At the end of every year, I go back and review how my year played out.
Here’s the questions I work through, so you can do the same:
• What worked?
• What didn’t work?
• And knowing that, what do I need to do more of?
• What do I need to do less of?
• What did I learn from the year, so I can set my focus for the next 12 months?
This is an important activity in my business and my life, and something I’ve done every single year since I’ve been in business.
I sat down for a day last week and reflected and set new intentions for the coming year. I noticed that this year felt different to me. I realised that as I’m nearing the end of my 24th year in business, this has been my most favourite year in business to date.
I didn’t beat my best business year financially (yet) and I didn’t win any awards (as I have in past years), but the gratitude I am feeling for where I am right now is immense.
I decided to record a podcast episode of my 2017 learnings, in the hope that by sharing them, I may give some insights which could help you. However, I kept putting off doing the recording this week. Herein lies learning number one…
Embrace The Activities Which Jazz Me.
I was putting off recording the planned podcast episode, because I was tired from a big year. I knew my energy was lacking, and that I would be recording a less than inspiring episode – which was definitely not what I was aiming for. I wasn’t “jazzed” about recording an episode.
However, this morning I was having a coffee and sitting on the balcony and I really felt like writing – I was “jazzed” about writing. Yes, there are many things in our business which have to be done. Oh boy, do I have some stories to share about some of the crappy tasks I’ve done in my time, but I’ll save that for another day. Or maybe I won’t ever bore you with that story…
What I’ve really embraced this year is outsourcing more of the jobs I hate, and embracing more of the jobs I love. And I have a plan to be even more “jazzed” in 2018.
Task: What do you absolutely love doing? Is there something you used to do in the past that you’d love to have in your life again?
Make a list of all the tasks you do in your business. Circle the ones you absolutely hate in red and start outsourcing them straight away. Circle the tasks you love doing in green, that’s the list you’ll keep. Everything that’s left, circle in orange – what would it take, to be able to outsource these?
Work With Clients Who Excite Me.
This year I decided to part ways with some clients I had been working with, and energetically through this process, some others parted ways with me. This was a very intentional process after my 2016 reflections. There was no animosity, and none of us parted ways on bad terms – we all parted as friends. What this did, is allow me to ‘call in’ some freaking rock-stars, and the results from the people I’m working with right now are next level! This is a real win/win, and I’m looking forward to calling in even more rock-stars in 2018, and helping them to think & do what they don’t even realise is possible right now.
Task: Think back to all the clients you’ve ever worked with. Who was your favourite and why? Create a list of the demographic and also the qualities that you enjoyed about working with that person.
Prioritize Things That Are Important To Me.
Over the past few years, I’ve been in a building phase of my current business. This has been my sole focus, and I had slowly let some other things that were important to me, slowly slide away. At the beginning of this year, I set my year up in the opposite way, and scheduled in one of my greatest loves in life as a priority – dance. The feeling I get from being in a dance studio is indescribable – it’s my happy place. This is where I let go of frustrations, where I rekindle my creativity, and where I get hot and sweaty.
I also worked my hours around my fiancé’s working hours. He has to answer to a boss, and I don’t. Setting hours that work for us, has meant spending more quality time with him. Being more flexible with my working hours has definitely been a big win for me in 2017, and has made me much happier so I’ll be embracing this even more in 2018.
Task: Create a weekly planner, and block out personal time first, before filling in business tasks. Stick to it, and it will soon turn into a habit.
I Swam In My Own Lane.
A piece of advice I’d been given years ago was to “know everything about your competition”. What were their programs? How much did they charge? Who were their clients? What was their turnover? And use this information to know that I was competitive in the same market.
Holy crap!!!!!! Whilst this may work for some people, it most definitely did not work for me and is some of the worst advice I’ve ever listened to! I was constantly questioning everything I did, feeling overwhelmed and I had no idea where I was heading – because it wasn’t MY vision or my plan.
This year I really put the blinkers on. I got super clear with creating my plan, and just got on with executing it. It did mean I had to grow a thicker skin, as really owning who I am and what I believe in brought out some haters on social media. But it has also allowed me to reach a whole new group of people who are inspired by me swimming in my own lane. Another win/win for 2017.
Task: What does your ideal life look like? Brain dump everything you can think of. Now, what do you need to do in your business to make sure you achieve that ideal life?
Embraced My Theme Year.
I’ve set themes for a few years now, but this is the first year I fully embraced it in my life WHOLLY, and not just in my business decisions. This year my theme was GROWTH, and every choice I made was by answering my question “will this add to the growth of me as a person, or to my business?”
I embraced taking exogenous ketones. I’m here to share my full truth, so I’ll admit I started taking Keto OS at the start of the year to help me lose weight, and it actually turned out to be a great business move. I had better sleep, better focus, high energy, and it helped me to pump out the most incredible amount of work this year which helped my business growth immensely.
I made some business decisions which were long term growth plans, rather than a quick ‘sugar fix’ type of growth. I’ll also note here, I believe we all need both!
We moved house, to be in an environment which better served us mentally.
I dug deep and got super clear about what was holding me back from achieving the growth I was aiming for, and have done more personal development this year, than any year previously. (probably why I’m tired – peeling back the layers of the onion is exhausting!!!). I’ve also completed a lot of courses this year which were specific skill gaps I had, rather than more general training. My advice to finish off here is be very truthful with yourself – what do you need to get to the next level?
Task: What do you need most in your business this year? Is it flow? Systems? Creativity? Engagement? Make a list of all the themes it could be. Discuss, meditate & feel into the word before you settle on your theme.
Ask For Exactly What I Wanted
If I wanted or needed something this year, no matter what it was, I asked. It’s amazing how close you already are to what you need, or how close you already are to someone you’d like to connect with. I take pride in how resourceful I am, and I love how much the people in my world love to help others. What goes around, comes around.
Energetically, I learnt a big lesson. Be very clear in what you are asking for.
In June, I decided I wanted to move. I made a list in my journal of exactly what I wanted; an apartment painted white with a beautiful kitchen, an office, a balcony overlooking nature and to be close to the beach. The time frame I wrote… before Christmas.
We moved in on the 13th December! My version of before Christmas was August. The universe delivered exactly what I asked for – before Christmas!
I’m so happy and grateful to have had such an amazing year in 2017. This is the year that the love of my life knelt down on one knee, on Waikiki Beach, and asked me to marry him. It’s the year that I launched the Global Thought Leaders Network. It’s the year that I moved in to my dream apartment.
Task: How do you want to start your year? And who can help you achieve it?
I’d love you to let me know below… what is your biggest lesson from 2017?
Happy New Year, and I look forward to sharing the “year of world service” with you.
