johnmdemarco posted on January 01, 2010 05:35
In 2010 I have one holistic goal: To be a vehicle of peace, learning and compassion for everyone I encounter; whether family member, friend, neighbor, colleague or customer, both in person and virtually, or through the output of my writing, consulting, coaching and speaking.
Why this goal? It's part "lessons learned" from 2009, part leveraging how I'm naturally wired, part raising the bar when it comes to serving others well. It formed in my mind during my past couple weeks of "down time' and self-imposed break from social media interaction, and makes sense at this season of life.
In business (and, I believe, in life), goals are always the “what” you want and high-level strategies are always the “how in general” you plan to get what you want. To help me reach my holistic goal, then, I have identified seven high-level strategies (no more and no less!):
- Embrace each moment as an opportunity for conscious surrender to God and becoming fully present.
- Keep the "Four Agreements," defined so poetically in a book of the same title by Don Miguel Ruiz: Be impeccable with my word; don't take anything personally; don't make assumptions; and always do my best.
- Continue my daily routine of healthy eating, rigorous exercise and quality rest.
- Continue supporting my spouse's completion of her master’s degree.
- Write and read as much as possible each day in subjects and formats that intrigue me. (And, especially, polish the final drafts of a novel I finished in late 2009 and get it published!)
- Continue to serve critically-thinking persons and organizations.
- Continue to network and market for independent work, credentials and relationships.
Many of these strategies carry over from 2009 and have been updated. There's nothing magical about the stroke of midnight that separates Dec. 31 and Jan. 1; but people are naturally inspired by symbols and metaphors, and the fresh appearance of a sequence of numbers like 2010 can tap inner motivation and self-reflection. I'm excited about the notion of beginning this year with a very clear sense of what matters most to me and my family.