How To Have 20/20 Foresight By 2020

A year ago, I published my very first article as a Forbes leadership and careers contributor. And since that day, I’ve consistently posted five pieces per month for the last year—that’s 60 articles (not including this one). After some quick calculations, I realized that I’d written 44,174 words.

To put that in perspective: the average contemporary novel is about 90,000 words. If you had asked me last September if I thought I’d write half a novel’s worth of words in article form, I might have scoffed, believing it was too overwhelming. But looking back, I can now see that it was the practice of consistency and discipline that made this possible. That’s how hindsight works: you understand an event or situation only after it has happened. 

They say that hindsight is 20/20, but what if foresight could be 20/20, too?

Foresight is planning for what we think will happen before it happens. In the context of our careers, foresight can also be preparing for what we want to happen. It’s about setting goals and then taking small actions, regularly and deliberately over time, to achieve your larger objectives.

We have a little over three months left of the year, so there’s plenty of time to accomplish your desired results by year-end. Here are six ways you can ensure your foresight will be 20/20 by 2020:

1. Stop making excuses and move past your fear. 

Stop me if this sounds familiar: You’ve been meaning to get started, but you’ve been too busy. So and so is holding me back. It’s too risky.

Practice self-awareness to be honest about why you’re making excuses. Fear—of ridicule, rejection, or yes, even success—can manifest itself in weird ways, appearing as procrastination, self-preservation, or perfectionism. But the real damage comes from the inaction that fear enables. When you acknowledge why you’ve been stalling, you can finally get moving and make progress.

2. Get clear on what you want.

When you’re trying to accomplish something, clarity is essential. Take the time to slow down from your daily busyness to give yourself space to determine your objectives. And remember that clarity demands specificity: there is no room for a wishy-washy answer. The more focused you can be about your goals, the better.

3. Create an environment for success. 

Your environment always wins and impacts you far more than you realize. You can’t make significant strides without altering some elements of your environment, which includes your friends, colleagues, location, habits, and lifestyle. Manage your time by carving out space in your calendar for activities dedicated solely to achieving your goals. Surround yourself with people who support your goals. Remove distractions and negative influences. It’s not just the who, but also the what, that you surround yourself with that can either propel you forward…or hold you back. 

4. Take action.

Do you remember your 5th-grade science class? Isaac Newton had it right: an object at rest stays at rest, and an object in motion stays in motion. The only way to make progress is to take action and keep moving. Rather than get wrapped up in the enormity of your objective, focus on the task at hand.

5. Find an accountability partner.

It’s easy to be enthusiastic at the beginning of a challenge, but it’s far harder to maintain that grit and stay motivated as time goes by. Up your chances of staying on track by enlisting the help of someone to hold you accountable. Share your intentions, and ask them to check in with you to ensure you’re honoring your commitment. And if you mess up along the way? Try to remember that you’re human and practice self-compassion. Remember that your goal is progress, not perfection.

6. Don’t forget to look back.

Yes, foresight is about looking forward, but there’s great satisfaction that comes with the perspective of recalling how far you’ve come. When 2020 rolls around, step back, and compare your outcomes with your actions over the last four months. Chances are, you’ll be grateful for your wise foresight.

This piece was first published on Forbes.com. Find it here, and Amy's other articles here.

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?Amy Blaschka is a social media ghostwriter who helps leaders craft their stories and communicate and connect better. Contact her if you'd like her help.?

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