At this time of year, many of us are beginning a fresh new season with declarations of new initiatives. I used to joke that January 18th was "National New Year's Resolution Abandonment Day." And then I discovered that someone had studied the problem and found out that we indeed have about 18 days of willpower before our resolve runs out. Of course, the problem is that it takes more than 18 days to make a new habit. Drunken resolutions, made as the ball drops on another year, are doomed to fail.

That's an interesting challenge and a cruel irony. Every year, starting with the gratitude of the Christmas season, I feel the pull to be a better person. I make New Year's resolutions like most people, caught up in the excitement of new possibilities. And then about mid-January, as the excitement wears off, I am left only with doing the work. In my case, it's almost always about my relationship with, or perhaps better said, my battle with sugar. And sugar almost always wins. Addictions–the habits we work against as we introduce new versions of ourselves–are patient. And they are always hunting.

This year I am doing something different. I am making a single resolution and it's only indirectly about me. The people I meet all want to be better people and they all want 2018 to be the best year they've had in a long while. The last few years have been tough on pretty much everyone I know and there are a great many people having trouble making their miracle happen. If a change in behaviour takes 30 to 90 days to set and the average person has 18 days of resolve, then I can lend them mine to help them get over the edge. In a weird twist of counterintuition, I have much more resolve to assist other people in their battles than I have for my own. I strongly suspect that if we all reach out to be useful and helpful to others, our own stuff will take care of itself.

My vision is a community of impact entrepreneurs working to support each other in launching useful innovations out into the world. This coming year, let's all find more people who need the gift of our energy to bring about the changes they seek. I am sure we won't be surprised if we have more than enough energy to bring about ours.

I am currently preparing the next book in my 12 part series on respect and esteem. Accordingly, I'd like to take this moment to thank my collaborators on book one Craig Bean, Joel Leetzow, Scott Darling and Steve Remmington for the gifts of their energy to the cause. As this current year winds down, please click this link and take a few minutes to listen to what these fine gentlemen had to say about their visions for the new year.