In my job I sign a large number of checks, and other documents. Each year I think my signature became less and less legible. However, that statement would only be possible if something that was illegible can become even less readable. Last year at this time I made three New Year’s resolutions. One of which I was already offering excuses for not keeping by the 20th of January. The second resulted in this blog, the third was to sign every business check with a legible signature, Thursday last week, the heaviest day of the year, I signed over 100 checks. Each was readable, at least by my standards.
As I carefully signed these checks it occurred to me why some resolutions are kept the full year and why so many are broken in the first few days. First the resolution needs to have some importance to you, not a mere wish. I have wished for better handwriting since the 4th grade when a teacher suggested that I learn to type as she had given up on me. I have wished to be in better shape, trimmer, healthier. I have wished to read more, learn more, but never really made them important to me.
When I resolved to change my signature from a scribble to a legible name it was because I wanted my customers to know who they were doing business with, many never see me, some don’t know me except as the person who signed their check. I wanted people to know me! I had a reason that was important to me and that made the resolution important.
The second key to my success was deliberate effort. With each check this last year I had to pause, and write slow, at times I am sure I resembled the slow awkward efforts of a child trying to make immature muscles move in directions strange to them. There were times, I bet, I had my tongue protruding through my pressed lips as I finished the last effort filled stroke. I have actually voided checks this year because of a poor signature.
My list for 2012 has ten items not three and I bet knowing the secret I do better than two out of three. I’ll post them later so we can keep score, but for now l will sum up this year’s resolutions with this statement…
I resolve to live with purpose and with deliberate actions this next year.
David.
