I am assuming you are well rested and rearing to go for this 2013 year… I certainly am, had my longest break ever and partly thanks to that, am very excited about this upcoming year.
I was really lucky to have a totally fantastic 2012 business wise, ‘Business Changing’ is going from strength to strength and we now have 4 of us working on various clients and some amazing client turnarounds and successes. For “me”, it is: part luck, part hard work, part good clients and part the output from achieving some of my own goals. Most clients I worked with had a good to great year and even those that did not do as well as we wanted, still moved forward “somewhat”…
So what is going to happen in 2013 business wise? If you do nothing it will mirror 2011/12 years as in you will be able to blame the below par economy for your non-performance. It will still be a struggle to find good staff. Managing your cashflow will be # 1 like it has been for ages. None of these are good excuses for having an average (or worse) 2013… The great thing about 2013 is that it is like a blank piece of canvas. You literally can achieve whatever you set your mind to (in a reasonable non-dreamy manner). This is whether you own your own business, run a business, manage people or have a job where you just manage your own performance. Lets call it the unthinkable goal for 2013. What is your unthinkable goal? So what “one thing” could you achieve in 12 months time that would blow your mind in terms of you achieving it? For me personally it would be launching a software company as an “adjunct” to my current coaching and consulting business. Will I deliver it, ummm who knows but that is my super goal for 2013 along with a couple of other “unpublished goals”? Feel free to hold me accountable in getting this software company off the ground.
All you need to do is go and have a coffee with yourself (literally 30 minutes) and jot down a few ideas on what would make you proud on December 31, 2013 looking back. That is obviously the easy part… The missing link will be you holding yourself accountable to achieve that goal. Two best ways to achieve this “accountability” will be telling others of it (so when you put something out there, you really need to achieve, otherwise you look like a bit of a “plonker” if you do not even give it a go) and the other way (and better way) is to review your progress on your goal regularly. Some people might do this daily, for me that is a bit extreme but I reckon if you “check in” against that unthinkable goal at least once a week, you will have a lot higher chance of succeeding in kicking the goal into touch and achieving it. So the big question will be “what in the last week have I done to move closer to achieving my BIG goal” and “what will I do over the next week to get closer to hitting that BIG goal”? Make sure you get others to help you achieve your over-riding 2013 goal too, as in whether it is a personal goal, an individual work goal or a business goal, by including others to try and help you get there, it will make a big difference in your chance of hitting it (you cannot do all things alone, and that is why “teams” were invented around the time of Adam and Eve).
Feel free to let me know your unthinkable goal for 2013 and I will try my best to help hold you accountable to hit it and do my bit. You need to do your bit for me too! Here is to a great, successful 2013 for us all. It is going to be “oh what a year”!
Cheers all… Contact Zac for business coaching…
I want to open a software business with me old mate Betty boo
Can u help?
😉
I think we could work something out Sutts. Lets talk! I will be Betty Boo 🙂
Zac definitely knows his stuff
Very inspiring and thankful you posted this Zac. Looking forward to 2013 and the 31st of December to look back at what more I have achieved. Thanks
That idea of reflection on a weekly basis and accountability is great. I def need to get in the help of others as well so that is a big goal in itself – let alone the others. Thanks.
Good luck Anne-Marie. I look forward to seeing how you go this year!!
This is good timing for me Zac. After 20 years – yes 20 years – in the same job, I (and 11 others) have been made redundant. Time for me to make new goals and follow up on some of my ‘ideas’.
20 years, that’s crazy Karen! Well go you with the ideas and kick some of them and thanks AM and JW!
I know. Different positions over the 20 years, but with the same centre. I am about to write my list, and have a wine as I do it. Bit late for the coffee. Mind you, it’s not like I have a job to go to in the morning!!!!
Good luck Karen (and ya make your own luck). Coffee time now!
Another great post Zac!
Great post Zac – we all have to work hard to achieve the results that we want both personally and professionally… All the best for 2013!!