Happy New Year!
I remember being worried about Y2k in 1999 and now we are kicking off 2017! All the computers didn't crash. The world didn't end. Things didn't stop working and we are moving forward more rapidly than in any other time in history.
It's remarkable to see how many timelines across social media platforms spoke about difficulties in 2016. Many in fact said they were literally waiting on 2017 to get here. Some even went as far as posting pictures of either themselves or people watching the clock. Indeed 2016 held many highs and lows for each of us!
If you were among the many who have been anxiously awaiting the new year, how do you plan to make 2017 different? Or, perhaps 2016 was great and 2017 will be even better? But what steps have you put in place to make that happen? When the clock struck midnight, there was do over button or magic pill. It was just the start of another year. It has no influence or impact on any of the situations in your life from the previous day. In fact, if not careful, we can repeat the year we had before if we don't have a plan to act or react differently.
There all many schools of thought about how to start and have a successful year. Some say making new year's resolutions is the way to go. Others say creating a vision board works best. Or perhaps just pick one word for the year and that be your goal and focus. While the ritual of each process is great, the outcome will be no different than waiting on another year if there is no behavior change.
So what you should do in the new year?
I am not saying any of those methods will not work. However, what I do encourage in addition to whatever method you choose is to:
Focus on Your Consistency in the First 90 Days!
I know you may be thinking, "I hope to make my goals to the end of January." Ninety day is March and that's a long ways out! However as I was preparing for the new year, I was reminded of a book given to me when I moved into a new corporate role, called "The First 90 Days: Critical Success Strategies for New Leaders at All Levels." Then it hit me, if we need critical success strategies for the first 90 days of a new role, why not a new year?
As you think about the next 90 days, think on the following:
- What can you change about your routine and habits?
- What old thoughts can you replace with new ones?
- What ONE thing can you commit to consistently doing?
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Ready to live your most courageous life in the new year? Stay tuned for the launch of Courage Classes™ to help you grow in your career and business in 2017. In the meantime, join the Courageous Tribe for inspiration and community.
Melissa
About the Author
Melissa J. Nixon is a captivating keynote speaker, leadership trainer, business growth coach, and author. She specializes in growing and developing leaders to maximize their career and business results. Melissa is also a contributing writer for the Huffington Post, LifeHack, Addicted 2 Success, and the Network of Executive Women. Invite Melissa to speak or train at your organization email hello@courageouslifeacademy.com or visit www.courageouslifeacademy.com.