Sticktoitiveness

Have you ever wondered why some people don’t finish what they

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According to Grammarist.com, the word “stick-to-it-iveness” made its first appearance in the late 19th century.

It has largely been replaced with the two-hyphenated form “stick-to-itiveness” over time, and the no-hyphen form “sticktoitiveness” is rapidly becoming the accepted convention.

It seems that most people couldn’t be bothered to stick with adding all those hyphens.

While that grammatical gem makes me giddy due to its irony, our tendency to abandon our goal pursuits and healthy habits sends my heart in the opposite direction.

New Year’s resolutions are broken, professional development plans are swept away by the tides of day-to-day work, and otherwise constructive work habits remain potential rather than practice.

To maximize your odds of sticking with a long-term improvement objective, remember your ABCs:

AWARENESS
Know your enemy. Your brain is wired to maintain. Stay alert.

BASICS
One new habit at a time. Small changes at first. Expect setbacks.

COMMITMENT
Amplify your why. Make a contract with yourself. Enlist others to help keep you accountable.

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Unlike the way this post began, we’re at our best when we practice sticktoitiveness and finish what we start.