We get some time out over Christmas when the inbox falls silent and we get space to think, reflect and possibly read some new books. All brilliant for refuelling our passion for our business and reenergising our ambitions.
A time for setting intentions
I keep a special journal that I only update at the end of each year. I write up what I achieved in the year and set my intentions for the year ahead. And I noticed a theme this year – I’d been setting the same goals year after year and not making any real progress on my big goals.
Of course, I’d achieved other stuff, but not the stuff I wanted to! I hadn’t kept my focus on what I’d purposefully decided was important.
What was going wrong?
I decided to dig in and see what was going on. Why was I failing to commit to the goals I’d set?
I realised 2 things:
1) I hadn’t kept my goals visible during the year
And chatting with a business-owner friend last week we realised just how many books and courses we’d started (and often not finished) and how much of a distraction they were from what we really wanted.
And yet I still want to achieve those same things that keep appearing on my list, so they must be pretty important, and deserving of some deep focus and commitment.
2020 IS going to be different!
Clearly, I need a different approach.
- I’ve written my business and personal goals on a piece of paper that I keep in my daily journal, and I’m planning the quarter, month, week and day using that list, so I’m always working on the right things.
- I’m having a strict ‘Say No” policy to anything that isn’t on my list.
- Every day, week, month and quarter when I do my reflection and planning, I’ll make sure that my focus is still where it should be.
In a world designed for distraction it can be difficult to keep focus, and if we start the year without the clarity of what we’re aiming for, we’re destined to lurch from one distraction and new idea to another. Not gaining any traction. Having another busy year but no further forward.
So, what are your intentions and goals for this year and how will you keep your focus on them, so that next December you get to say you actually did what you said you would!