Women’s Independent Press

By Barbara Schwarck, PCC, MPIA

The end of a year can have an emotional pull in polarized directions.  To our left we see our accomplishments, celebrated victories, new friendships and relationships and to our right we see heartbreaks and incompletions.  Depending on your personal wiring you will tend to keep one side closer to your vest.  But regardless of your focus, I recommend you take five minutes and make a list of all your accomplishments including the areas of relationships, spirituality, recreation, wellness, family, health, etc.  All too often we forget to include these areas and instead focus on things such as raises, new cars, vacations and weight loss. 

Then take another piece of paper out or use you electronic device of choice to make another list citing the areas that are worthy of improvement.  What did get done but not in the way you would have like to have seen it?  What could you have done better?  Make a list of the important items using the same areas you used above and be creative in your approach to improvement.  Maybe you could have asked for assistance.  Maybe your goals were not realistic or you lost focus.  Last but not least, make a list of all those items that did not get done or were bumped off the list. 

The other emotional pull at the end of the year or end of a period or an era is naturally towards our future.  Be intentional and take some concerted time and think carefully about the goals you put on this list.  What do you want?  What is your vision for yourself, your family or your department?  Where are you headed in your life?  I know these are big questions but it is important to take time to think about it.  The only difference between us and our four legged friends is the fact that we can dream and create visions.  Let’s use this wonderful gift that we have.

It helps to break goals down into time periods.  What are you going to accomplish within the next two months, six months and 12 months?  Do you need to access any resources to be successful?  Do your wants and goals align with who you are and your values?

Be specific.  If you want to lose weight (and that is the most popular goal on Americans’ lists), be specific about the amount and the time period.  How are you going to do it?  Are you going to start exercising, eat sensibly, join a diet program, and work with a partner?

Whatever you do, it is not important to be perfect.  Just take a piece of paper and get started.  Pick something small, be specific and break the action steps into bite-size pieces and you can’t go wrong.

Global Executive Coach and President of Clear Intentions International (CII), Barbara Schwarck has coached hundreds of executives, leaders and entrepreneurs from around the globe to be truly exceptional through a unique methodology using Neuro Emotional Coaching™– executive coaching combined with neuroscience and its implications for change and leadership.  CII is a people development company offering executive coaching, leadership training and assessment services for professionals, public servants, global leaders and influencers who want to free themselves from emotional and behavioral patterns that prevent them from being truly exceptional.