I DIDN’T POST A RECAP OF THE LAST YEAR OR DECADE. I MADE A PLAN.

These past few days, I enjoyed watching people showcase the highlights of their year or the past decade (Ava Duverany’s was one my celebrity favorites). Several of my friends, family, other celebrities and people I happen to follow on social media platforms presented the best parts of they remember or at least have a photo to connect to it.

Some of the most touching posts were from those who struggled in the last ten years or who overcame something deeply challenging. To read how they made it through and built up the courage to keep going was definitely an inspiration.

But I personally felt no need to post a recap. However, I did reflect. I reflected on my relationships with family and friends. I thought deeply about how I can be better at both. I reflected on my business decisions (I purchased a new business this year and my law practice reached its five year anniversary).

I also spent a lot of time thinking about my goals for next few years, realizing rather coldly that when I’m ring in 2030 (prayerfully), I would be closing in on FIFTY! YIKES! And that my oldest son will be in his mid 20’s. It seems so far away and yet so close.

When I sat down to set my goals, I VISUALIZED by doing the following:

1. I pictured where I wanted to be in 2 years. Where would I be living? What would my children being doing?
2. I thought about each one of my businesses. What would they look like? Who would I be servicing and how many people would I be employing? Would be in the same physical locations? Would I have other businesses?
3. I thought about my health. I’ve had a few injuries and scares this year.

After I visualized these things and more, I made a plan. Since I work on so many projects, I find that daily action plans are the best way to keep me on track. If I can sit ahead of significant period of time and determine what it is I need to do and just follow that plan, I am more likely to stay on track. So here are a few things I did next:

1. I made goals and plans based off of the 12 Week Year theory. I encourage you to read the 12 Week Year by Brian P. Moran and Michael Lennington. If this doesn’t work for you, find a foundational theory of productivity that you can stick to. It will make designing your goals and plans, easier and make you more likely to see results.
2. I made a 12 week plan for my health, finances, each business, each podcast, and my non-profit. EACH ONE HAS AN INDIVIDUAL PLAN. My goal is to leave nothing up to chance. In order to be successful in each of these areas, the objectives and initiatives must be spelled out and must produce the intended results.
3. I sat with a good friend (who also happens to be an attorney) and we discussed our goals and objectives for the year. We essentially cross-examined each other on our goals. Having to defend or question whether your objectives were moving the needle is a great to make sure you are setting yourself up for success and not just writing down things to make you feel like you have plan. The plan needs to be capable of producing the RIGHT results.
4. I used a virtual assistant to create a 12-week content plan for two of my three brands (I had already done one for the third brand).
5. I looked at my morning routine and made it more optimal for completing my goals and more realistic based on my lifestyle, which includes 3 children and going to court. In building the morning routined, I thought about the
6. I put the plans where I can see them. They are on a large sticky note on my nightstand; they are in my phone, and they are in my Best Self Journal.
7. I check in with my accountability partner daily. I simply send her a good morning message and ask what she has on her agenda for the day and send her back what is on mine. Knowing that at any point, I could have her call me on whether I had made progress keeps me in line. Putting it in writing yet another time also holds me accountable.

I did these things on Christmas Eve and have already seen the momentum growing from working on the tasks I set out for myself. Even in the midst of the rustle and bustle of the holidays, and then the very lazy days that set in, I found myself getting things done and not wanting to lose grounds.

Reflection is an important part of a success-driven lifestyle. I encourage it daily, in fact at least twice a day. You should reflect in the morning and in the evening. However, you should also think about action. How can you improve, even a little bit over what you did the day before? What action will move you closer to your goals? How can you do that DAILY.

What are you doing to move closer to your goals in the next THREE MONTHS?