Do you feel it too? That the end of this year feels like a bigger deal that normal? Perhaps it’s because we’re saying cheerio to a decade and welcoming in a new one.
I know many of you will be setting goals, visions and intentions for January. Before you do, make sure you take time to reflect on the past 12 months.
Reflecting is such a useful tool – it helps us to look back at what went well, what didn’t go so well and how we can use our experiences to make improvements in the future. I make sure I do it every year.
It’s also a great chance to look back at our successes and celebrate them. Over 12 months it’s very easy to forget about the wins we had back in January – however big or small. It feels great to capture it all in one place. Give it a go if you haven’t already
If you need help on some asking yourself some throught provoking questions, I’ve pulled together my top 10 helpful questions that you can use to prompt you.
And not only that, I’m sharing my very own answers.
So, without further a do, here are my top 10 helpful questions to help you reflect on the year and secondly I’m sharing my very open and honest answers!
- The most important goal that I achieved this year was….
- What am I most grateful for this year?
- The skills I developed this year are….
- This year I broke out of my comfort zone by…
- A big mistake that I made this year and the lesson that I learned as a result was…
- My biggest regret of the year was…..
- I adopted this new positive habit
- I dropped this negative habit
- What one activity / habit / belief / something else am I leaving in 2019?
- If I could travel back to the beginning of the year, the advice I would give myself would be…
Interested to know my own answers? A teeny bit curious? I’m very happy to share…
1.The most important goal that I achieved this year was….
Just one? OK…my most important goal this year was to scale and grow my business. Both financially but also for the longer term success. Adding in semi-passive income opportunities, franchising a part of my business and delegating more. Realising I can’t do everything myself!
2. What am I most grateful for this year?
I’m most grateful that I’ve met some truly supportive and inspiring women in business this year. Women who have invested in working with me, women who have taken action, women who have shared their honesty, women who have inspired me. I have been privileged to spend so much time with some phenomenal women this year!
3. The skills I developed this year are….
I’m only just getting to grips with this, but not to take it personally when someone decides not to work with me, join my membership, attend one of my groups, unsubscribe from my emails or unfriend me on Facebook. I’ve developed a skill where I can’t take on other people’s hang-ups, reactions and responses and I’m ok not being the right fit for everyone. It feels great just writing that!
4. This year I broke out of my comfort zone by…
By not being put off by failure. This time last year I launched my first ever online course. And it bombed. I’d put so many effort in, invested in coaches to help me launch and I sold ONE course. I took a step back, created my own launch plan, worked through my own process and I’ve created a paid membership club, a busy networking group that has been franchised and twice I’ve had to close my books for 1:1 marketing consulting.
5. A big mistake that I made this year and the lesson that I learned as a result was…
Whilst I’ve invested in some wise and fruitful choices, I’ve also invested in some wrong choices. I did a brief amount of work with a new coach that the moment I’d handed over my money I realised wasn’t a good fit for me. I wanted a coach, but she turned out to be more of a consultant, a mentor. And whilst great, it wasn’t what I needed in my business mid-way through the year. I’ve learned to be even more diligent and trust my gut even more when asking for help in my business.
6. My biggest regret of the year was…..
For the first time in business, I actually have no regrets at all. Lots of learnings, but no regrets this year. First time in 7 years since I took the leap into running my own business.
7. I adopted this new positive habit
To worry less. Worry what people thought, people said and what people do.
8. I dropped this negative habit
I stopped comparing myself. Yes I keep an eye out what other people are up to. But I no longer compare.
9. What one activity / habit / belief / something else am I leaving in 2019?I
I am leaving behind the belief that I always need to be available in 2020. I’ve had huge success this year but I know my boundaries on work / home / me hasn’t been as I would like it. So in 2019 I am leaving behind that habit of ignoring my boundaries. New ones will be set and followed in 2020.
10. If I could travel back to the beginning of the year, the advice I would give myself would be…
When you see an opportunity, go for it! Trust your gut even more than you do!
And there you go! Some questions to ask yourself. I’d love to hear your thoughts on how this has helped you.
I’m Sam Dixon, founder of Thrive With Sam Dixon, a Marketing Consultant to ambitious businesswomen who want to launch, grow and scale their business with flexible marketing support.
For a free 30 minute discovery call get in touch by email hello@thrivewithsam.com or come join Thrive Collective, my monthly membership community. JOIN HERE.