The ball dropped in Times Square at the stroke of midnight, and the tartan-clad gnomes have erased the blackboards, officially ushering in the New Year. It is time to start anew … new hopes, new dreams, and a new list of New Year’s resolutions, goals and challenges awaits each of us.
Yes, it’s hard to believe we are already well into the first full week of 2010. So, what’s next for you? Do you have a personal plan to prepare you for success in 2010 and the new decade ahead?
The past year was a blur for me, it flew by too fast, and New Year’s day already seems like a distant memory. We have a Carroll family tradition on New Year’s day that starts off with Bloody Mary’s and brunch, and then quickly moves on to a full day of relaxation and TV viewing – i.e. Rose Bowl parade, Bowl games, etc. However, the most important part of our New Year’s day tradition (next to the Bloody Mary’s) for me is working on my personal plans for the new year.
For the past 10-15 years or so, personal planning has been an integral part of my New Year’s Day tradition. You will find me camped out in front of the big screen with the new year’s edition of the Zig Ziglar Corporation’s “The Performance Planner” working on my Dream List, Things I Really Want To Be, Do, Or Have list, and my Top 6 goals for the new year. This annual planning ritual takes between 6-8 hours to complete, and helps me to center on the plans, priorities and actions to be taken to reach my goals in the new calendar year and beyond.
Do you have a similar tradition or personal plan for success in 2010? If not, here are five things for you to consider in developing your plans for success in the new year.
- Finish what you started in 2009.
- Prioritize new projects and goals for 2010.
- Decommission the things that are not working.
- Remember it is okay to take a mulligan.
- Stay positive about your plans, your life and the future.
Also, don’t get in a hurry to fill up the blackboard. Stay focused and limit your personal plans to 5-6 major areas of emphasis, so you don’t get overwhelmed.
Devote the time necessary to fully develop your personal plans, and work on your Top ‘X’ list of priorities every day. Purchase a copy of the Zig Ziglar Corporation’s performance planner or a similar planning guide to help you work through the process, and keep things on track.
Best of luck for a happy and successful 2010!
COPYRIGHT © 2010-11 John Carroll