A Look Back

What are you most proud of this year?

As we dive in to December, many of us are looking forward to the festive holidays. Looking forward to the new year – a fresh start coming in 2023.

The thing is…I think we can get too caught up in looking forward.

Yes, it’s important to know where you’re going. Only then can you get to somewhere you actually want to go.

But if that’s the only direction you look, then you’re missing valuable stuff.

This last year… your most recent achievements. Your trials. Your experiences.

They are so full of insight and knowledge. Things that worked. Things that didn’t. Information you probably wish you had at the beginning of the year… am I right?

Don’t let it go to waste! Gather and interpret this data to fuel your next year.

But to do that… first, you have to stop. And look back.

I was just preparing for a roundtable discussion I will help lead this weekend, and it’s about reflection.

What better way to prepare talking about reflecting… than to do it yourself?

So that’s what I did. I blocked time to remember. To reflect.

I played some instrumental music and allowed myself to go back in time, earlier this year.

I thought I would share my process. Because it’s a little bit more than just remembering and appreciating. You want to turn this year’s experience into wisdom, action & fuel.

For me, it’s all about these 3 questions:

1/ What are you most proud of?

Identify key achievements, milestones, or progress you’ve made this year. Log these. Create a story around them. Have these mini-stories in your pocket to share so you can highlight recent success in a conversation (holiday parties?!). It’s important to tell these to build your “personal brand”. It’s also nice to have a handy list when it comes time for your yearly review or career development discussions. Importantly, have a little celebration for these achievements 🎉

2/ What was most challenging?

We often skip this… but remembering the hard times teaches you so much. It is said that experience is life’s best teacher. What made it hard? How did you react? What did you do? What worked well? What might have worked better? What is one thing you would change, right now, to set you up for even more success in the future?

3/ Who supported you along the way?

You cannot do great things alone. No one can. Taking the time to identify who made a difference for you this last year strengthens gratitude and humility – key leadership attributes. Even better… send a hand written Thank You note to these people. What better holiday gift than to be recognized for making a genuine difference in someone’s life? You’re strengthening important relationships, and who knows? Maybe they will help you again next year.

That’s it. Just 3 questions.

Block the time. Make this an important December activity.

And give yourself the gift of perspective, awareness & a strong foundation from which to launch a new year.

Happy time traveling 🙂

“Reflection is one of the most underused yet powerful tools for success.”

– Richard Carlson

Author of Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff