Ending/Beginning of the year reflections have put me in a pensive mood for the last month or so. Confucius said, “Learning without reflecting is a waste. Reflection without learning is dangerous.” So here are my reflecting, observing, and learning of 2022 going into 2023.
Happy New Year everyone! I started picking intentions going into 2022 and feel like it’s been a game changer. No goals. Just intentions on how to live. Last year my intentions were: be flexible, be grateful, track my small wins, and be limitless. I think setting what I wanted at the beginning of the year left me open minded to opportunities. And I like that. Solutions.
In addition to my intentions, I set myself up for “jumps” every 90 days. I discovered this strategy through a Benjamin Hardy article on “10 Steps to Become a Millionaire in 5 Years or Less.” If being a millionaire is a side effect of doing this then yay. But I actually thought it was a great tracking and accountability system for creating my educational empire (I got dreams, y’all). I learned that Hardy actually discovered the 4 reflection questions from a coach, Dan Sullivan. I literally cannot find this strategy on the resources page so let me know if you do.
The original article by Ben Hardy, I printed it out to have a forever copy and it’s neatly tucked away in my notebook for reference. It’s a little different from the one that is currently up on Hardy's site. I pull it out every 90 days to make sure I’m answering the questions correctly. What it asks is for you to create 5 “jumps” that you can make over the next 90 days. I put mine in a checklist form. Then, I take this step a bit further and in a T-chart where I list the goal on the left and the steps or the mini tasks to accomplish that goal on the right. It keeps me accountable to myself and the motivation of using either the chain method or a simple checklist is so satisfying and motivating. I have the T-chart on my wall in my office so it’s always visible. I know what I’m working toward daily. It takes a fair bit of discipline, but it’s really helped me keep in mind what my goals are and breaks them down into steps. Sometimes, this seemingly had nothing to do with business, like health goals or saving and investing goals. But I think all areas of living come together to create a full and healthy way of living. They are interconnected.
At the end of the 90 days, I answer Dan Sullivan’s 4 questions:
Looking back over the past quarter, what are the things that make you proudest about what you have achieved?
When you look at everything that’s going on today, which areas of focus and progress are making you the most confident?
Now, looking ahead at the next quarter, what new things are giving you the greatest sense of excitement? (*This is a new one that was added. I like it and added it to my reflection questions too.)
What are the five new ‘jumps’ you can now achieve that will make your next 90 days a great quarter regardless of what else happens?
I’ve been doing this sort of 90 day check in with myself for the last four years. It really forces me to slow down and take stock of the really good stuff and where my energy and focus is going. I can reflect on the small things that made me proud, remind myself the things that strengthen my confidence (goodbye imposter syndrome), and use the momentum of things achieved to keep moving forward. If I wasn't able to meet a "jump" then I can adjust and pivot or even move it to the next 3 months to keep moving toward it (be flexible). Sometimes I even add more jumps if I checked others off the list to keep me looking forward.
At the end of the year, looking back at the 3 other check ins, it reminds me of how much work, love and effort went into creating my dreams. It’s an “on purpose” sort of life. My reflection is that 2022 was full. I went through major personal changes but I proved to myself I could be fearless in going after what I wanted, in a good way.
If you read my Instagram post at the end of 2022, you know that my intentions for 2023 are limitless, collaborative, focused and intentional.
Limitless, again. I will never tire of that word as an intention. Collaborative. I was so used to being on my own for such a long time in business. Pandemic also shut me away, and I do admit I was happy in lockdown though. The collaboration that occurred in 2022 was a surprise and presented me with new relationships and friendships that are priceless and I will intentionally bring more of it in 2023. Focused is something that I always thought I was pretty good at doing. But I noticed, I don’t want to focus on all the scary, crazy, and problematic things in my life and in the world. My intention is to be focused on the solutions. (It falls in line with my to-don’t list: watch tv or complain.) Focus on the magic and the positives. I can’t change the things I can’t change, the things I can, well limitless. Lastly, intentional. Intentional intentions. No more going through the motions. Choosing wisely. Being present. Being aware.
Loaded list for me in 2023. But full of hope.
John Dewey said, “We do not learn from experience... we learn from reflecting on experience.”
What’s your reflection and intention for living out your next 365 days?
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