Can New Year Resolutions Teach Us Anything About Setting Goals?

I really wanted to avoid an article about New Year Resolutions, at this time of year they are everywhere.  I was going to avoid the subject but then I came across some interesting research on the subject of New Year Resolutions and characteristics of those that are successful.  This led me to wonder if these characteristics could be used in business or learning, as the characteristics are very simple I believe they can.