Fast starts start now
Last week the stars aligned for a change of scene, a moment to rise above the work, move away from distractions and the opportunity to look back to look forward. It has been an incredible six months and I’ll share more on the trends for 2022 in the coming weeks. But today, my question to you is this:
What can you do today to make next year even better?
It’s a big and deliberately open question, but it is the one I have been challenging myself with before following on with the second:
What is the one singular thing that will impact everything?
The danger with the first question is that you can go list crazy, and so the second one deliberately asks you to critically evaluate activity versus impact. Activity keeps us in motion, but action with an impact creates motivation.
Since becoming familiar with the race that stops a nation, I have come to learn that 3pm on the first Tuesday of November isn’t just the start of the Melbourne Cup (or another RBA interest rate update). It is, in fact, the end of the year.
Of course, not in calendar terms – I am referring to productivity and results. By this point, you can clearly see what kind of a year you have had, and forecast the final few weeks before Australia breaks for summer, set only to return in full force by Australia Day. You can feel the intensity is still there, but the focus is definitely narrowing to the imaginary finish line of that first day of leave. In all the companies I have worked in with a myriad of different financial year ends, the fact remains true that as we approach a change of calendar year our focus shifts to that magic date.
My view is that fast starts should be well out the blocks by now, and that is why for me this week is officially the start of 2023 – and I’m grateful to have found this window to do for myself the work I do with others.
I have plenty more work to do before my own leave kicks in, but my bigger picture focus is firmly on next year. I want to take control of how it shapes up, rather than play catch-up as it organically evolves.
If you want a fast start to 2023, the time is now.
Every year, as the New Year's resolutions drift out of sight, I get a call or two that goes along the lines of “can we get a planning session with you ASAP, we want to get a fast start to the year and need your help...”. The unfortunate truth is that they’re already running a quarter behind. Planning in January has already chopped two months off your available year, reducing the possibility of a fast start to a more frantic run rate as you attempt to catch up with those who hit the year running!
What can you do today to make next year even better?
What is the one singular thing that will impact everything?
If you need help with those two questions, give me a call. I have a few more to really get you focused on sprinting out the blocks early, and making 2023 better than ever.