Have you ever wondered what it really takes to achieve a New Year’s resolution? Or why so many well-intentioned goals quietly fade by February, leaving people puzzled—and sometimes discouraged—by their lack of success?

At the start of each year, motivation tends to run high. People resolve to exercise more, save more, eat better, reduce stress, or finally address tasks they have been putting off. Yet year after year, research shows that most resolutions do not last. That outcome is often attributed to a lack of discipline or follow-through, but the reality may be more nuanced.

That question—why change is so difficult even when intentions are good—is at the heart of The 6% Club by Dr. Michelle Rozen. 

Dr. Rozen is a social science researcher who studies behavior change and decision-making. I heard her speak at a Fidelity conference last year, and her work stood out for its practicality and realism. Rather than offering motivational slogans or productivity shortcuts, she focused on how people actually behave under real-world conditions.

The name The 6% Club comes from Dr. Rozen’s 2023 research, which examined goal-setting and follow-through among approximately 1,000 participants. While most participants began with strong intentions, only about 6% ultimately achieved the goals they set for themselves. Instead of framing this as failure, Dr. Rozen analyzed what distinguished that small group—and how their approach to change differed in meaningful ways (Rozen, 2024).

Several of those findings are particularly relevant as we think about goals for the year ahead.

Fewer goals, chosen intentionally

One of the most common mistakes people make is trying to change too many things at once. The individuals who succeeded did not attempt to overhaul every area of their lives. Instead, they focused on one goal that was personally meaningful.

This matters because attention and energy are finite. When too many goals compete for focus, progress often stalls. Concentrating on a single priority allows for clearer decision-making and more consistent follow-through.

Systems mattered more than motivation

Another key takeaway from Dr. Rozen’s research is that motivation, while helpful, is unreliable. Members of the 6% Club did not depend on feeling motivated every day. Instead, they built simple systems that reduced the need for constant decision-making.

Discomfort was expected, not avoided

The participants who succeeded did not interpret discomfort as a sign they were doing something wrong. They expected resistance, inconvenience, and moments of frustration—and planned for them.

This mindset is important. Change often feels uncomfortable, especially at first. That discomfort does not necessarily indicate failure; in many cases, it is simply part of the adjustment process.

Progress was measured realistically

Finally, the 6% Club focused on consistency rather than perfection. Progress was tracked in clear, attainable ways. Small wins mattered. Over time, those incremental steps compounded.

This mirrors the long-term nature of financial progress. Rarely does success hinge on a single decision. More often, it is the result of repeated, reasonably good choices made over an extended period.

Why this matters

As a financial advisor, I see many capable, thoughtful people who are frustrated not by a lack of effort, but by how difficult follow-through can become when life is busy or stressful. Tasks that seem straightforward—organizing paperwork, making decisions, or addressing financial to-dos—can feel surprisingly overwhelming in certain seasons of life.

What Dr. Rozen’s research highlights is that this struggle is not a personal shortcoming. In her 2023 study, only 6% of participants achieved their goals—not because they were more motivated, but because they approached change differently (Rozen, 2024).

As we begin a new year, the takeaway is not to try harder or expect more from ourselves. It is to be more intentional about what we choose to work on, and how we structure that effort. Sustainable progress, whether related to money, health, or other priorities—tends to come from small, repeatable actions that can be maintained even when circumstances are less than ideal. Over time, those steady decisions often matter far more than any burst of motivation.

On a personal note, I’ve had this book on my nightstand for several months and have been slowly working my way through Dr. Rozen’s research. I’ve always considered myself goal-oriented, yet this work has been a helpful reminder that pursuing too many goals at once can easily become counterproductive. I hope these insights are useful to you as you think about your own priorities for the year ahead, and I wish you a very happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year!

Reference

Rozen, Michelle, PhD. The 6% Club: The Fastest Way to Achieve Your Goals. New York: Portfolio / Penguin, 2024.

Kristina Bolhouse, CPA/PFS, CFP®

President

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