We stand at the cusp of closing one year and moving into a new one, and this time often produces reflection and goal setting.  Unfortunately, most of the "new year's resolutions" end in abysmal failure - some studies have indicated that as many as 80% of those resolutions fail and then claim that we should abandon any such practice.  Let's stop there.  Just because there has been failure, does it mean that we should throw the "baby out with the bathwater"?  Should we really stop goal-setting or making resolutions?  I think not and will explain further below by looking at something that jumped off the page at me from Luke 21.

​No person or leader wakes up and decides that they want to be a failure.  Everyone - and I do mean everyone - wants to be a success.  The problem, however, resides in that the definition of success is as different as the people pursuing it.  Some common definitions of success include fame, fortune, position, power, and possessions.  Is that all that there is for leaders?  The answer is no but it will require some explanation.