Plan to Have a Great Year
Robert Fisher
Utility Director | Entrepreneur | Co-founder of Living Better in the Later Years
Success in the coming year will look different for every individual. For some, success might look like effectively harnessing opportunities to make a substantial improvement in one's life. For others, life improvement may be solving difficult problems or enduring tough emotional challenges. For most, it will be a mixture of both. Regardless, planning will help.
The Objective
Create a plan for success in the new year. Identify goals, objectives, and behavioral enhancements that build upon past successes and address areas of concern.
Nine Things to Know
1. Mindset - The set of personal beliefs about the world and yourself. It influences how you think, feel, and behave in any given set of circumstances. What you believe about yourself, others, and the world impacts your potential for success or failure.
2. Goal - A level of performance to be pursued. Ideally, goals are defined as S.M.A.R.T. (see below)
3. Objective - A specific decision, action or singular achievement to be pursued.
4. Behavior - How someone acts. This includes physical actions (i.e. what one does and/or how they do it) and the use of language (i.e. what one says and/or how they communicate a message).
5. Habit – A behavior repeated regularly requiring little conscious thought. Habits include behaviors tied to any activity ranging from eating and sleeping to thinking and reacting. Habits can be changed and are developed through reinforcement and repetition.
6. Performance - The combination of Results Achieved and Behaviors Exhibited (P = R.A.+ B.E.).
7. The Cycle of Continuous Performance Improvement – the execution of four sequential process steps in perpetuity. The four steps:
Note: Process steps 1 through 4 are repeated in sequence, ad infinitum in the continuous pursuit of personal improvement.
8. S.M.A.R.T. – An acronym that describes the ideal attributes of an effectively formulated goal or objective:
9. KISS – The acronym for Keep it Simple, Stupid. A reminder that sometimes the simplest approaches are the best approaches.
1. Commit to a Cycle of Continuous Performance
Use the cycle of Goal Identification, Action Planning, Action Execution, and Performance Assessment described above, and use it in perpetuity. By doing so you can raise the probability of building the life you desire.
2. Adopt a Positive Mindset
What you believe about yourself, others, and the world impacts your potential for success or failure. Adopt a positive mindset that promotes personal growth and embraces the active pursuit of personal goals and objectives and the development of more constructive habits. The approach to such growth should commit to continuous learning, hard work, and a willingness to capitalize on personal mistakes and confront deficiencies.
3. "Start with the End in Mind"
We borrow this phrase from Steven Covey. Describe in thoughtful detail how you envision yourself and your circumstances at the end of this coming year. You now have a target to pursue and a basis upon which to plan for.
4. Know and Understand Your Starting Point
You build upon a foundation. To create a future “to-be” state requires an understanding of the current “as-is” state. Use Living Better in the Later Years Key #12: Assess Your Year to guide your effort to assess and better understand your “as-is” state.
5. Write it Down!
It is hard to beat a man with a plan. Harder yet to beat a man with a written plan. The mental blackboard in your head is a fickle partner. Avoid the pitfalls of mental ambiguity and faulty memory by writing it down. Describe your goals and plans on paper or in an electronic file – doing so will allow you to more clearly articulate your desires during the formulation phase of goal development and more easily refer back during the action execution phase.
6. Use S.M.A.R.T. goals
Build goals and develop personal objectives that use the attributes described within the acronym S.M.A.R.T. S.M.A.R.T. = SPECIFIC, MEASURABLE, ACHIEVABLE, REALISTIC, TIME BOUND
7. Define Needs, Wants, and Aspirations
To create a more psychologically pleasing set of goals and objectives, develop a range of outcomes as follows:
Using the approach above allows for two things:
8. Plan Some Quick and Early Wins
In your plan, build goals and objectives that can be achieved quickly and without extraordinary effort. Early successes (and periodic ones across the year) can fuel continued effort toward your goals and objectives. Note: Consider breaking up large goals and substantial objectives into pieces. Schedule these pieces as interim steps that can be achieved over defined intervals, thus accomplishing a similarly satisfying quick-win effect.
9. Use a Repeatable Process
We advocate adopting and using the same approach and planning tools every year. Of course, we advocate the Living Better tools. Regardless, use and slowly adapt these tools over time as your mental, physical, and psychological fortunes grow.
10. Print It/Post It
Now, save your plan electronically in a spot on your computer, tablet, or phone for ready access. Print out a copy and post it prominently in your daily environment. By so doing, you allow your plan to remind, inspire, taunt, and tease you to higher levels of performance. Note: Carefully consider the level of privacy your plan requires and adjust your postings as necessary to maintain confidentiality where required.
11. Establish a Plan for Performance Tracking
It is easy to convince yourself that you are progressing to plan if there is no data upon which to refer. Create a tracking sheet to capture appropriate performance data and monitor trends.
12. Review for Goals and Objectives Regularly
We recommend that you read your plan weekly, review the progress made at least monthly, and schedule a thorough performance assessment with yourself (and others possibly) quarterly to include at year's end.
13. Plan for Interim Performance Assessments
We recommend that you review progress made at least monthly (preferably using the data and trend information captured in the earlier best practice). Schedule a thorough quarterly performance assessment with yourself and/or possibly a partner or trusted friend. See our quarterly check-in sheet found here for your use.
14. Celebrate Victories Along the Journey
Regular positive reinforcement and occasional rewards can help fuel future efforts. Enjoy a pat or two on the back.
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15. Evaluate Poor Performance Along the Journey
The journey toward higher performance seldom occurs in a straight line. When events interrupt progress or periods of lagging performance occur, assess your efforts carefully to understand the causes. Then, make effective course adjustments to get back on track.
16. Adjust for Changes in Circumstances
Life circumstances can change – such changes often present both opportunities and challenges. When they do, review your plan and intended goals and objectives; adjust them as necessary.
17. Plan for an End-of-Period Assessment
At year-end, use Living Better in the Later Year’s Key #12: Assess Your Year to guide your effort in personal performance assessment. Use the knowledge and understanding of your new “as-is” state to start your next cycle of continuous improvement and fuel your plans for the ensuing year.
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Now let us start the goal identification and action planning phases of your Cycle of Continuous Performance Improvement. A planning template is provided here to guide your efforts. The template is designed with the following in mind:
Refer to the one-page planning template you can download here. Before proceeding, take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with this template. Complete the following TWELVE steps to create your plan for a great 2024.
Step 1: Fill in your name and the applicable year in the header
Step 2: Create a one-line VISION statement for your life
What will the end of your life look like for you and the important people in your life? Project ahead to the end of your life. Describe in simple terms how it all went and what your definition of personal success looks like in the end. Example: Be a fully functional, contributing member of society at age 90.
Step 3: Define your MISSION statement in one line
During your time, what impact do you intend to have? What contribution will you have made to the world and others during your time? Describe this in simple terms. Example: Make a positive difference in both the lives of my students and my grandchildren.
Step 4: Identify the three or so VALUES you want to emphasize in the coming year
Identify and list those values or principles that will most effectively guide your behaviors in the coming year. Describe each in one to five words. Values and principles more often address "how" you will conduct yourself versus "what" specific result you are striving to achieve. Example: Be a more thoughtful neighbor.
Step 5: Define PERSONAL goals or objectives for each of the 12 KEYS to a long and fruitful life
For each of the twelve key areas listed below, take a moment to reflect on your performance throughout the past year. Now, consider what behaviors you might change in pursuit of a longer and more fruitful life, and document your planned actions and goals.
Step 6: If applicable, define those objectives and goals to be pursued and/or achieved jointly with your SPOUSE/PARTNER
Your spouse/partner is the most important relationship in your life. This relationship has highs and lows over time. When you commit to honest assessment, open communication, and working together, navigating both the highs and the lows can yield a stronger relationship. List those agreements on goals and objectives you plan to jointly pursue in the coming year. Likewise, consider those commitments you might make in the coming year to embrace an opportunity for celebration or address weaknesses you might demonstrate in your relationship. Examples:
Step 7: Define your personal goals regarding extended FAMILY members
Similar to Step 6, take the time to define your goals and objectives for the relationship with each important family member. Example:
Step 8: Define your personal goals regarding FRIENDS and COLLEAGUES
Again, similar to Step 6, take the time to define your goals and objectives for the relationship with each important friend or colleague. Your time and energy are limited, so take care to focus on truly meaningful and helpful relationships. Example:
Step 9: List the targeted development areas for PROFESSIONAL growth at work/business and at home
List planned projects to be completed at work or business and/or at home.
Step 10: Define your WEALTH STRATEGY and associated goals and risk reduction efforts
Your wealth helps define the boundaries of your life's possibilities. Protecting your wealth and growing your wealth are thus essential. Be deliberate and thoughtful in defining relevant goals and objectives to enhance your financial well-being and reduce your risk. While it is often more fun to consider how best to grow wealth, do give equal time and thought to how best to protect your wealth and thus safeguard your family circumstances. Example areas might include the development of contingency plans, the purchase of insurances, or the implementation of improved safety practices. Examples:
Step 11: Define your END OF YEAR FINANCIAL MEASURES AND GOALS
Determine and write down the numbers that describe the level of financial prosperity to be achieved by the end of the coming year. Targets might include income, cash flow, savings (or assets), debt reduction, and/or net worth. Example:
Step 12: Review and reconcile your final product
Once complete, set your plan aside. Commit to revisiting this plan several times. Conduct the first review of your finished product tomorrow morning once you have had a chance to “sleep on it.” Consider a review by your spouse, partner, or a trusted friend or colleague. Encourage them to ask intrusive questions and provide constructive feedback. But, only do so if you are able and ready to listen and thoughtfully consider such input. As part of your review, reconcile the entirety of your plan for the coming year. Take time to reflect on the achievability of the whole of your plan. Remember, you only have so much time, energy, resources, and ability to focus. Reconcile, or trim, your objectives, goals, and actions as necessary. If appropriate, consider designating some objectives, goals, and actions as aspirational to help rationalize your plan. List aspirational items in italics. Doing so will help temper your level of satisfaction and ongoing motivation as you assess your performance throughout the coming year.
Summary
Congratulations, you are finished! You have just dramatically improved the chances of having a great year and, in the longer term, a better life.
You are ready for 2024. Go get 'em!
The 12 Keys are sponsored by the good people at Living Better in the Later Years and are powered by their hopes for your long and fruitful life. Consistent with the intent, feel free to share the content herein with others as you deem appropriate.