Today is a great day to catch your breath – and your best thinking!

Forget New Year’s Resolutions – you don’t need to wait for a specific date to decide to take on a new project; and if the date on the calendar is the only reason to kick off that project, you’ll not see it through, anyway.

Instead … review the last 12 months of your best thinking by asking: What have been my most useful and inspiring insights of 2022?

Here are a few of my own favourites. Grab any that you yourself like; and take a few moments to add your own …

What am I making part of my future that should just be part of my day?

Notice how much we push off into a future that never comes, when we could just do that great idea today.

I can learn ANYTHING inside 60-minutes.

A working knowledge in any area is entirely accessible to everyone. That time needs to be uninterrupted and one pointed. The learning approach needs to be highly strategic. Any and all internal resistance needs to be released. Use this to get to grips with any area you’ve previously put out of reach.

What have I put on my impossible list?

So many things are so quickly relegated to a list of “but that’s impossible”. Grab pen and paper and list what you’ve somewhere decided is impossible. Is it true?

The most important skill is decision-making.

If you’re decision-making is 10% better than it was or 10% better than the next guy, you’ll be valued at 100x what you were or what they are.

Specialised knowledge and experience has never been more valuable.

Today, anyone can find out near-anything in next to no time. This doesn’t diminish the value of specialised knowledge but raises it. Become masterfully knowledgeable and experienced in your field or craft.

What business am I really in?

This is a great question to ask oneself. Dig beneath the job title, the role and what others would say. What’s the essence of what you do? Now … focus on more of that.

The story I’m making-up in my head about this is …

This is a great sentence stem to play with, anytime you find yourself at loggerheads about something important with someone important.

What’s my manifesto?

The word manifesto can have negative connotations. But get back to basics: a published declaration of intentions and commitments. What are you all about, at the moment?

Iterate on the market, not the product.

Where your product could be … a product, your service, or you. You’ve got a great product. When it doesn’t land, iterate on the market. The product is great – it’s just pointed at the wrong market.

Thematic take-aways are the key to powerful and sustained learning.

Notice the THEMES among your favourite take-aways from all your learning, this year. Be a systems thinker.

I can have anything I want – so long as I’m willing to pay for it!

Check your declared goals. You can absolutely achieve them – IF you’re willing to pay the requisite price. Are you?

I’m very-often better off re-reading a favourite book, than starting a new one.

This is super-useful, especially for those of us obsessed with knowledge. Don’t let your quest for the new cause you to overlook the epic books you’ve already read. You’re someone different now – you’ll get something new (and equally epic) from that classic you’ve previously read.

Meta skills over technical skills.

A command of the technical skill of a given domain is key. But to elevate to the upper echelons, work on your meta skills. That will amplify your technical skill to greatest effect.

Take a look at your level of professionalism.

Where have you become a little amateurish? This thought is on my favourites list because (a) it leads to impactful changes, and (b) it’s not a question we ever seem to ask ourselves. Experiment dropping any amateurism from your day – see what happens.

That’s not the business I’m in.

Take a little time … from time to time … to remind yourself of the business you’re NOT in. Use this to notice what’s crept on to your responsibilities list and your repeat calendar appointments that really belong to someone else.

What are my five most important habits?

A habit that makes me fitter. A habit that makes me smarter. A habit that makes me more connected. A habit that keep me creative. A habit that helps me build more (good) habits.

Charisma is the ability to project power and love, simultaneously.

Hmm. I’d never heard it put like that, before. Useful!

Am I … Creating? Connecting? Having fun? Happy? At peace?

These are the most important questions I’ve asked myself. And now I do it on a regular basis. Because if I’m creating something, connecting with people, having fun, feeling happy … then I’m at peace.

Time management comes after energy management.

Too often, we’re working on our time management practices. Drop that … begin with energy management. What brings you energy? What drains you of energy? Where do you want to spend your energy? And with the insights from those three questions, now you can look at how best to manage your time.

The next conversation holds the key to all the success I want.

Stop looking elsewhere and beyond for the next step on your path to success. With time, attention and creativity, the next step is the very next conversation already on your calendar!

The answer is the work. The answer is always the work.

If you’re struggling with procrastination, getting motivated, knowing the next step, unravelling a dilemma, solving a thorny problem … the answer is always simply … the work! Drop the distracted over-thinking. Dive into the work.

Take care of today and the year will take care of itself.

It’s great to set targets for the year … but don’t ever forget to work at the level of the day. That’s where everything good takes place.

Forget Resolutions.

If you want to achieve something: decide, get strategic, create a plan and do it.

Be a good human.

This one I learnt from my youngest son. It’s been his central operating principle for the last few months. He said I could borrow it.

Wishing you a thoughtfully inspired 2023! 🙏

Thanks for reading!

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