In my 1st post regarding the 2009 Annual Review, I mentioned what I had done previously for annual reviews, what I did differently in 2008 (and on), and what my overall process is today. There is an item I would add to the list for my goal-setting system.
Goal-Setting Team-Up
If you have been reading me for any time, you know I am a huge fan of having a team to ensure your success and hold you accountable. People are what help to make success significant!
Chad, my roommate, friend and partner on SuccessFit.net, asked that we hold each other accountable to have our year planned out on our wall calendars by December 31st. We set a date on December 31st to go over each other’s calendars, as well as plan out group social events.
So, I would add to the list of my Annual Review steps “Have a accountability team or partner, and set goals together.”
Warriors, Choose Your Theme…
As I have done my annual review over the last few years, I recognized themes in each. The value of identifying a theme before a year is to set your mindset in the right place. The value of reviewing the year and seeing what the theme actually was is to summarize the overall lessons you learned and milestones you accomplished.
I find that I have an intention for each year as it starts, and that by the end of the year it has grown and evolved into so much more.
Here have been some of the themes from the last few years.
2001 - Awakening - I became aggressively aware for the first time, really. This
2002-2004 – Growth – I must have read through a hundred books these first few years. I became a tried and true bibliopheliac. Now, I cannot read a book without owning it! Its the only thing I collect.
2005 - Expanding - Traveled with Semester-at-Sea, started working with a powerful real-estate developer, and began expanding my time perspective, thinking in terms of legacy and life vision.
2006 – Stepping Out – We started doing seminars and community development
2007 – Maturing – We lost everything in the down-turn of the economy, and I was forced back into the employment world.
2008 – Re-Alignment – Taking the opportunity during employment
2009 – Stabilization, became Master Visioneering – This was the year that I set out to stabilize, as well as move into my 30′s with a clear vision for my life.
2010 – Launch
Now that I have Master Visioneering complete, this year is already set up for launching. I feel that last few years of personal growth and lessons learned have culminated in the Launch this year. Even though 2009 started out in an attempt to stabilize from significant losses, it really rounded out perfectly.
Goals Accomplished
Relationships:
- I worked with good friends and people I enjoy through my projects: humanitarian work in Haiti with CPIHaiti.org and my good friend and partner, Kenny Ellis, my Principles in the Raw project with my friend and work-out buddy, Jason Northington
- I obtained massive clarity on how to lead my friends and community in 2010 to spend more intentional, quality time with them and still remain productive.
Work I Enjoy:
- I managed to obtain management position with a Fortune 500 company and work with people. This is a job that I thoroughly enjoy. That’s not bad considering I went from unemployed and almost homeless, to working in a greeting card store, becoming Assistant Manager, to joining this particular company and am a general manager-in-training,..all in about 9 months. And its REALLY not bad considering the economy!
- Along with that, I managed to travel to Haiti 3 times, once to pioneer, once to bring a group of organization leaders, and once to bring our biggest team yet. This opened the door for a second organization partnership which will make its trip in Summer 2010.
- Managed to effectively serve 3 clients to success with not deviating from my values and terms (teaching and growing the client in the area of values and schema, helping them become self-sustained; not saying ‘yes’ to everything, etc.)
- Launched my Sparked Social Web Development initiative. The goal was to provide free websites for non-profits or community-development workers. With my hosting and domain services finally set up through www.OpulentInternet.com, they can purchase a domain and hosting. I then help set up their sites and help with visioneering and educating their team all for free!
- I obtained a ton of clarity about what has become The State of the Spark, a glimpse of the legacy I want to leave, and a strategy on how I want to accomplish it.
Fitness & Health:
- I managed to maintain a fit state of living, working out intensely (a “level 8-10″ at every workout) 2-3 times a week, sometimes more.
- I also was able to improve my times in all fitness areas (cardio, strength, endurance, balance, etc) measurably. Timed exercises ALL were lowered and all of my Olympic lift weights increased.
- I can also perform hand-stand push-ups! BAM!
Provisional Interdependence:
- Managed to publish 1 book (my goal was 1) with Jason Northington.
- Have another manuscript almost complete, as well as 3 more outlined, and a business plan for the launch of the brand (this is referring to Principles in the Raw, though the site is still under construction.)
- Also published and eBook, The 7-Day Homework, and have gotten significant response to it, even if it IS still in beta.
- Have outlined several projects with Kenny Ellis (Haiti partner) targeted toward equipping development workers and missionaries just starting out.
- All of these projects were completed with people that I enjoy working with and derive great satisfaction from.
Unintentional Successes
After reviewing my Master Vision, I found that several of the goals had begun unintentionally. You could say that they manifest subconsciously, or divinely, depending on your point of view.
Two goals, “I teach youth in 3rd world countries to use the internet and free resources to prosper” and “I teach leaders in 3rd world countries to systematically prosper”, have begun to form. Or, I at least am forming a vision for accomplishing this work through CPI and our work in Haiti.
Failings
Let’s face it, we fail. Well, I can’t speak for you.
I fail. I fail big. Now, don’t worry; I don’t let it get me down! I see it as just part of human nature at times. Though I believe I should be moving with a samurai’s level of discipline, I fall short. Here’s where I fell short this year.
- Eliminate unhealthy language. Honestly, a well-timed swear word is just plain humorous. I did fail at this, but we will try again this year!
- I did not stick to my 30-minutes-per-day meditation time. I use this time to get focused and intentional about the person I want to be. Uh, yeah, I missed this one, too.
- I did not eliminate coffee. Honestly, I am not so sure I even want to yet, which will make well-near impossible to commit to getting rid of!
Coming up in the last post of the 2009 Annual Review I will declaring the SMART goals I am setting my sights on,..and explain what SMART means (if you don’t already know!)
See Also: 2009 Annual Review Part 1 of 3, 2009 Annual Review Part 3 of 3
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Photo by Jesse Dill
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
What an awesome post, many great points. The buddy system is an excellent method for goal accomplishment. It helps so much to have another person, by your side, holding you accountable.
Happy New Year!
-Dena
Dena, Thanks for the response. The buddy system is a missing element for so many people. (Our group even coordinated all of our social times so that our travel/hang-out time was synched. That way, we can focus in on our work and not feel that we are “missing out”.)
Did you make your changes I read about on http://denabotbyl.blogspot.com/ alone or with a team?