Getting what you want out of 2010

Happy New Year!

As I sit here and contemplate the passing of 2009 and reflect on the learnings and the victories...  I find my mind drifting to an ocean scene.  For me 2009 was very much like the ocean, the highs and lows metaphoric of ebb and flow of the shifting tides and the changing waves, some parts of the year the waves were monstrous and threatening and sometimes they were still and calm and refreshing.   Sometimes I felt like I was riding on the peak, using the momentum to carry me to great heights and some days I felt like I was being tumbled under an oppressive force. 

I love the ocean, its immense power, it's appearance as a playground, and its alluring and enticing unpredictability and somewhat threatening nature.  Similarly I love life, with all its highs and its lows, the ups and the downs because they are engorged with learnings. 

So to ensure I get the best out of 2010 and make the most of the 2009 learnings, I did three things.

1.  I allowed myself time to reflect
2. I got in touch with what is really important to me and what I want
3. I made time to construct a plan

New Year Planning Tool

Reflection time:

Contemplate your weaknesses they will lead you to make improvements, note down your strenghs they will highlight your opportunites for success, celebrate your victories- this anchors the taste and high of success and powers up an important driver to move you towards more achievement.

Get clear on what you want:

Start by writing down a list of everything that is important to you, keep going until you can't think of anything else.  Then take a highlighter and highlight the top 10 things that you believe are your highest values or you think are the most important to YOU.  The YOU is important here, what is important to you, not anyone else.

Finally on a seperate piece of paper think about where you spend most of your resoureces, specifically time, money and energy.  Highlight the top 5 things. Whether you believe it or not these actually highlight your unconscious values which are arguably your most powerful drivers.  

From these two groups you will be able to write a clear list of what is important to you and what you value most. 

For example I found that I spend a lot of time and money on networking.  I also spend time and money and energy keeping in contact with friends and family and colleagues, checking emails, on the phone, on facebook and catching up for a coffee or a chat. So from this I could clearly see that relationships and communication are amongst my highest values . 

Planning to get the best out of 2010.

Sue Lester, NLP practitioner and one of my friends and colleagues sent me this great easy and effective planning strategy for you to use. 

The New Year is the ideal opportunity for a fresh start, but before you set your desires for the year please take the time to sit down to reflect on what worked for you last year.  

Start by asking yourself the questions:

1. What worked well for me in 2009?
2. What would I like to improve on in 2010?
3. What is the one thing I would like to master this year?

Set your desires for the year on this template (I can email it to you or you can create your own using these titles: Purpose, Driving Question, Master Skill, then create a table with each of the areas you believe are important for example: happiness, spiritual/mental, personal development, relationship, health, career, finance, family.

Then once this has been done spend a moment expanding your thinking by stretching your imagination out to the end of this year to see which achievements are going to make you feel most fulfilled.  

2010 Plan Instructions:

1. Please write on the attached sheet 3 to 5 goals that you are committed to achieving in 2010 for each of the headings. Once you have filled it in print it off so you have your ‘one page’ plan for 2010. Make sure it fits onto one page so it is easily displayed.
2.  Do not write any more than five for each, and only three is ideal. When you have finished the list make sure you feel totally comfortable in achieving everything in it. Some goals may need boundaries i.e. Be physically fit for the rest of my life: boundary = exercise 1 hour 5 days a week, make healthy eating choices etc.
3.  The trick is that you feel motivated when you see the list and not overburdened.  Make sure there is no form of stress to be involved with this list. Make it light and easy to achieve. This will allow your intention to be very clear for the New Year and it will be based purely on your desires not your expectations!

 In addition, consider the following:

• An overall major objective for this year, like: “have fun” or “be here now” or “be myself”. Basically something you can refer to as your centre/anchor/rock for the whole year. Like your main intention that overrides all your actions.

• Write out your purpose i.e. to lead and inspire transformation.

• Think of a driving question that is going to get you the best results for the year i.e. “what is the ultimate strategy for continuing to harness my full potential while expanding beyond my imagination?” this will allow your unconscious to go to work for you for the year and create for you results like you could never imagine. Make sure the question presupposes the existence of the key elements of your purpose. Using words and phrases like ‘continue to’, ‘even more’ or ‘enjoying this’ will ensure this occurs.

• Decide on the one skill you will master this year that is going to ensure that everything you desire is fulfilled i.e. Time Management 

Wishing you fulfillment, success and health worth celebrating in the coming year!