You Say You Want a Resolution

This is the time of year that people commit or renew their commitment to improvement.

People chat about New Years’ resolutions, maybe not as many as in the past, but still, about 30 percent of Americans will begin new or modified behaviors at the stroke of midnight this January 1.

It’s a 4,000 year global tradition, all the way back to the ancient Babylonians. They started the whole thing; except they weren’t making promises to themselves or any people they knew. They were making promises to their gods[1] and hoping to get a few blessings in return.

Vows during this time tended to support goodwill throughout the community, like paying off debts and returning borrowed items. It proved so popular that the Romans, never afraid to grab an idea, tweak it, and make it their own, began much the same practice around 45 B.C., coinciding with the introduction of the Julian Calendar. To kick things up a notch, the Citizens of the Empire would sometimes add an animal sacrifice or two to make sure Janus looked upon their resolutions with favor.

That’s not exactly how Americans approach the new year—we’re definitely more grounded about it—which makes sense given “resolution” as a concept rose to prominence on our shores in the mid-19th Century during an upswing in interest in self-help and improvement.

Today in the U.S., according to Pew Research, the most popular resolutions are related to:

  • Health, exercise and diet (79 percent)
  • Money and finances (61 percent)
  • Relationships with family and friends (57 percent)

As it turns out, the convenience store industry can have New Year’s resolutions, too, with continuing growth and improved efficiency at the top of a lot of lists. That’s great, because SSCS and its software can help operators achieve these goals, with long term support to help ensure you don’t slip back into the old, ineffective ways. Sound interesting? Then give us a call at (800) 972-7727—any time of year!

Here’s to a prosperous 2025!

[1] They had a lot of them.