There are some certainties to the typical January workday. There are no free treadmills at the gym, lots of leftover cookies floating around and my rationalizations such as “I’m not really breaking the resolution if I …” But I’m convinced there are a few B2B resolutions that are easier to keep.

What makes a good resolution? I present to you my rules for making resolutions you’ll remember in 2013 and the B2B pledges worth making:

Rule: Keep things in perspective. The old “mile in another man’s shoes” keeps you in check and preserves your own footwear.
Resolution: See what your audience sees. If your customers are all walking around on their iPhones, why do you cling to that Blackberry? Treat yourself to a new tech toy and go where your users go. Your insight will be a survey of one, but it’s one more than what you started with.

Rule: Cheat. The best goals don’t involve deprivation but incremental steps toward a goal. I’m not questioning discipline here, but what is an accomplishment without the journey to get there?
Resolution: “Cheat” to better yourself and your company. Don’t restrict yourself by the confines of a job description, the old way of doing things or the comfortable space you’ve settled into. Learn more about sales. How does code on a website really work? Be ‘I’ shaped.

Rule: (Wo)man up. There are shortcuts and things that are out of our control. But get an attitude about it. It’s your goal and you’re going to achieve it, garsh-darn-it.
Resolution: I wouldn’t recommend a “Remember to set the ‘Out of Office’ message” tattoo, but a little dedication or routine can go a long way, especially in the eyes of the customer. Develop a social media policy and stick to it. If you have a blog, update it regularly. Falling behind on the maintenance and perpetual website improvements your customers demand? Why? Make it personal and stick with it.

Small changes? Sure. That means they are obtainable and over time could make a significant difference in your cookie-laden place of work. Think of how different 2013 could be if you met just a couple tiny goals in 2012.

Here’s to a great year ahead.