There are a host of well-known quotes about not living your life looking through the rear-view mirror. It’s good advice. You are I are made to be looking forward, moving forward, striving for what lies ahead. However, there is a way to keep your forward focus while still respecting the value of learning from the past. After all, none of us wants to live a life filled with regret. So consider this; come next December, if you were to take some time for reflection, looking back on all that you accomplished in 2019, what is it that you either didn’t do (or perhaps did do) that would bring you the most regret?
Is there a specific goal that if you don’t achieve it, will make you think this past year was a bust? Are there relationships that if you don’t take sufficient time to invest in (or avoid), will throw a wet blanket on your sense of joy and accomplishment for what you did this year? Is there a significant goal you want to achieve that will only happen if you are intentional to work on that goal a little bit at a time, every week?
You know what they say; when asked: “How do you eat an elephant?” The answer is “One bite at a time.” Maybe you want to write a book – that can seem daunting as an entire project (the proverbial elephant), Yet, writing a chapter doesn’t have to be much more than writing a 1,500-word blog. Heck, you can do that in an hour. So write one chapter a week, or one every two weeks.
My point is, think about what is most important for you to accomplish this year. If it’s a BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal as referenced in Built to Last – Successful Habits of Visionary Companies by James Collins and Jerry Porras), then break it down into bite-sized chunks.
Take time now to consider what will make your rear-view review, come this December, something to smile about!
With you on the journey to significance,
David
