In Episode 012, we ask the question, “Are you ready for 2021?”
Benjamin Franklin said, “If you fail to plan you are planning to fail.” And sadly, that’s how many people approach each new year. We fail to plan. And having a plan is what this podcast is all about. Being intentional as we go into the new year of how we’re going to make progress in some specific areas of our life.
The process we walk through on this podcast is the exact thing we do as we end each year and as we approach a new one.
Annual Planning Process:
1. Schedule a Rendezvous
Literally, schedule the time where you’re going to do this. Put it on the calendar. Don’t say you’re too busy to do this. You might be too busy BECAUSE you don’t do this. This helps get your priorities in order.
2. Review the previous year
A. What were the wins?
If you had goals for the year, which one’s did you accomplish? How did you do? Even outside of your goals, what were things that went well? What did you enjoy? What were you thankful for? Start with the wins because it’s encouraging.
B. What do we wish would have been different?
Again, if you had goals that you didn’t accomplish, talk about why. What happened? What could we have done differently? Were they in our control or out of our control? You talked about the wins but talk through the losses too. They are real. How will we move forward from those losses?
3. Refocus your priorities
Based on your wins and wishes, what do you need to work on? What areas of life rose to the top that you recognize need to change, be improved, cut out, let go of, or whatever?
If you’re married, use a shared note on your phone to do this. We share four main goals as a couple: Financial, Relational, Family, and Bucket List goals. In our personal life we also have spiritual, physical, and professional goals.
Resources Mentioned:
Two-word purpose statement — www.onpurpose.me
Jeff’s Life-Plan Process — https://jeffmaness.com/do-you-have-a-plan-for-your-life/