Preparing for a Great Year - 3 Questions to Get You Started

“New Year’s Day is only the beginning… never forget the power in what you do with the other 364 days of the year. In each and every one of those days, you have the opportunity to create greatness, however big or small.”  ~ Michelle Weimer

The new year has arrived and although nothing magically changed at the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve, there is still a sense of hope that the new year always brings with it. A chance to hit the reset button and start with a clean slate.

So if last year left you disappointed at all, whether it was disappointment because the year didn’t go as planned or disappointment in yourself because you didn’t handle the year as well as you would have liked to, this is your time to hit that reset button and start anew. Because it stinks to feel disappointment. And even worse, is the sting of regret. We might not be able to control or change everything that is occurring in our world, but we can most certainly make positive changes to our lives. And in doing so, show up in a way that will leave you feeling happier and more successful along the way.

On this first week of the new year… let’s get you set up for a great year. A year where you can thrive regardless of the situations around you. (And trust me, you can. I have clients who had a lot of success last year despite the conditions around them.) And so with that, I want to invite you to grab that chance to begin again with open arms and to jump in fully…

Let's begin!

To successfully accomplish any goal, it helps to know where you are starting from. So I always like to start my plans for the incoming year with a reflection on the outgoing year. Think of it like the GPS on your phone. If your location isn’t on, the system can’t tell where you are and therefore can’t give good directions. Then you can set your goals. And finally, give yourself a theme to help keep you on track.

If you haven’t already done these steps for yourself, then today I want to share a few questions you can ponder to help you get prepared for a great year:

What were your successes in 2023?

I realize there were probably plenty of tribulations last year. But I would be willing to bet that if you think hard enough, you can find some good amongst the difficulties. Reflect on the successes (not just the failures of the previous year) to measure how far you’ve gone. However, what often happens at the end of a year, is people get so focused on all the regrets and things they did not accomplish that they forget to acknowledge what they did achieve.

Now I get it, you may not have as many successes as you’d like. And that’s okay… we can work on that! But all too often, when the focus stays only on goals you didn’t reach, it creates a feeling of disappointment, desperation and failure which is no way to start a new year! But if you take some time FIRST, before you set your goals for the new year, and make a list of all the successes (small and big) that you accomplished this past year, then you can set a foundation of support for more success instead of negatively only seeing the failures. Life is all about making progress. If you made progress, great! Acknowledge that. Sure, you may not be where you want to be yet, but that’s okay. Acknowledge the progress and then set your sights on what’s next.

What would you like to change or accomplish in the new year?

This is where you identify what’s next! Get clear on what your goals are for the new year. Write them down and sit with them for a while. Make sure you not only know what you want but why you want it. As you do this, I highly recommend using the Achieve! Success System to set up your goals and create a plan for achieving them. The system walks you through not only how to clearly line out your plan for success but also helps you identify what obstacles or roadblocks to be on the lookout for that can keep you from reaching your goals and how to overcome them.

What will your “guiding light” (aka: theme) be for 2024?

Many people believe in the power of having a theme or mantra for their year. You can think of it as the guiding light for your life. Whatever you choose to refer to it as, isn’t as important as what it is and what it represents! The meaning behind your theme is where the real magic happens. So pick one or two words to declare as your theme for the year. It can be something that ties together your goals or perhaps something you want to work on overall. What this does is help you stay on track as you take actions. If your actions align with your theme, then you are headed in the right direction. If not, then you may be off course. Use the light to guide you back on track to your desired destination. Here are a few examples:

• Love, Joy and Kindness
• My Year of Yes
• Confidence and Courage
• Be Present and Be Positive
• Peace and Freedom
• Commitment to Change
• Inspiration and Creativity
• Connection and Bold Action
• Consistency and Determination
• Self-Love or Self-Care

Again, remember that the meaning behind each of these themes is where the real magic happens. The theme or mantra is simply to serve as a reminder throughout the year. So be very clear on the meaning that your theme holds for you. Then write your words out and post them somewhere you will see them every day. Let them be your guiding light and your inspiration.

I really want to encourage you to take some time this week to fully answer the questions above. Hit the reset button and get ready to create a wonderful year for yourself!

***Get the Achieve Success System today by clicking Here!