Goal SettingHabits

Finishing Strong: Gearing Up to End the Year

Where Did I Win?

Listing your wins helps you begin from an abundance mindset. And it’s easy to lose track of just how much you’ve accomplished. So make a list.

Review your calendar, journal, and planner (especially your Weekly Previews). What did you make happen in the last three months? What has that made possible? If it matters to you, it matters enough to write down—it’s not too small.

What Worked? What Didn’t?

What contributed to your success? Were there habits, people, or tools that moved you toward your goals? What drove the gains you experienced? What investments of your time and energy were worthwhile?

On the other hand, what held you back? Were there habits, people, or tools that caused problems? What made you most prone to fall into downhill work?

In this process, remember to give yourself grace. Be generous with yourself, the way you would be with a friend. And be specific. The specifics will help during the next step.

What Will I Keep Doing? What Will I Change?

Now, you want to maximize what’s working while eliminating what’s not—or at least mitigating its impact. Think about the power of subtraction here. What could you subtract so you can devote more time and energy to the activities creating results?

This step is vital. It turns reflection on the past into planning for the future. Make your changes actionable, starting with strong verbs.

Who Am I Becoming?

Before you delve into planning the next quarter, take a step back. Reconnect with who you are and what matters to you. Take stock of the unique goodness of this season of life and notice what you want to savor. Imagine who you want to be in ten years. How would you describe that person?

Remember: What you do shapes who you become. Aligning your daily activity with your aspirational identity will drive you toward your best self.

What Will I Focus On Next?

Now, it’s time to pick your new priorities. What goals will you focus on? What projects are top-of-mind? How do you want to spend your time? Answering these questions will help you begin to develop a plan to guide you into the future.

Remember to be specific. And get excited. You’ve still got 90 days left in the year. You can achieve your goals and finish strong.

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, we will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, we only recommend products or services we use and believe will add value to our readers. We are disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

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