The year 2007 is drawing to a close, and as usual I find myself surprised at the speed at which time seems to fly by faster each year. Wasn't it just 2002 last week? My friends, we are getting older. And while aging certainly isn't all fun and games, one of the best benefits out of getting older is that thing called experience. But experience only benefits us when we take the time to reflect upon what has happened and what it means to us.
So as this holiday season moves into full swing, I encourage you to take the time to pause in your gift wrapping or carol singing to spend a little bit of time reflecting on 2007. What happened? What did you learn? What dreams did you fulfill or abandon? How are you different than you were a year ago? Take a moment to jot down a few notes and save them for future reference.
One of the follies of human perspective is that we so quickly forget where we used to be and fixate on what we have yet to accomplish. Tracking our past can give us a more objective sense of our progress, as well as provide additional opportunities for growth. Another way to look at this is: I put in a lot of effort getting through 2007, why shouldn't I get maximum learning out of it?
Here are some of the things that I learned (or relearned) in 2007.
1. When you love what you do, work really does feel like play.
2. Inevitably, the biggest successes seem to come shortly after I've gone through a rough patch. Staying productive and positive during times of stress and worry is one of the most powerful things I can do.
3. Sometimes the conventional wisdom is just plain wrong. Keep questioning.
4. The best way for insecurities to become problems is to pay attention to them. Stomp on them like they are rabies infected cockroaches!
5. You never know where the next project is coming from. Sometimes it is the tiniest of seeds that bear fruit.
6. When I take the time to exercise, eat well, and sleep adequately, I perform better. When I sacrifice any of these in the interest of "time" my work suffers.
7. I continue to talk too much and listen too little. More listening required!
8. Consulting is best when it is built on shared values. For this reason I should avoid working with Theory X managers - we simply won't see eye to eye.
9. Contracting always takes three times longer than I think it should. When one project is simmering on the back burner, go out and find others. Like the watched pot that never boils, a watched contract never gets signed.
10. Relax! If you continue to work hard, learn, and have fun, everything will be just fine.
As you probably noticed, a end-of-year debrief need not be particularly deep or wordy. And if you are anything like me, you'll probably notice some repeat "learnings" from year to year. Some lessons we need to take in regularly in order to live by them. That's OK too.
Did you have any year-end insights you'd like to share? If so, post a comment below.
You'll probably see just one or two more posts from me through New Years. After the holiday craziness has subsided in January things will be back to normal volume-wise. In the mean time, happy holidays.
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