5 Tips for The Best Year Ever

I’m a growth consultant. I’m wired to see opportunity. When you’re in the day-to-day grind, it can become hard to see all of the opportunity that exists. The busier we are, the less productive we become, and work becomes… work. 

The challenges of COVID-19 have made it especially hard to step out of a reactionary state and into an opportunistic state. However, it’s possible to interrupt the grind, make progress and have fun in 2021. 

Set yourself up for success with these five tips:

Tip #1: Take time to dream. We all need something to look forward to. Before you can start to make progress, it’s important to get clear on what progress you want to make.

Imagine it’s a year from now – February 2022. Write down what happened in 2021 to consider it a great year. Whatever your first version is…go back and try again and 10x your dream year. Don’t limit yourself to what seems possible today- go big and tap into your highest desires, especially the ones that scare you.

Once you have your ideal, 10x 2021 vision, how can you make progress towards those goals?

Tip #2: Use momentum goals. Momentum goals are small, achievable goals that help to build the feeling of momentum, progress, and possibility. Small wins drive engagement, motivation, and progress. To learn more about how small wins lead to big results, read The Downside of Thinking Big, Think Small to Grow.

Request a Momentum Goal Worksheet to develop your momentum goal.

By just starting to take action towards your desires you are setting yourself up for success.   

Tip #3: Seek out people that support and push you. If you believe you’ve got it figured out or don’t have time to network and invest in relationships, you are wrong. The easiest way to up your game and take the necessary actions towards your goals (even those scary ones!) is to surround yourself with people you admire, who have skills, strengths, and perspectives different than yours – people you can grow from. 

You can grow by working hard, but the growth is faster and often happens in ways you can’t predict when you start to build and leverage relationships. Time spent building meaningful relationships is just as important as working hard and often has a greater ripple effect.

Ask yourself, who will help you develop skills, overcome weaknesses and achieve your goals this year? Share your struggles and aspirations, and ask for help. 

Schedule a monthly, bi-monthly, or quarterly check-in with them to keep you focused and accountable.  

WIN was founded to provide women with the support and resources to grow and succeed professionally. Our events are intended to provide you with the skills, knowledge and connections needed to be the best version of yourself. If you aren’t already signed up, register for our upcoming event on February 25^th on Higher-Quality Communications. Consultant Sally Stalcup will provide best practices to help you package your plan and personal presence.

Tip #4: Double down on your values and strengths. When you play to your strengths and live your values, work becomes play. You get to be proud for simply being yourself and doing what you’re great at. Every time I’ve worked with a client and helped them articulate what differentiates them, they light up. They feel heard and seen and inspired to be able to simply be themselves. Your differentiation lives at the intersection of your values, strengths, and the solutions you can solve. 

Identifying your strengths and values can be hard to do in your head. Ask people who know you for feedback on what you’re great at. Seek examples of times you’ve felt proud, passionate, or hurt. Likely, those experiences were grounded in your values being lived out or threatened.  

Being authentically yourself always serves you well.

Acknowledging what you value and are great at also requires you identify those things you don’t value and are not your strengths. This information is just as important –  it helps you determine what to say no to, what to delegate and what to not waste your time on.    

Tip #5: Don’t forget to look back and account for all you have accomplished. Our memory is fleeting. Negative memories are stickier than positive ones, and we tend to forget or lose track of the small wins. 

A daily gratitude practice can have a powerful effect on attitude. I also like to check-in monthly and list everything I’ve received and accomplished in the previous month. When I read through these lists, I always feel proud and inspired.

As you start 2021, don’t look forward without spending time looking backward by listing your accomplishments from the previous year. When I completed this exercise, I was shocked at what I achieved and received. Seeing this list got excited about what was possible.  

2021 is your year. You are always in control of your mindset, actions, and goals. 

Shauna Mace is a growth consultant, wired to see opportunities and the path to positive outcomes. She partners with financial advisors, asset managers, and business owners in financial services, ready to unlock potential through sales and marketing. She helps them take inspired actions that produce concrete results. Growth strategist, opportunity hunter, and accountability partner – those are some of the names she’s been called over the past 15 years. Learn more at www.shaunamace.com or contact Shauna at shauna@shaunamace.com.