If you’re reading this, you’ve survived Blue Monday - the day when you’re supposed to feel down or downright in despair because Christmas is over, you’ve over-spent, and your New Year’s resolutions don’t seem quite so much fun anymore.

Sorry if you’re feeling like that. Thanks to some some wise advice I was given years ago, if I did feel blue and it happened to be on a Monday, it would be nothing more than coincidence.

That’s because successful people don’t try to synchronise their lives with artificial calendars stuffed with This Day or That Day, but march instead to the beat of a different drum: their own.

As the Managing Director of a network named after a sheep, I’m aware of the irony, but I prefer to lead and take control of my own destiny rather than follow the flock.

It’s far easier to muddle along and be reactive, viewing life as a series of events that happen to you, rather than seizing the initiative and deciding how you wish to control your journey.

Over-spending at Christmas is fine if you spend less at some other time to compensate - so either save up and enjoy it (and avoid the blues) or pay for it later, emotionally and financially.

Resolutions can be galvanising and admirable, but why wait until New Year to be guilt-tripped into joining a gym when you could decide to get fit or keep fit right now, while you’re reading this?

Pro footballer, Reece Wabara, graduated from Manchester City’s academy and signed a three-year deal for a glittering Premiership future - but he didn’t enjoy the strict controls on his life, diet, training and performance. 

So he quit. And aimed for the goal closest to his heart: building his own fashion brand. It now turns over a £million a week.

The network I have the privilege to lead is full of people like that: franchisees who used to do what was expected of them but decided to take control of their lives and set greater expectations for themselves.

They’ll recognise my three tips for avoiding that Blue Monday feeling:

1 - Ask yourself what will make you truly fulfilled.

2 - Devise a personal and professional strategy to get there.

3 - Get all the support you can from people you can trust.

Belonging to a franchise network can certainly help with Tip 3, and a lot of Tip 2, as well.

And if you do find yourself feeling the Monday blues at any time in 2022, remember to think about your goals, create a plan, and work with people who can help you avoid a depressing feeling of déjà vu in 2023.

Thanks for reading.