Reflection, white water rafting and goals

A colleague told me a story today about how he learnt to white water raft. You have to paddle faster than the river to stay in control. However when you get tired you need to find a space in the river to pull into to plot your next section. Once you have looked at the current behind and the current ahead and rested a bit, you can pull back into the river.

Looking back at 2019 I was reflecting on the ups and downs of the year. It's something I like to do before I start to set goals for the year ahead. I find jumping into goal setting for next year can be a daunting and sometimes overwhelming experience. And we are often told that most people who set New Year resolutions fail within 30 days! Not my kind of inspiration.

Looking back can be a great way to clear the decks for new inspiration. Here's how I cleared the decks to make room for my 2020 goals.

What did I do well last year? I was fierce in my conversations and had a deep sense of self belief. I had courage to start new things. I followed my dreams and kept my promises. I maintained my integrity and faced my challenges with a positive attitude.

What did I learn? I learnt new technical skills when I created my own website and built my online presence. I learnt about new industries and markets and lots of new commercial skills setting up my business. Through these experiences I learnt more about patience, tenacity and resilience than you can imagine!

Who did I connect with? Through my new business I joined business chapters and networking groups, connected with lots of new colleagues. I also made plenty of time for the most important people in my life, my family and friends.

Did my yearly plan align with my overall life plan and values? Yep it did. That's the bit that is really important. It's life by design not default.

My 2020 goals are many and varied. Looking back there are lots of things I can improve and get better at or plan for. What I do know is that now I have reflected a bit on 2019, the decks are clear for 2020. I'd love to hear how you plan to make 2020 you best year yet or even help define a plan that fits for you.