Find Time to Reflect and Project

Have you thought about what you would like to achieve within the next twelve months? Have you taken time to reflect on what you've achieved over the past year? The end of the year is usually the time when we get reflective and when we think about the changes we would like to make in the coming year. We tend to reflect on the events that occurred over the year and resolve to do things differently in the coming year. Our resolutions are usually behavior-related: lose weight, be more physically active, or be a better person. rnThis time, how about doing things differently? How about if you start today to implement the changes you would like to see in the future? Don’t wait until tomorrow or the end of the year, start acting now! Reflect both on the things that left you with a feeling of satisfaction and the things that did not go well. What have you learned? After reflecting, project into the future—What would you like to achieve within the next twelve months? What would it take to achieve your dream? What have you learned so far that would help you now? Think about the things you would like to achieve, and think about how you can achieve them within your specified period. Are you thinking about replacing that old car that is costing you too much to upkeep? Do you intend to take a continuing education class to make yourself more marketable? Would you like to earn a few extra dollars? rnWhatever it is that you would like to achieve, approach it like you would a project—be specific about your outcomes; plan well; think about your budget; identify the resources that would affect the outcome of you project; develop milestones to keep track of your progress; implement your plan; and as your project year comes to a close, evaluate it, listing the lessons you learned in the process. With this type of discipline, you will be well on your way to achieving your desired outcome. Begin with the end in mind, and start developing your plan: · Specify your outcome – What would you like to achieve? What is your desired end result? When thinking about your outcome, think about why you want to start your project in the first place. · Plan your project – Have a brainstorming session and think about everything that is involved in planning your project. Think about the details. Make a list and jot things down as you think about them. · Consider your budget – How much would you have to spend to see your project to completion? How much would you have to save per month? Where are you going to get the money from to finance your project? · Think about resources – Who are the people that will affect the success of the project? Who can you count on to help you plan and implement it? What will their roles be? What can you do to win over the people who could cause your project to fail? · Develop milestones – Plan your milestones before your project starts. Specify dates by which you expect to complete certain things and monitor your progress on a regular basis, whether weekly, monthly or quarterly. Revise your project as your situation changes. · Implement your plan – once you get started, commit to seeing your project to completion. Share your plan with others so that they can offer moral support. · List lessons learned – As your project year comes to an end, evaluate it: Was it successful? What are the factors that affected your project’s success? What have you learned, and how are you going to use the information to help you in planning your next project? If you find time to reflect on the past and project into the future with concrete plans and a commitment to follow your plan, you will be surprised at what you can achieve in a year. Get your pen and paper or computer and keyboard, and get started!