Year in Review and Why it’s Important to Plan for the Future

Every year, around this time as the snow starts to fall and winter gets into full swing, I pull out my “success action plan” and take a look at all of my goals and outcomes accomplished throughout the year and plan for the next.

I often get asked how and if I plan for the future and what I find most helpful. Over the years I’ve put together a master plan that keeps me focused on what’s important for not only my business but my life and well being as well.

Some people like to lock the doors for a week and plan everything all at once. Others like to go on a vacation to refresh and plan all at once. I like to take my time, looking back over the past year and figuring out what I learned and how I can build on that foundation and then start planning for a successful future.

I first start by looking back on the year:

• What went well this year? What am I most proud of?
• What did not go well this year? What didn’t go according to plan?
• What did I learn from the things that didn’t go according to plan?
• What was the biggest challenge that I overcame?
• What was my biggest A-Ha moment?

I find that these questions provide a great starting point on reflection and on how to best move forward towards success.

Once I’m ready to start planning for the new year I like to start by defining a purpose, outcome and theme for the year ahead. This sets the tone for all of the upcoming goals, actions and plans that I’m going to accomplish and I remind myself that 70% of success is not quitting!

For myself I’ve broken down my goal categories into the following (in no particular order): Business, Travel, Volunteering, Adventures, Health, Knowledge, Financial (earning, giving and savings) and my Friends and Family. What types of categories would you break your goals into?

Once my categories are broken down I ask myself three very important questions: What do I want to let go of, or stop doing? What do I want to feel? And what do I want to achieve? The answer to these questions dictate the goals that get written down under each category. Generally I stick to 3-5 goals per category with detailed actionable steps that need to be taken to accomplish these goals, along with deadlines for when they will be completed. As Napoleon Hill says:

“Knowledge is only potential power. It becomes power only when, and if, it is organized into definite plans of action, and directed to a definite end.”

It is important to note that everyone’s definition of success is slightly different. Just because society has a definition of what success can look like doesn’t mean that it’s correct or the path that will lead to your success. Set your own expectations and define your own version of success.

Your actionable this week: Create your own success action plan or sign up for my free crash course in marketing and get access to my success action plan worksheet template today!