How (and why) to review an Annus Horribilis
Whether 2020 saw your business booming or if you heard nothing but tumbleweed, it's fair to say it was uncertain, changeable and hard to predict. In this blog, I’ll share why you should reflect on this year (even if you don't feel like it), how to extract some good from it and how to use it to prepare for an equally uncertain 2021
Why reflect on a terrible year?
When we go through bad experiences we usually want to move on and forget that they ever happened. That’s 100% understandable. But even in the worst of times, we achieve a great deal. Because it felt hard at the time we can forget to give ourselves credit. However, there are some good reasons to reflect on even the toughest of years:
We can always learn from the rubbish bits. Even if it’s just how not to do something next time.
It is important to know how to repeat our successes.
We have grown and developed through it all. We can use that learning.
Of course, it doesn’t help to dwell too much on difficult times. The way to manage it is to only reflect enough to help you move forward. There are no concrete figures for how to get this in proportion but a good estimate I have seen is 20/80. 20% of your time focusing on what could have been better and 80% on the good stuff.
Reflection exercise
Each year I do a little workshop for myself where I reflect on the previous year. Below are the questions I asked myself this year. You can listen to me and Katy Carlisle go through this exercise on our podcast (see right)
What were your disappointments? It’s OK to feel disappointment. When we can acknowledge our disappointments they lose their ‘sting’
What are you proud of? You just survived the weirdest year in a generation. You obviously did some things right that allowed you to do that. Give yourself credit for this. Not everyone would have managed the circumstances as well as you.
What were you grateful for in 2020? This falls into a few categories:
Things
People
Skills
Problems
What lessons will you take into 2021?
Mistakes you’ve learnt from?
Successes you want to repeat?
Things you have learnt about yourself?
Which relationships really showed up for you this year?
Which were the best? Why?
How can they help you in 2021?
What was your greatest strength/asset in 2020 that you want to take in 2021? We all have qualities that allow us to shine. What are yours?
Resilience? Optimism? An ability to find the humour in any situation? Perhaps you are good at bringing people together? Maybe you’re good at just knowing when to ask for help. Acknowledge your strengths.
What really matters in life for you? Many of us have used the last year to really focus on what is important. What are the important things for you? Make these priorities for the year ahead.
The fun stuff……….?
Best laugh of the year?
Your happy song?
Your best meal of 2020?
Best Zoom?
An unexpected (possibly useless) skill that you developed? Banana bread anyone?
What next?
By now you should have an idea of your key learnings, your greatest strengths, the success formula for the things that went well and the relationships that helped you along the way. Hopefully, you have also gained some perspective and you have an idea of your priorities for the year ahead. The final question is:
How will you use all of this to create a happy and healthy 2021?
