You’ve made it to the final step of the Year End Review exercise! It’s now time to define, visualize, and plot where you’re heading in the new year. At the end of this stage, you will have more clarity and a plan to get the most out of your life in the new year. When you skip this step, your annual review remains mere entertainment.

This is part 3 of the year end review process.

If you missed it:
Part 1 - Collecting the Evidence
Part 2 - Putting Insights Into Action
Part 3 - Setting Up Your Processes and Systems

This blog outlines Part 3 - Setting Up Your Processes and Systems.

Part 3

Catapult into the New Year

Put your Dreams into Actionable Goals and Systems

Goals are good for planning your progress and systems are good for actually making progress.

Goals can provide direction and even push you forward in the short-term, but eventually a well-designed system will always win. Having a system is what matters. Committing to the process is what makes the difference.

It’s easier to focus on the outcome. But the goal is not in your control. By obsessing about the outcome, you prevent yourself from immersing in the process that leads to your outcome. As James Clear put it:

If you’re a coach, your goal is to win a championship. Your system is what your team does at practice each day.

If you’re a writer, your goal is to write a book. Your system is the writing schedule that you follow each week.

If you’re a runner, your goal is to run a marathon. Your system is your training schedule for the month.

If you’re an entrepreneur, your goal is to build a million dollar business. Your system is your sales and marketing process.

So, instead of obsessing over the outcome, think about the processes and systems required to get to your goal. Again, James Clear:

“You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.

Your goal is your desired outcome. Your system is the collection of daily habits that will get you there.

This year, spend less time focusing on outcomes and more time focusing on the habits that precede the results.”

What are the next steps you can take towards your goals? Be specific!
What are the daily/weekly/monthly activities you need to do to create your system?
What resources do you need in order to start making progress?
Who will you seek help from?
How can you create early wins and momentum?
How can you evaluate your progress?
What changes do I need to make to my environment to decrease the effort to create new habits?

I hope you find these questions to be thought provoking, empowering and motivating. At any point in the process, feel free to email me at salima@unleashforward.com with any questions, comments or feedback. I would be delighted to hear from you. Good luck!

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