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” No do-overovers” was what we’d tell each other on the playground – an important life lesson to learn because we certainly don’t always get second chances. But as we grew, we realized sometimes we do. What is life for, if not do-overs? Nobody gets it right the first time. What is Jan. 1 for if not a reset?

What would you want to do if you had a second chance? Quit eating doughnuts every morning on the way to the field? Run another cost analysis before buying that equipment? Take more soil samples, talk to a financial adviser, help that son/daughter change their oil instead of doing it for them, be more patient with the employees, take muddy boots off before crossing the kitchen floor (one can hope), remember your anniversary? How about, “The Old Me never had time to build shelves in the shop, but New Me will build shelves and quit tripping over all that junk on the floor.” (OK, that’s not so much a goal as a flippin’ fantasy.)

Well, not to discourage you, but researchers say by the time you’re reading this, 25% of those who made New Year’s resolutions have already failed to keep them. In fact, only 9.2% of us will ultimately achieve the goals set – which is why we darn sure need do-overs.

This won’t surprise you, but the same researchers say searches on Google for “diet” soar on Jan. 1 by 80%, but they also spike on the first day of every month and the first day of every week. And that’s an important point. “Something about days that represented ‘firsts’ switched on people’s motivation,” says author Daniel Pink. It “opens a new mental account” when we can close the books on the past and open a new one. “We are mentally reborn.”

Pink identifies 86 days of the year when we can make new starts, some of which include: Mondays (52), the first day of the month (12), and the first day of each season (4), national celebrations, religious holidays, your birthday, the first day of school, the first day of a new job, anniversaries and the day you finish a big project.

“For last year’s words belong to last year’s language. And next year’s words await another voice. And to make an end is to make a beginning.”—T.S. Eliot

We all need and deserve second chances and do-overs, from time to time, and now’s your chance (at least one chance out of 86). Reset. Reimagine. Reposition.

(And I suggest you start with that “muddy boots on the kitchen floor” thing and reset it every Monday morning if you have to. Just sayin’.)