Tuesday
Jan032012
Building The Future
Tuesday, January 3, 2012 at 2:22PM by Jeanne Franklin 2011 was not a great year for too many people in our country. Many need a hand and need to push the refresh button. If you need a hand, here is one personal or organizational plan:
- Make a list of what you believe you achieved last year and what you think you’d like to get done in the next year; name your values; let the list sit “overnight,” and then take it back out to review with a rested pair of eyes;
- Allow yourself a strong pat on the back for the achievements – even if you had disappointments or losses you probably achieved more than you have allowed yourself credit for;
- Confirm or tweak future goals; list some steps to meet them;
- Reflect on your deeper values that you’ll observe in taking those steps;
- Consider ideas and age-old wisdom that remain a good source of advice although we easily forget and disregard less flashy suggestions;
- For example, check out early entries on this blog such as the entry in January of 2010 – “Pinning Hopes on a Bright Future” and “The ABCs” post of June 2010; see if anything there speaks to you or inspires;
- Address what gets in the way, for example, deal with conflicts and negatives that are lingering – resolve them as positively as posssible to get them off the shelf or off the books;
- Plan to prevent recurring disputes – are there predictable “traps’ to avoid and are there some best practices that could help you (and others with whom you interact) deal with stress, disagreement, do a better job of staying “up” - on focus and on track?; figure out how to extract value from genuine differences of opinion;
- Cultivate continued learning – it’s the gift that keeps on giving. (I wouldn’t underestimate the value of self-education through reading, and other exposure to new information);
- Look for and keep in mind possible resources that may be of assistance when you are encountering a roadblock;
If this plan sounds too simple or superficial, it is neither. Like a diet, productivity calls for ongoing, consistent effort. But support is needed from time to time to maintain that effort. We need confidence and hope. Read this plan out loud if you must to get it off your screen and into a different part of your brain. Then try it. Refreshing goals, motivation, values, and knowledge can provide a much needed boost. Good luck!