There are two types of people in this world: those who make and keep New Year’s resolutions and those who do not. I admit I fall into the latter category, as my discipline generally fades by Jan. 3 or 4!

Making resolutions is about setting goals. Some of us easily establish goals for ourselves and are disciplined about following through with them. For example, some of us always knew that we wanted to be lawyers — and we even knew what kind of lawyers we wanted to be — and we focused laserlike on achieving that goal. Perhaps you always wanted to be an antitrust lawyer, so you made sure your education prepared you for that job.

Others, like me, never knew we would be lawyers but left ourselves open to life’s many possibilities. But I did not depend on luck to guide me. Throughout my life, I have placed myself in a position where opportunities could find me. And opportunities have continually appeared.

You, too, can take advantages of life’s many opportunities. Network widely so that wherever prospects open up, they are available to you.

Whether or not you make New Year’s resolutions, or stick to them, take several actions to advance your career. Add sponsors and mentors to your life. Make those initial difficult phone calls to seek out business development possibilities. Do not procrastinate! Arrange with a friend to send you an email, text message or Facebook message as a reminder, and do the same for her.

Whatever your goals might be in the new year, mark your calendars for Jan. 31. I will participate in a webcast sponsored by Kirkland & Ellis LLP and Ms. JD. Tune in as I talk about my career and gender equity in the legal field, and answer your questions about career advancement, entrepreneurship and much more. To sign up, click here.

Happy new year!

Laurel Bellows is president of the American Bar Association. Bellows will be posting regularly during her presidency to engage with young women lawyers and law students.