Whether you’re working on self-improvement, breaking habits or aiming for a career milestone, self-motivated projects have a tendency to go downhill after the initial enthusiasm has passed. Less than half of New Year’s resolutions make it past the six-month line; indeed, a full quarter of them fail within the first week. If you’re serious about achieving your aims, it makes sense to be realistic from the start — chances are you’ll need a strategy to keep you on-track when your energy levels dwindle.
