Here we are again – close to the end of one year (and decade!), and soon the beginning of the next.
As we find ourselves in this breather between Christmas and the new year, below is an exercise to help you take time to pause and reflect, before turning your focus forward to your upcoming objectives for the new year.
Please share this simple exercise with your family, friends and employees – we are all in this together!
“You wish to reform the world: reform yourself, otherwise your efforts will be in vain.” — St. Ignatius
Reflecting on the past year
- For the past year, what was your overall theme? I typically identify one to three words to use as “anchors” throughout the year — short and easy to remember, e.g., confidence, letting go, boldness, joy, achievement.
- What were your three biggest wins personally?
- What were your three biggest wins professionally?
- What were the three top lessons you learned?
- What was the one personal quality you developed in 2019?
- List the ways this quality helped you both personally and professionally.
Preparing for the new year
- Looking forward, what do you want your overall theme(s) for the new year to be? Mine for 2020 is “WISDOM” – which covers a multitude of areas: business, personal, relationships, and life in general.
- What are your top three personal goals for 2020?
- What are your top three professional goals for 2020?
- What personal quality do you most want to develop in 2020?
- List the ways this quality will help you move forward both personally and professionally.
I write these questions, and the answers in my yearly journal. I’ve recently made the transition from a paper journal to Penzu online, and the jury is still out on how well I like online journaling versus pen and paper… Do what works best for you!
Having this yearly record is insightful for looking back to see how the year started, the direction it took, and finally where it wound up — what was achieved, and what the next steps should be.
Remember, it’s not what you write in your journal — it’s that you write!
Have fun with this — set goals that stretch you, and choose memorable anchor words that will inspire you to stay on course.
My wish for you is that you take the challenges of 2019 and move forward into 2020 with confidence, courage and wisdom!
“Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson
Please contact me when you have assessment questions or need technical help – – Lindsay
* Click Windridge Consulting Newsletter to read past newsletter issues
A few of my Favorite Resources –
Books –
- Atomic Habits – James Clear
- Raise Your Game – Alan Stein Jr.
- Speed of Trust– Stephen R. Covey
- Anything by Dale Carnegie
Podcasts –
Enjoy!
