It’s time once again, if you haven’t already done so, to consider making your 2011 New Year’s resolutions  – if you set such goals. Of course, as is always the case, making New Year’s resolutions is easier than accomplishing them, but making the resolutions is the first step to success.

As with many people, my resolutions tend to generally be the same every year:  Lose weight, eat better, exercise more, watch less television, etc. Seldom, unfortunately, have I succeeded.

However, I am happy to report that I actually accomplished at least two of the New Year’s resolutions I made last year. 

My main 2010 resolution was to lose weight. I didn’t set a pound goal, I just wanted to lose some weight; and I did.  I was 30 pounds lighter this January 1 than I was on January 1, 2010.  I hoped to lose more, but I’m satisfied with what I accomplished; and I’m ready to begin again.

My main resolution for 2011 is to lose more weight. I’m still at least 75 pounds too heavy, and I’d like to lose a minimum of another 30 pounds in 2011; and hopefully I’ll lose 50.

In 2010 I also read more; and in 2011 I hope to continue that effort as well.

A couple of things helped me be successful in 2010.

First, I made only a small number of resolutions.  In addition to losing weight and reading more, I had hoped to get into a regular exercise routine; but I failed to do so. I started at least three times but wasn’t able to follow through on any of the three attempts.

Second, I constantly reminded myself that failure is seldom final. If we’re determined to do something, it doesn’t really matter how many times we have to start. What matters is that we eventually succeed.

The other day I was skim reading a book that listed a number of ways kids – with the help of their elders – could begin to earn money. In the book I noticed a couple of examples of people who first failed – more than once – but eventually succeeded.

According to the book, “Invest This Dollar,” Jim Carrey, the comedic actor, was booed off stage the first time he tried stand-up comedy. Of course, he was only 11 years old at the time. At that age, it would have been easy for Carrey to give up. But he didn’t.

Eventually people stopped booing, and Carrey went on to become the highest paid comedic actor of his time.

Another young person discovered that there really isn’t any magic related to being successful. This fellow also discovered that all that was required was hard work and determination.

David Copperfield, one of the best-known magicians of our time, got his start by putting on shows in his New Jersey hometown at the age of 12. He wasn’t all that great when he started, but hard work and determination made his magic – and him – very successful.

Sometimes success requires us to change our focus or our approach. That’s another fact that helped me succeed in 2010.

As an example, in 2009, in part because my son had run a couple of half-marathon races, I decide that exercise should be my approach to losing weight.

I started off by trying to walk – running was out of the question – a considerable distance at a fairly good pace. I didn’t lose much weight but  did develop some very sore legs, which caused me to give up on the whole idea. Thus, in 2009 I didn’t lose any weight.

In 2010, I decided to attack the weight-loss challenge by simply eating less. I didn’t subscribe to one particular diet plan nor did I watch what I ate. I simply ate less of whatever I ate. I wanted and still had ice cream, cake and pie but I ate less of each.

It worked. I dropped 30 pounds.

In 2011, I know I’ll have to change my approach again. Eating less alone isn’t going to cut it.

This year I’ll have to watch more carefully what I eat – less ice cream and fewer slices of cakes and pies. I’ll also have to start some sort of exercise program. I probably won’t be doing any half marathons, but I probably will have to dust off the treadmill in the basement. Simply eating less isn’t going to take me where I want to go.

Adjusting the approach is many times vital to being successful.

Wally Amos, the Amos of Famous Amos Cookies, first tried to be successful as a Hollywood talent agent. But, somewhere along the line, Wally realized that he apparently wasn’t cut out to be a talent agent, changed his focus and opened his first chocolate chip cookie store.

Many of his friends thought Wally was nuts, but he kept at it. Now, his cookies are sold around the world.

So, even if you haven’t been all that successful at keeping your New Year’s resolutions in the past, don’t give up. If losing weight is one of your goals, go after it. There’s nothing comedic about trying and failing, and there’s no magic bullet to help you succeed. But, if you consider adjusting your approach and avoid consuming too many chocolate chip cookies, you just might make it this time.

The same holds true for wanting to stop smoking or accomplishing whatever goal one sets for himself or herself. If you’ve tried before and failed, that’s okay. Just try again. Change your approach and go for it. 2011 could be your year!

– Tom Schmitt is the publisher of The Daily Nonpareil. He can be reached at (712) 325-5660 or by e-mail at tschmitt@nonpareilonline.com