What a year 2020 is? With the good came the very bad and it swept people of their feet. No one saw it coming.
However, as individuals and institutions are trying to pick up what’s left, it is important to take stock.
Towards the end of the year, just like product-based businesses take inventory no matter how sophisticated their inventory system is, individuals too should do some inventory. As the year is gradually winding down, there is need to get some time off, step outside of the day to day distractions and look objectively, and honestly, at what you’ve achieved this year and what more you want to do.
Rather than looking backwards in a critical way, it is more helpful to look back over the cases and projects that you have achieved with lessons learned. This includes the things that didn’t go as planned why they didn’t and if they can still be accomplished.
Taking stock gives you that confidence to objectively focus on your performance and take your resolve with you on the next step of your journey.
Ready to take stock? Here are some steps to guide you as you do yourself some good;
Journal your year from January to December:
Go back to how you started the year, to where you hoped might have lead and what happened. Let’s do it this way; if you were told to put this year in a paragraph, what would it look like? Also include if there’s anything you wish had played out differently? Would you like to maintain the current pace, or see a complete change in 2021?
Journal your key tangible achievements:
This can range from tangible to the intangibles- wins, awards, client satisfaction, securing an appointment, getting a job, solving a particular problem in your life, or doing somethings right consistently. We know it is way easier to remember the things that went wrong, so compiling a list of wins, whether small or large will provide balance and help you with being grateful.
Highlight current opportunities that present themselves:
Have things not taken off as you would have hoped? The way things have played out may serve a clearer perspective or even different path you can follow in 2021. Through those occurrences, you may have learned more about yourself and even opened your eyes to the opportunities you have around you that you did not see before.
Tackle unfinished business:
You can call them resolutions, goals… whatever the nomenclature. What are your hopes -immediate and long term? Write them down, with the resolve to tackle immediately, the things that you wanted to do this year but didn’t get to do. You don’t have to wait till the 1st of January to do this. Keep the list as a fairly broad as you can and don’t give yourself unnecessary restrictive deadlines to avoid being stuck. Life is full of surprises, right?
Reach out:
No man is an Island. People are needed to help you in achieving some set goals. What ordinarily would take you three years to get done, can be smashed in eight months or less if you know and speak to the right people. Make a phone call to find out if certain trusted people can help you achieve certain goals or link you up with someone who can help you get it done. Also, if you find it hard to sustain the momentum, it’s time to get an accountability partner. Never walk alone.
Be grateful:
This is always recommended. Share the joy with those who have played a role in your life. Send wishes to those who have been pivotal in your life, specifying what they have done and show how much you appreciate them and look forward to spending more time with in the future.
You see, a setback can help you scale if you know what to do. Take the time to take stock. Your future self will be glad you did.
Are you willing to share what you are grateful for in 2020? Do share in the comment section.
