As we prepare to give 2019 the swift kick out the door it certainly deserves, find - no, MAKE - some time to reflect on the year that was (and I’m not the only coach thinking about the value of reflection - sign up for this excellent newsletter to get your hands on early stage founder super-coach Robyn Ward’s year end tool, too).
My tight-knit group of friends from college, aka my personal advisory board (go Ephs!), came up with this list of questions to ask ourselves as the year ends, and before a new one starts racing away.
12 Questions for Year-End Reflection...
What good or bad decisions did I make this year? Why?
Where did I spend too much of my time? Not enough?
When did I heed my intuition? How did I feel when I did/didn’t?
When did small efforts to help myself and/or others yield a big payoff?
What were my successes? Failures?
What did I learn about myself this year?
How did I nurture the desires, talents, curiosity and creativity that are unique to me?
What moments/learnings do I remember, and which do want to hold on to for the future?
What brought me joy?
What brought me peace?
Who should I thank?
What accomplishments from this year can I celebrate?
And kickstart questions to plan for an amazing 2020…
What was my team missing in the past year that inhibited our growth or success? How can I get it for them?
What unmet needs do I have and how can I meet them myself in the year ahead?
What three things will I be able to say at the end of 2020 to consider it a successful, "good" year?
Taking time to do this can clear space in your mind and heart to ensure that the year ahead is a helluva year. So let's end with a toast - here's to looking back so that we can go forward to new heights in 2020.
*With apologies to Bruce Springsteen.