In preparation for a successful new
year, I have found over the past twenty years that achieving my goals is
influenced by my taking time to plan. Planning provides an opportunity to
objectively assess previous performance, determine what opportunities are
available, design a Vision for the New Year, define desired outcomes, establish
priorities, and develop a realistic action plan. My plan becomes the blueprint
that charts my path to “being my B.E.S.T.” and facilitates achieving goals. The
following five steps are fundamental to establishing your B.E.S.T. plan.
Step 1. Conduct a personal self-assessment.
Before deciding where you want to go this New Year, take an inventory of the
past year. What went well? What were some of your challenges? Were you at your
personal B.E.S.T.? Direct your
assessment to 5 key areas of your life- spiritual, health, finances, family,
career. Think about what information is needed to assess your performance.
Identify the objective data that you need, and seek feedback from individuals
who will be honest with you and have your best interest at heart. Based upon your review of self, identify key
discoveries. What strengths do you want to build upon as you go into the New
Year? What areas do you need to direct your attention because they may inhibit
you from reaching your goals? Overall, what emerges that is important to your
future? Having clarity about your current
state is essential to creating a realistic plan.
Step 2. Develop your personal Vision. This step focuses on creating your picture
for the New Year. It’s your dream about how you see yourself, what you are
doing, what impact you are making. Make a visual picture- create your Vision
Board. Use your imagination and don’t limit your view regardless of past or
present circumstances. Your Vision should be inspirational and a catalyst that
ignites you to get up each day and do the things that are necessary to get to
your desired future state. A personal Vision provides direction and
aspiration for a better quality life.
Step 3. Identify your desired outcomes and priorities. At the end of the New Year given your Vision,
what results do you want to see? Make sure your results can be measured. For example,
if you want to have more money, how much? Now comes the hard part- identifying
your priorities. Our tendency is to want to do too much. Accomplishing your
outcomes will require strategic focus. So where do you need to direct your
attention? I want to be healthy and from
my assessment recognize that I must lose weight. To lose weight, I could focus
on multiple areas (nutrition, physical activity). Given each of these areas has
multiple components, it probably would
be more effective if I chose to focus
on one area and mastered it. Then move to the
next area. Outcomes are sustained better when we establish priorities and focus.
Step 4. Establish your goals and actions.
For each priority area set goals that are specific and measurable. Be bold- stretch-
go for it! Don’t forget to identify the time you want to
complete the goal. What actions must you take to accomplish your goals? Do you
have the resources needed? If not, how will you get them? Integral to achieving your goals is defining
how and when you will measure to ensure your goals are accomplished. “That which gets measured gets managed.”
Step 5. Document, review, and make your plan easily accessible. You need to write your plan down and put
it into a format that works for you. Equally important is to identify a place
for your plan where you can see it. I am visual and my Visioning Board is on a
wall in my bedroom and the home screen
on my Ipad so that every day when I awaken I see my Vision for the year. Based upon my goals, priorities I develop my
Monthly To Do’s that detail my specific actions and I include these on my IPad
as well. Finally, I establish dates on my calendar to monitor my performance. You
can’t follow your plan if it is not visible.
It is time to get started! Today, establish your
planning date and get it on your calendar. Make sure you allocate an adequate
amount of time. Depending upon how much pre-work is needed, your planning time
will vary. December is my planning month. I set aside two half days; it gives
me a chance to self-assess one day and then after reflection, return to
planning focused on using what I have discovered from my self-assessment. Make sure you select a place to plan that is
free from distractions, and stimulates your creativity. For me that place is
the beach. Annually, I return to my favorite beach and find a secluded spot.
Sunshine brightens my spirit, the ocean breeze and sound of the waves creates a
stimulating environment for me to think. Location
matters. Don’t let anything prevent you
from taking the time to plan and make 2015 your BEST!
