The Power of Year-End: How to Finish Strong

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The best teams play hard to the finish. The most exciting races come down to people competing through the finish line. There is tremendous power in the final few weeks of the year – it is the final leg of the race. The power of year-end is finishing the race to the end, powering through while others are coasting. Here’s how you can do that.

What Might Get in the Way

There is plenty that can lead to coasting this time of the year.? There is the shopping, the parties, and the other end-of-the year festivities. Chances are your calendar has entries you don’t see during the rest of the year.??

A bigger obstacle is likely the influence and prevailing “wisdom” of the crowd.

Most people won’t follow the advice of this article.

Most people say (and act like) no one is working during the holidays.

Most people are in (whether they realize it or not) coasting mode.

Overcoming Those Obstacles

There are ways to get past the obstacles of the calendar and prevailing wisdom – let’s look at each.

Look closely at your calendar.? I believe that celebrating and time with your team is important and deserves to be on your calendar.? But look at all the entries. Are there any that don’t serve you and your goals and are distractions?? Are there any that you can minimize or even remove from your calendar?? Every one of these activities/commitments that you can remove is one more opportunity for you to finish strong.? I am not saying to be callous or uncaring – nor am I suggesting you hurt your long-term relationships with your decisions.? Rather, I am suggesting a balanced approach to the decisions you make with your times during the last month of the year.

And as for the opinions of others, here’s a general truth.??

If you want to succeed, do the opposite of the prevailing wisdom.

Think about it this way.? How many of those saying “no one is working during the holidays” will reach their goals for the year? How many of those treating December like a month-long holiday will be as successful as they could be?

Overcoming these pervasive and persuasive obstacles starts with deciding for yourself what you want and how you want to use your time to reach your goals.

Finishing Powerfully

Once you get past the common obstacles, here are ways you can finish strong and powerfully, using the last month of the year to drive better performance and results.

• Reconnect with purpose.? When things are hard or diversions exist, it is best to remind ourselves of our why. What is the purpose or meaning of your goals?? Focus on the purpose more than the target – the purpose is more motivating and galvanizing than the target anyway.
• Focus on your goals.? As important as your purpose is, the targets still matter. Use the last month to surpass the targets you set that are still in reach.? If the world has changed, or your initial targets won’t be reached, build momentum and belief now, so that next year this time your targets are in sight, or you have already passed them.
• Listen to your voice, not others.? You know what you want and need – and your purpose, resolve and goals may be different than others.? Listen to your voice, not the voice of the crowd.
• Go 10% harder.? Most people, most of the time, have a gear they aren’t using.? When we accelerate, especially when others are coasting, we can widen the effort and results gap quickly.? This may help you stand out as a performer in your organization or move you towards your desired results.? Remember that you are competing with yourself, not others, and yet the difference in your effort and resolve will be easily seen when others are watching.

Now is the time to accelerate, not coast.? And when you do, good things will happen with your results, and with your confidence and outlook as you move into a New Year.

A version of this first appeared on my blog.

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Have a great week – The resources below will extend this article and support you in getting Remarkable Results.

You are Remarkable!

Kevin ??

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We can create more focus for ourselves and others. Following these pieces of advice is a serious step in that direction.

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