Now that Christmas is over and the New Year is right around the corner (or here, depending on when you read this) you may be tempted to leave 2019 behind and immediately jump into 2020. Don’t!! Take this time RIGHT NOW to create a game plan of success for 2020.
You’ve probably heard it said that most people don’t plan to fail-they fail to plan. I’ve read studies that show that Americans spend more time planning their annual vacation than they do their retirements! So, if you want 2020 to be your best year yet you need to start now and create a foundation of success.
What to do first
Carve out time in the next week or so to pause and reflect on 2019. John Maxwell one said, “Experience isn’t the best teacher. Evaluated experience is the best teacher.” This is so true. Successful people take the time to think about their experiences and then adjust accordingly. So, take out your calendar now and block out 30 minutes on the calendar on your smartphone-this way you’ll get a reminder when it’s time.
What to do second
During your pause and reflect time I want you to take a piece of paper and divide it into at least these four categories (yes, you can add more categories!):
- Professional (Career)
- Relationships (Professional)
- Relationships (Personal)
- Personal
For each category I want you to ask yourself these questions about 2019. BTW-be honest with yourself. No one is going to see this, so you don’t need to “spin it” in your favor or try to protect yourself. So be honest and really listen to yourself as you ask these questions.
- What went well?
- What didn’t?
- For the things that went well, what can I do to keep the good times rolling?
- For the things that didn’t go well what would I do differently if I had the chance to do it over?
- What lessons did I learn from 2019 that I want to apply in 2020?
Of course-there are more questions that you can ask yourself, but these are great starter questions!
What to do third
Look at what you’ve written and create an action plan. Ask yourself:
- What should I do first?
- How would I define success in this area?
- Who do I need to connect with to help me succeed in this area?
- What does this connection look like? (Phone? In-person meetings? Coaching?)
- What should I work on next (and so on and so forth)
What to do fourth
Now that you have an action plan, PUT IT IN MOTION!! Then I’d recommend that at the end of March you check in with yourself to see how you’re doing on your action plan. Ask the same questions here…and then keep going or adjust accordingly and then move forward. At the end of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th quarters, do the same thing.
I wish you tremendous success and declare that 2020 will be your best year yet!
