Nothing.

Not one red penny. Not one compliment. Not one product success. Not one award. Not even as much as a thank you for a job well done.

Nothing in life should be expected, apart from death. Entitlement is a bad place to begin the year. So while even I have said, “This is my year!” I know in my heart and mind that only one thing will make 2017 even a semblance of that which I want it to be.

Action.

Not talk. Not connections. Not wishing. Not praying. Not hoping. And definitely not dreaming.

Wake Up.

Unless you work, unless you commit to showing up everyday, unless you surround yourself with the right people, unless you read like your life depends on it (because it does). Winning won’t come from being mediocre. Average just doesn’t cut it for people like me and you. Life owes you nothing, make peace with this fact.

The world owes you nothing. You deciding that 2017 will be your best year yet doesn’t matter in the least. The world will beat you to a bloody pulp if you don’t fight back. Consider boxing. If you just wake up one day and decide you are going to be a boxer and put some nice gloves on and step into the ring with Floyd Mayweather, what do you think would happen to you?

Does your desire alone validate your dreams? No. To even have a chance of winning, much less dodging the rain of fists that are sure to come your way, you have to put in the work. You can’t feel entitled to a belt you didn’t work for. It’s the same thing with our dreams and aspirations and all the lofty New Year Resolutions we have set for ourselves this year. Without action it doesn’t matter what we think.

So resolve for 2017 to make less resolutions and to get more done. Plan, segment, set daily tasks and execute.

Take action.

Expect only that which you work for.