A Goal Setting Hack: Connect the Dots
2 min read
Updated: Dec 24, 2020
Can you feel that collective rush to bolt into 2021?
In the coming weeks you’ll hear the annual battle cry to set goals for the coming year. Resolutions to make. Personal declarations to set.
A new start to a better year that will fulfill on goals and plans that were delayed or detoured due to the pandemic, uncertainty and the loss of the traditions of the traditional workplace.
WAIT!
Steve Jobs gave a powerful commencement speech at Stanford in 2005 and shared:
You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backward. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something — your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life.
Before making plans for 2021, START by connecting the dots. Connect the dots looking back is an acceleration strategy.
When I looked back on this year, my business was still in launch mode after 10 months of AML Leukemia treatment. I had no idea if I would have the strength. I had big goals, ideas and plans. And then the pandemic. In looking back, I saw a lot of firsts for my business. And gained more clarity on my mission and what success looks like on my terms. I want more of that in 2021.
Open your calendar and go back to January 2020. Pull out a list of the most important dates, events, meetings, accomplishments. Write what it led to, improved or simply why it was meaningful or why if it hadn’t happened it would have negatively impacted your year.
What were the new strategies that worked for you?
This newsletter launched in March and produced countless benefits from new clients to new connections and exposure.
New or improved ways of doing business.
New technologies level-up my brand, streamlined bookings and all of my content.
Virtual workshops. Who would have thought would be the life blood of my business?
An unexpected source of momentum.
Dedicated learning and courses I took produced new business strategies, content, certifications and were sources of inspiration.
See where your time spent was time well spent. And where is wasn’t.
Time spent on social media produced too much FOMO and fed the unproductive comparison game.
New doors opened when I dedicated time to networking.
Understanding backwards is a hack to gain clarity for acceleration. Think of it as slowing down to speed up.
Go connect the dots.
You'll recognize the GOOD in 2020. Yes, you did GOOD in this not-so-good year.
Let’s create the most extraordinary year to come.
Steve Jobs Stanford Commencement Speech HERE