A few days ago, my brother called me, wanting to postpone our weekend meeting — something we call बौद्धिक — an intellectual discussion the three of us brothers have been doing regularly around topics of shared interest. He had an important presentation at a conference, and suddenly—only one day was left to prepare. He said something we’ve all felt at some point, “It was 24×7 in my mind that I have to prepare. But I was just too busy—so I thought, afternoon… then evening… then tomorrow morning… and now, just one day is left!”
I told him what I always say, to him and to anyone in this situation, “Having something in mind isn’t enough. You have to break it down into small, doable tasks—and pick them up one at a time, by watching for the right pocket of time, among the available ones”. This is so critical that I tweaked an old adage: No pain, no gain to –
No plan, no gain
Very similar phenomena happen with medium to large projects in our lives — and also with the New Year’s resolutions we take up. Look at this funny picture I received as a WhatsApp forward on 30th June — the mid-year mark. Funny? Yes. True? Sadly, also yes.
Yes, goals evolve. Yes, clarity improves with time. But if we keep tweaking our resolutions so much that the spirit is lost—what’s the point?
Your New Year resolutions weren’t random whims. They were rooted in hope, ambition, and self-belief. If something no longer feels relevant—drop it. But if it still matters to you, don’t downgrade it. Don’t quietly give up on it.
You don’t need to feel guilty. You need a fresh plan. Instead of letting those goals collect dust, revisit your list.
Let’s take an example. Say your resolution was to “Start a business.” Sounds exciting—but also overwhelming. Here’s how you could break it down into doable steps:
- Clarify the idea – What problem will your business solve? Jot it down in one sentence.
- Research the market – Identify existing players, gaps, and demand.
- Talk to 3 people – Get feedback from peers or potential customers.
- Sketch a simple plan – Even one page is enough to get moving.
- Block time – Schedule 2 focused hours every weekend.
- Register a domain – Reserve your business name online.
- Set up a separate bank account – Keeps money matters clean from day one.
Notice how this turns an ambitious resolution into a clear, manageable path? That’s the power of breaking it down.
Redraw your mind map—or make one if you didn’t. Break your goals into small, clear, doable actions. Pick one. Start there. Your resolutions were goals—not actions, so you need to break them down to actions. The work breakdown is where real progress begins.
So here’s your wake-up call: Do it. Or redo it. But make sure you have a real plan — not just a noble thought floating in your mind. Let July be your fresh January. Your goals deserve that much.
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(Originally published in Times of India on July 05, 2025)
