Dreaming of pretzels, baby rats and icecream

As we get closer to the end of the year, this is often when you start to think about what you want to achieve or learn or change next year. Maybe you’ve been tempted by one of the Vision Workshops or a Plan Your Year study days on offer. As I write this, I’m looking back at my own Whole Brain Goal Map that I created on 13 August. And if I step into the front room, hanging on the wall, is our Family Vision board. And I have my vision board on Pinterest too.

My Family Vision Board

Our Family Vision Board has images to represent pretzels, Germany, baby rats, icecream, PBs at 10k and 5k, drama classes, Strictly, birds in the garden, the £1 million house round the corner, a Spitfire, the London marathon and so much more. What is amazing is as I look at each of these, so much of what’s on my board HAS come true. We DID visit Germany. We DID eat authentic pretzels, we DID see a real Spitfire, we DID attract more birds into the garden, we DID acquire new baby rats, and my daughter DID do her first dance production. Not everything came to life – I didn’t run the marathon or get PBs in my running because of an injury; I didn’t make icecream; we didn’t have much of a strawberry crop.

What is important is that our Family Vision Board works because it hangs where we all see it every day. Every day we are reminded of what we want as a family. It kept the dreams, the visions, the plans in mind so that we DID book that amazing holiday in Germany. I’m loving the power of a Vision Board so much that I’m thinking of running an online ‘vision’ workshop between Christmas and New Year. Are you interested?

Before you jump in and plan next year …

What about this year? How did you get on? I am all for taking action, however before you jump in and plan next year, I think it is really important and valuable to look back and review what I have achieved this year. I am a great believer in journalling. I journal every week. I love reflecting on the progress I have made, not just in my business, but in my life. I love acknowledging what’s been successful, what’s gone well and what I am grateful for. It helps me to notice the small achievements. The small wins that gradually over time become big successes.

I believe that reviewing what you have done is an essential step before you plan next year. I know, maybe you’re thinking, “I don’t care about this year, I want to take action, I want success, I want to think about all the exciting things I’ve got lined up for next year”.  But honestly, it is so powerful. Give it a try.

First find yourself some quiet time and space. Allow at least 20 minutes. Take a blank piece of paper and a pen, and review your year. Here are five questions to ask yourself:

What 2015 goals did I achieve?

Think about what you have achieved and also, just as importantly, how did you achieve those goals. Spend time thinking about what contributed to the success. Who or what supported you? Of the goals you achieved, what was different? Were you more committed to those goals? Were they more important to you? Were they “I want to … ” goals rather than “I should …” goals? What is the learning in the achievements of those goals? What can you take forward to next year?

What was my biggest success?

What are you most proud of from 2015? What do you think of as your biggest success or win? What was important or special to you about it? And if you don’t have a biggest success, what’s the reason for that? Are you setting goals that are TOO big? Too much of a stretch? Or are the goals you’re setting too easy. Not challenging enough and therefore not inspiring you?

What didn’t go to plan?

Of the goals that you didn’t achieve or the things that didn’t go the way you planned or wanted, what happened? Did you set yourself an audacious goal but no plan to go with it? Although it’s not healthy to brood on things that go wrong, it is important to understand what went wrong and why, so that you can take those learnings forward.

What do I need to do more of? Or less of?

Sometimes when we bury ourselves in our business or become overwhelmed by the demands of our career, we forget to focus on what is most important to us. Now is the time to reflect on whether you are spending enough time on what is most important to you. Are you clear on what is most important to you? Do you need to worry less? Do you need to plan more? Do you need to spend more time with your children? Do you need to spend less time working?

What have I learned about myself?

What have you learned about yourself over the past 12 months? How do you deal with success? Or failure? What new skills have you learned? What have you found surprisingly easy? What was unexpectedly difficult? What can you take forward from the goals you achieved and how you achieved them?

Once you have reviewed the year just gone, you are ready to start planning for the next year. Share below – what is your biggest success for 2015?

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