New year ... new energy, baby. I'm back and ready for action. And speaking of action, a lot of joes and jills out there will be taking some ... for the next couple of weeks. They'll get fired up when the ball drops in Times Square and get started on losing that holiday weight or deep-sixing their consumer debt. Then you look up a few weeks later, and those New Year's vows are down for the count.

Too many times, I've met 300 pounders on December 31 who checked in at 310 by the end of January. All too often, I've met a bunch of someones who make that get out of debt vow, only to be deeper in the hole a few weeks later because of Christmas credit card bills.

It's the start of a new year, jack. You're at the beginning, the cusp, the 1 of 1 through 10. Take it one day at a time and make 2008 a year for the ages. It's up to you, so take it seriously. Don't be someone who wimps out when a challenge steers in your direction. Walk one day at a time, be deliberate when you make a budget or buy something, and get control of your dough. DO. IT. NOW.