We’re through the holidays and squarely in the New Year, and I’ve spent a lot of the year’s first few weeks talking to clients about their goals and hopes for 2011. It’s true: we all look to each new year as a chance to start fresh, to redirect our energy to the things we want to accomplish most. Looking forward is great, and it’s important. But as you plan the list of things you will do in 2011, it’s equally important that you look back, too.
- Reflect. Take inventory of what you wanted to accomplish. What were your wins? What didn’t work out? And what were the lessons you can take moving forward? Your 2010 inventory will arm you with the experience you need to be sure that, every year, your list of wins gets longer and longer.
- Let it go. Once you’ve given 2010 a good, hard look, put a lid on it. Too many people will hang on to what happened last year, and that won’t help you find success. Take those lessons from last year as exactly what they are: lessons, experiences to prepare you to win big in 2011.
- Write it down. As a financial planner, I urge people to write out their intentions and goals each year. This exercise gives you something to measure against when 2012 comes around. It will also help you find out what was really important to you. By doing this every year, recording intentions, measuring against them and then resetting, that’s the best chance to achieve your goals. It works for finances, but you can do the same with all your goals: health, recreation, business and spiritual.
Best New Year’s wishes to everyone.