Each year on New Year's Day I write down a list of New Year's resolutions. Most of them are garden variety resolutions – sleep more and eat better, for example – but occasionally I'll get caught up in the possibilities of a new year and commit to something I realize might be overly ambitious.

According to a recent University of Scranton study, I'm not alone. The 2014 research, published in the Journal of Clinical Psychology, says 45 percent of Americans make New Year's resolutions, but only 8 percent are successful in achieving their goals.

My stretch goal this year is to become SAS certified. That might not sound very scary to you, but for a trained historian who has built a career in marketing, achieving a SAS programming certification is pretty intimidating.

Thankfully, I have two factors working in my favor. First, I'm sharing the goal with all of you. That same study referenced above says that people who explicitly make resolutions are ten times more likely to attain their goals than people who don't. Second, I've chosen a learning goal rather than a lifestyle one. According to an article on resolutions in the December issue of the Atlantic, you're more likely to achieve "technical" goals, like learning a skill, than "adaptive" ones, like losing weight. Choosing a technical goal is easier because you can access information, increase your knowledge through technical training, and attack the goal in a logical manner. Choosing an adaptive goal is trickier because, you know, chocolate.

So if you want to choose a resolution that’ll stick, let me suggest increasing your SAS knowledge in the coming year. We can certainly help in that regard. In addition to more than a hundred courses covering every SAS technology, we offer eight certifications to help you distinguish yourself as a SAS expert. To help you prepare for SAS Certification, we offer a number of certification bundles at discounts of up to 50% off our standard fees. These bundles combine classroom training, e-learning, a certification practice exam and an exam voucher, everything you need to prepare for an exam.

If your expertise is in statistical data analysis, consider obtaining our newest certification. Designed specifically for analysts and statisticians, the SAS Certified Statistical Business Analyst Using SAS9 credential tests a user’s knowledge of SAS/STAT software to conduct and interpret complex statistical data analysis. We have a Business Analysis Certification package for this credential as well.

I hope you reach your goals, whether technical or adaptive, for the new year!