A few days ago, the fantastic Pam Slim published a post on her site that centered around the notion of examining one’s progress and direction, six months into the year. I loved the idea immediately (and you should go read it ASAP). One of the best lessons I learned from my five years in corporate America is the importance of process, and a hugely important part of process is tracking progress.
Maybe that terminology is a bit buttoned up. If you’re yawning right now, take heart. All it really means is this: if you want to arrive at a particular destination, you need a plan. And then, every now and then, you need to compare what you’ve done and what you’re doing to that plan. It’s so easy to stray off course (and if that’s not the case for you, you probably shouldn’t be reading this blog; may I politely recommend that you write a how-to book instead? Or, you know, a how-NOT-to book, whatevs.) . And it’s easy to correct, if you catch it early on. It’s also easier to change course at that point, if you’re finding it’s not working out. But wait too long and the recipe’s ruined, the presentation is all wrong, the car has run completely out of oil…you get the picture.
Anyway, this has been, as I’ve mentioned, a year of tremendous changes. Lots of amazing opportunities. Lots of great experiences. And, naturally, a fair amount of confusion. A check-in, with some regrouping, seems to be in order right about now, and I thought I’d take a crack at Pam’s questions here.
- What are you going to focus on? Making my home a smoothly-run, happy operation. Building my business. Honesty. Love.
- What are you going to improve? The level of my fitness.
- What are you going to grow? My packaging and networking.
- What are you going to leave behind? The idea that I’m not allowed to set boundaries and expect others to respect them.
- What are you going to learn? French.
It’s good to see these here, in black and white; it helps to cement them in my consciousness. I focused my answers on both my personal and business lives; you may choose to focus on just one. I’d love to know what your answers are. Post them in the comments!
Focusing on: Testing the waters of a more varied business model. Having a healthier work/life balance.
Going to improve: The level of anxiety that I feel on a daily basis.
Going to grow: My readership; my relationships.
Going to leave behind: The mentality that I don’t deserve things.
Going to learn: To reward myself when I reach my goals…because so many of my reached goals go by unnoticed while I anticipate the next one.
Great goals, Sarah. Perhaps we can work on our goals together? Keep one another accountable and all that?
Focusing on: relaxing and loving what I have
Going to improve: yes!
Going to grow: a garden, time to laugh, my creative portfolio
Going to leave behind: the idea that the goal is the thing
Going to learn: how I write and market a non-fiction book
Thanks for sharing, Michael. I have no doubt you’ll get there. And, to you and anyone else who happens to share their goals: if you’re interested in keeping focused on your goals with me, let me know!