A 2023 New Year’s Resolution You Will K.E.E.P.
Some people create end-of-year “to do” lists, while others make New Year’s resolutions. Over the years, I’ve become more realistic and decided to only make resolutions that I K.E.E.P. A promise made is a promise kept. This is a work ethic I learned from my parents while growing up on a farm, but it has become a habit I’ve carried with me throughout my life.
As a member of the Georgia Continuing Education Association, I’m proud to say that this is also the foundation of our organization. Of course, we focus on workforce development, non-credit training and development for adult learners, event planning for internal and external events, revenue generating, streamlining processes, and increasing revenue streams for local, national, and global industries as we create pathways for non-credit to credit, certification, or degree programs for our industries’ most valuable assets, their employees. However, in all of this, it is vital that we commit to a New Year’s resolution that we will K.E.E.P. in 2023. I’m sure you are asking, “What could that possibly be?” The acronym K.E.E.P. stands for Know, Enjoy, Encourage, and Plan. During the beginning of each January, every smart business person should begin by resolving to K.E.E.P. this one!
KNOW the people who are in your network. These are your co-workers, colleagues, mentors, and friends. Stay in touch with them through the year. A wise friend of mine, Dr. Mark Newton, would tell his students, “Show me your friends and I’ll show you your future.” A quick 15-minute phone call, a lunch visit, or a walk in the park can keep relationships strong. Sometimes it is who you KNOW more than what you KNOW. So, make sure you KNOW the people who are in your corner.
ENJOY the work you do, and you will never work a day in your life. I’m sure you have heard this before, but it is true. Enthusiasm is contagious. You’ll find that if you truly enjoy your job and show joy for the work you do, then others around you will also begin to show more joy for the work they do. It all begins with you and the joy you share.
ENCOURAGE those around you. It costs absolutely nothing to be kind and to say something that will encourage others. You have no idea how just one uplifting sentence can change the trajectory of someone else’s day.
PLAN for the future. A great future does not happen by accident. Get into the habit of spending time at the end of each day mapping out the plan for the next day. Prepare documents or files the day or so before you will need them. At the end of each week, think about what you need for next week, next month, six months from now, next year, six years from now, and don’t forget to dream a little about your retirement. Ask questions. Get help when you need it but make plans for the future you want. No-one else will do this for you.
Tips like these are the kind of things we share at our monthly Georgia Continuing Education Association meetings and at our yearly conference. We would love for you to join us. In fact, add this to the new year’s resolutions you plan to K.E.E.P! I can’t think of a better way to begin the new year than with a new set of friends who can help you reach your 2023 goals! For more information, contact us through our website https://gacea.org/contact-us/ or call President Cher Brister at 678-226-6756.
Here’s to K.E.E.P.ing Your Resolutions!
Dr. Penny Joyner Waddell
2023 Georgia Continuing Education Association (GCEA) CONFERENCE
Dates: April 20, 21, 2023
Location: Savannah, Georgia
Key-note Speaker: Nick “Sunshine” Tokman from the Discovery Channel’s Emmy Award Winning Show “Deadliest Catch”