2018 A YEAR IN REVIEW

When the Holiday Season comes and goes one thing comes to mind, New Years Resolutions. I don’t know about the rest of you but I honestly don’t even remember what my New Years Resolution for this year was. 

As the end of 2018 approaches I can’t help but look back and think about how this was a year of change for me, a year of opportunity, a year of soul searching, and ultimately a year of experiments.

I recently attended an informative workshop during the Women In Entrepreneurship Day by Rachel Lubchansky and Sarah Krivel where the topic of discussion was about setting goals for 2019, and how to do that in such a way to not get overwhelmed. While it was an extremely informative talk, I’m not going to get into what I learned, as these ladies do this for a living, coaching others.

Instead I’m going to talk about how I am going to use this New Years Eve to make a few resolutions that will actually have impact on my life in the coming year. Resolutions, that can be quantifiable when 2020 comes along and I do the 2019 Year In Review. And I intend to make resolutions I won’t forget at the end of next year!

But first, how do you make upcoming goals without taking stock of what you’ve accomplished in the past year? It can be daunting to look at a year in its entirety and put your finger on exactly what you accomplished. When you work for an organization in the corporate world or a traditional job setting if you will, it is generally part of your year-end review process. But what if you don’t have that kind of job? What if you are an entrepreneur and have your own company and no boss telling you that you have to look at what you accomplished the past year and quantify it. Well, if that is you, then here are a few tips of how to handle that for yourself, without feeling overwhelmed.

1. Look back at the past 12 months and write down for every month, from January to December one thing you accomplished each month. (could be something small, could be something big, but its something that made you feel proud of the accomplishment).
2. Look ahead at the next year, and write a quantifiable realistic goal for every month. From January to December of the coming year, what is it you hope to accomplish?
3. Then Look back again at the past 12 months and write down something you wish you’d done differently, for each month that could have given your life a different outcome as the year rounds out.
4. Finally, once you have your quantifiable goals for the year ahead, write a positive affirmation next to each one of them. Something to keep you motivated, and write down a single person for each goal that can hold you accountable. (an accountability coach).

My feeling is if you do these 4 steps, that you will be giving yourself a road map for a successful year ahead. Now, everyone has their own definition of success, which is why your 4 lists will be unique to you and your life and career. Choose goals that speak to you and your dreams, keep it specific to your future, and how you intend to get there in the coming year.

For me, I know that I have things I want to accomplish in 2019. But I don’t feel I can seriously articulate them until I feel good about quantifying what I accomplished in 2018.

Finally, when your lists are done, make 2 copies, (I like to laminate them). Keep one in your bedroom night stand, or taped on your bathroom window, and put the other in a place where you will carry it wherever you go, (this one could be portable size). But the best way to make sure you stick to your goals, is to keep them with you at all times.

Check out this article from FORBES published in 2013. 

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

~Lisa Kathryn-Marsh Sanders - Founder The Art Of Brand Strategy, LLC

This article is an opinion of one individual and the opinion was not influenced by any firm or company or other individual.