of going to an event, and settled for less than a hundred percent.  That being said, I have successfully accomplished all of the goals I had set out to do three months ago.  Just being able to say “I did it!” is rewarding, but the lessons I learned along the way and the motivation I gained are the best parts of the journey.  Raising the bar for oneself or continually setting bigger goals isn’t about living a life of dissatisfaction.  Goals shouldn’t be set just because someone wants more or even feels like they need more.  Goals are about growth, about being better as a person, and giving yourself positive feedback about the person you are.  I may still be twenty-something and still striving to be successful writer, but I’m better than I was before I set these goals for myself, including as a professional.

Invitations hardly ever came across as inviting to me.  Sometimes I worried about accepting an invitation because I thought other plans might come through.  The problem with that was that the other plans didn’t come through. (More than likely I had turned them down as well!)  That mentality added up to a lot of missed chances and missed opportunities.  I wouldn’t say that in the past three months I’ve turned into a “Yes Man” (better yet, Woman).  Instead,  I no longer look at every  invitation as something trying to steal my time, my funds, or whatever else excuse I’ve made up for it in the past.

For instance, how could I have let myself miss out on my most recent invite?  I’m so pleased and excited about my recent invitation to help the Make A Wish Foundation with publicizing an upcoming event.  Accepting the invitation, has given me the opportunity to learn more about effective social media methods, PR writing, and all the while giving back.  Remembering to look at the big picture, I consider all invitations as an opportunity first rather than an obstacle.

Working out regularly has always been a method for me to keep my sanity and stay grounded.  When I stopped going to the gym regularly, I could just tell I was different.  I was crabbier, pessimistic, and goodness—I had a difficult time focusing!  It has been a huge relief finally getting back on a workout schedule and maintaining a minimum of four gym visits a week.  I feel better in all of my clothes (although, it definitely gets me in the mood to shop more!) which is an instant wardrobe lift.  There were a couple of occasions that I pulled a few things out of the closet that I had been debating on whether to donate, only to fall in love with them all over again once I tried them on.  Confidence aside, my regular workouts give me more energy and optimism to work hard throughout the day.

Three months is a short time in the grand scheme of things, but it is plenty of time to get on the right track.  2011 is a new year and I can’t imagine what I’ll accomplish in the next twelve months, but having seen what I can do in three, I’ll just take it three months at a time.  What will your three-month goals be?

–Cassandra Altmann

[Editor's note: The following is a guest post by Greekforme.com]

Some of the brightest and most talented business professionals were members of a sorority while in college, and dedicate themselves to helping sorority girls enter the “real world” after graduation. How can you work the network after you graduate? First, before you leave campus, ask your chapter officers to supply you with an updated list of past sorority graduates and any notes on what they’re currently doing and how to contact them. Many sororities already have this information in place, and sorority elders are typically more than happy to help you out if time permits. Here are a four ways your sisterhood can help you after you’ve traded in Sorority Apparel for business suits:

• Post-Grad Internships

Experience is key to securing the job you want and ensuring you have the skills to excel at it. You don’t have to be a college student to grab an internship; you simply need to have the drive and motivation to succeed at that internship. Consult your sorority networking list to see if any past sorority graduates are in industries similar to your future work interests, but don’t be afraid to try something that pushes your skill set. Just remember that these are busy girls, so it may take them a few days to return your voicemail!

• Fine-Tune Your Resume

Creating a resume has truly turned into a fine art. Look for women on your sorority networking list who work in Human Resources (HR) departments, are managers, or even have their own company. These are the ladies who have likely conducted many an interview and know what makes a good resume, interview, and job candidate. Meet with one or two ladies to talk about your current resume and how you can really hit it out of the park on your next interview. In addition, be sure to talk about on-the-job skills that make up extraordinary team members.

• Potential Job Opps

Connecting with a past sorority member over job opportunities doesn’t automatically mean you’ll get the job, but it can be that connection that helps your resume shine over the rest and get you scheduled in for an interview. First, be sure your resume and cover letter are up to date and properly spell-checked, and reach out via a phone call to women on your sorority networking list who work in careers related to your industry of choice. Think of that phone call as your first interview – you’ll need to sound just as composed and mature as you would in the interview hot seat. If it doesn’t work out the first time, always try again with the next woman on your list. Perseverance pays off!

• Seek Out A Mentor

Many sororities now work to secure mentorships between current sorority girls and their sorority alumni. If you’re already in a mentorship program, excellent! If not, ask your chapter officers if they know of any past sorority women who would be open to meeting with you for coffee or lunch once a month to chat about life after college – from what to look for in that first apartment to how to ask for a raise. Your mentor can help give you unbiased real world advice, as they’re outside your family and friends.

Sure, we know it may feel a bit intimidating to reach out to a past sorority girl you don’t know firsthand, but you’re a fearless go-getter – and hey, she was in your position at one time, too! If it doesn’t work out the first time, there’s a whole sorority network at your fingertips, so simply move onto the next.

2011 is going to be my year! I’ve worked hard and I can feel it in my gut that THIS is the year that I am going to land a full-time job. I’m starting the year off right. I took an unpaid internship at New Orleans magazine. I don’t know if it will land me a gig on staff, but it is a step in the right direction. I will be writing, editing and helping out on most of the publishing group’s seven different titles.

Ed2010.com, my magazine control center, recently posted a list of tweets from fellow magazine editors and wannabes. I was quite surprise by how many list their resolution as finding a job. There are many people like me all vying for the same positions. Just a reminder that I have to step up my game to stand out.

In the spirit of the holiday, I’m making three resolutions that will keep me on a positive path.

1. Take Better Care of Myself

It is easy for me to blame my professional slump on my personal slump. I don’t have any reasons to change out of my pajamas everyday and, exercise, I can do that tomorrow. But in reality, I’m 24. It’s time to develop a health routine and stick with it, regardless of what else is going on with my life. It starts with getting my hair cut more than once a year and weaning myself off of Diet Coke. I am a firm believer if you take care of yourself, other aspects of your life will start to fall into place.

2. Network, Network, Network

I know we have talked about the importance of networking before, but I need to branch out from my normal email and phone calls. It is time to go to events and informal interviews. One website suggests trying to make one contact a week. It is easy to make excuses. “I have to go home and take care of my dog,” or “It is too far away.” I’m not going to meet people unless I get out from my computer! It is time to extend the perimeters of my comfort zone.

3. Try to Get More Freelance Gigs

This past year, my freelancing career did not go well. I wrote one story that was cut the last minute because the subject didn’t want the story published. I wrote another story that was published online, but after the fact, the editors told me they didn’t have any money to pay me. Each story was about $300. I met the owner and editor of a local publication that seemed really excited about me writing for the magazine. But once I started calling and emailing, I never heard back from him. But heading into the New Year, I am going to stay positive. I know, easier said than done. Freelancing is a must in the journalism world, especially since I’m working for free.

I learned a lot in 2010, and I’m excited to make these three goals become a part of my new routine for the new year!

–Samantha Hyde

Samantha Hyde graduated from the University of Texas in 2009. During her time spent in Austin, she interned and contributed to Austin Monthly, Texas Parks & Wildlife and Texas Highways magazine. She served as president of the magazine club and editor-in-chief of a college magazine, burntORANGE. Her issue, “How to be a Longhorn,” won second place in general excellence at the 2009 AEJMC awards.