I recently heard someone refer to the period between Christmas Day and New Year as “limbo”. The reason he did is because it is an awkward time between holidays – Christmas is over, but it is not New Year, and most people are still feeling the holiday vibe. This period is my favorite time of the year.
I typically spend time with family for the holidays, but during the “limbo” period, I take time out for retrospection. I look back on the year and each quarter to recognize the wins, opportunities for growth, impact had, experiences, etc. This exercise serves as a platform to let go of any regrets so I can create a new year fresh. This year, 2019, is special because I have the opportunity to plan for a new year and a new decade! So, the period of retrospection was the soon-to-end decade – 2010 to 2019.
Looking back through journals, pictures, memories and written goals, I am proud of what I accomplished in my personal and professional life during the decade and the growth I experienced as a result. Not everything turned out the way I envisioned, but that is the way of life. What I created and worked towards led me to where I am today.
I am thankful for insights I got from books read years ago to envision and write down the future I want. I wasn’t sure of what it would look like, but I gave it a shot. That vision and goals written guided my decisions and actions over the past 10 years. I’d like to share some of the things that worked for me with hopes that they help you create an amazing year and decade.
Dare to Dream: The first step to achieving anything is to envision it. Be clear on what you want. Dream it. Dream big! What do you want? By when do you want it? Write it down. One book that helped me with this is The Passion Test by Chris Attwood and Janet Bray Attwood. I often recommend it to clients and get great feedback.
Create Goals and Milestones: In order to get there 10 years from now, where do you have to be at the end of the first year? What significant milestones will let you know you are on track? Write down big goals with timelines. That helps fuel the engine of your dream and directs your thoughts and actions to those things that matter, thus making and keeping you focused and intentional.
Be Accountable: This is perhaps the biggest catalyst for my accomplishments. I understand the value of having a coach/accountability partner and make sure I find one even if I do so on my own. A coach/accountability partner will serve as your co-pilot, riding shotgun with you, cheerleading you throughout the process and making sure nothing stands between you and your goals – not even you! I encourage you to find a coach – it may make the biggest difference!
Better Time Management: The more I focused on my goals, the more I guarded my time from distractions. I have come a long way with managing my time, and I know there’s room for growth. Focusing on activities that forward my goals is my priority. Everything else comes later. Planning out my week and days ahead – like on a Sunday – has been a huge contributor to my time management. The One Thing by Gary W. Keller and Jay Papasan was a game changer here – it has helped me keep the main thing the main thing and finding ways to focus concentrated time on getting things done.
Focus on Growth: If you follow my posts, you will know that I am big on continuous growth. Our profession is one that challenges the professional to keep evolving and growing over time. One of my measures for growth is number of books and articles read in addition to number of educational events I attend. In 2019, my goal was to read 24 books. By the end of the day, December 31, 2019, I would have finished 29 books. For the new decade, I want to take on other goals including learning a new musical instrument, taking on a new sport and finding a new hobby.
What makes the coming decade extra special is not only that I have the opportunity to create it, but I have clarity to create what I want! What are you intentionally creating for your future? Share your thoughts.
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