Planning for the New Year: Do it now!
Before we know it, the new year will be upon us. Questions are likely already coming to mind. Have both personal and business goals been achieved for this year? What of the New Year’s resolutions set earlier this year? Of the various goals and resolutions that missed the mark, what happened? What went wrong? Of those that did hit or exceeded the mark, what made the difference?
These are questions that must be answered to springboard into the new year. A plan must be in place well before January 1st to get off on the right foot. This means that there’s work to do between now and year’s end. Of course, the upcoming holidays can be a distraction.
And although it is important to spend time to get together and celebrate with family & friends, it is essential that work-life balance be maintained. Except, as the focus throughout the year is to ensure ample time is spent on the life part of the equation, now is the time to make certain the work component is not ignored.
A word to the wise… do not procrastinate! Do not push off planning until after the holidays lest the opportunity of moving forward as the ball drops over Times Square will be delayed. And, delaying attention to the tasks at hand for the time between Christmas and New Year’s celebrations is a recipe for disaster. Diligence will be lacking in the effort to just get it done.
With today’s challenges and economic uncertainty, there is no room in our lives for if, can’t & try — just do, as where there is a will, there is a way if something is wanted bad enough. It all comes down to commitment… relentless, unparalleled commitment!
Anthony Robbins says, “There’s always a way — if you’re committed.”
Yoda, of Star Wars fame said, “No! Try not. Do. Or do not. There is no try.”
And of course, Nike may have promoted it best with, “Just do it.”
The new year is a chance to start over — a fresh beginning. It is a good time to set new goals, change old habits and try new things. It is also a great time to revisit wishes, hopes, and dreams. If we do not use time wisely to get out of our comfort zone and our state of complacency, we will remain right where we are. Therefore, we must start our new year today, not in January.
I’ll leave you today with the following quote from Albert Einstein. I trust it will spur thoughts that I hope will be helpful as there are lessons to be learned in his words — actual ones for the world we live in today, and subliminal ones that can help us personally.
“Let’s not pretend that things will change if we keep doing the same things. A crisis can be a real blessing to any person, to any nation. For all crises bring progress…
Creativity is born from anguish, just like the day is born from the dark night. It is in crisis that inventive is born, as well as discoveries, and big strategies. Who overcomes crisis, overcomes himself, without getting overcome. Who blames his failure to a crisis neglects his own talent and is more respectful to problems than to solutions. Incompetence is the true crisis…
The greatest inconvenience of people and nations is the laziness with which they attempt to find the solutions to their problems. There is no challenge without a crisis. Without challenges, life becomes a routine, a slow agony. There is no merit without crisis. It is in the crisis where we can show the very best in us. Without a crisis, any wind becomes a tender touch. To speak about a crisis is to promote it. Not to speak about it is to exalt conformism. Let us work hard instead…
Let us stop, once and for all, the menacing crisis that represents the tragedy of not being willing to overcome it.”
Have a great week ahead. Act swiftly. Act decisively. Make it happen. Make it count!
