Values-Driven Resolutions (and a worksheet, too!)

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I’m not a huge fan of New Year’s resolutions. Too often they seem to reflect where I feel like I’ve failed in the year before. Lose weight, be more organized, meditate more often. It’s the same every year and my track record for keeping them is very poor.

This year I’m trying something different and I hope you’ll try it with me.

I’m considering end-of-year resolutions that are driven by my values. Just as businesses close out their financial budgets at the end of the year, I’m reviewing this past year to understand where my time and energy went. I want to be more intentional about my efforts in 2010. Like it or not (and honestly, I don’t like it) our time and energy are finite resources.

2009 has been an intense year for me. I completed coach training and earned my certification. I’ve shifted my consulting business into a coaching practice with a clear focus. I built and rebuilt my website to include stronger branding, online business functions and a blog. I’ve invested in training and mentoring, which have benefited me and my clients enormously.

All sounds great, right? Well, that’s where the end of year review comes in. Here are some of the things that were draining for me: I’ve bought information products that have gone untouched, books that will likely never be read and attended events of questionable value.

According to the Kolbe Index, I’m an extreme “factfinder” and a pretty strong “quickstart.” This combination certainly drives my tendency to acquire information in an impulsive way. My Inner Factfinder also contributed to some situations where I waited for “complete” information that was never going to be available. I was afraid I would fail without enough facts and my hesitation cost me some opportunities in 2009.

The other thing that I have noticed about 2009 is that I spent way too many late nights on the computer.  The vast resources of the Internet and all those other blogs are Bright, Shiny Objects for a info-holic like me and I don’t even have the nerve to total the hours that go into my web spelunking.

So how does this affect 2010? Based on my end-of-year review, here are my clearer, values-driven resolutions and the benefits of each.

• I will wait at least 24 hours on any decision about acquiring an information product or a book. (If Santa brings me that Kindle I’m pining for, this is really going to be a challenge.) I will feel less overwhelmed by having untouched resources stacked around my home and office.
• I will notice where I am hesitating while waiting for facts and ask “so what if I went ahead?” And then plunge in. I will fail more often (which is okay!) but will learn more quickly and profit more in the process.
• I will attend events that are relevant and I will seek more active roles. I will get my message out into the world and create new connections with people.
• I will implement systems to structure my time during the day so that my evenings can be a time of renewal for myself, family and friends.

You can download my Year End Review Worksheet as a Word document if you want to create your own review. Here are the steps:

1. List the activities for the past year
2. Assess what you gained from each
3. Assess what each cost you in terms of time, energy and money
4. Itemize the patterns that you notice based on activities
5. Create specific (not broad!) goals for 2010
6. Include the details of how you will benefit as you engage in those intentional activities

This exercise has already shifted my attitude about year-end. Rather than focusing on what didn’t get done in 2009, I have a clear, values-driven plan for making specific progress in 2010. Now I can work on detailed action plans for my new goals while holding the benefits in mind to keep me motivated.

Your turn. Please let me know if you discover something that surprises you.

Related posts:

1. From Calling to Creed

By Laurie Foley

Laurie Foley helps solo professionals discover their natural brand so that they can get clear, get noticed and get clients. Sign up to receive your free copy of The Inner Brandifesto, her popular guidebook full of brand-building exercises.