This time of year seems to invite us, as individuals and as business owners, to take stock.

What got done last year?  What didn’t get done?  What do we want to do in the upcoming year?

Traditional planning invites us to set “stretch” goals – to challenge our ideas of what’s possible for us.  And while I appreciate the intention – challenging ourselves to stretch and grow is a good thing – when we set a specific, hard-edged goal around something as tender and vulnerable as growth … let’s just say it tends to end badly.

In fact, most annual assessments and most planning are done in ways that end up creating feelings of frustration and failure.  Goals set with enthusiasm last year may not have been reached.  Dreams and plans for achievement were derailed.  And we’re left wondering what went wrong, feeling like we screwed up.

I’m not suggesting that we should just float along from moment to moment without any structure.  But I do think that there are less self-destructive, more productive ways to first evaluate what’s happened, and then consider what we want to achieve going forward.

In this article, I describe new ways to look at what unfolded in your business – and in your life, if you so choose – over the last year.  In the next article, I’ll talk about how you can foster your creativity and growth over the upcoming year without setting yourself up for struggle and frustration.

Ready?  Let’s take a look at this past year!

What actually happened?

Whether or not you went through a formal planning process at the beginning of the year, you undoubtedly had some expectations and ideas about what you wanted to accomplish.

But as I mentioned, evaluating your year against those expectations isn’t particularly effective.

Instead of looking at what you expected to happen, look at what actually happened.  Don’t compare it to those expectations.  Don’t judge it in any way.  Just get an accurate, honest understanding of what really happened.

What worked well?

It’s easy to focus on the mistakes you’ve made and the things you didn’t get around to.  In fact, it seems to be a cultural imperative to spend time understanding those mistakes and missed goals, dissecting them into painful details so you’ll never make them again, and in the process to call yourself any number of nasty names out of frustration and self-anger.

Not very productive.  And certainly not very enjoyable.

It’s a lot more fun to repeat your successes.

Yet we seldom stop to look at what worked well.  In fact, we generally don’t give a second thought to the things that went well.  After all, it worked out right, it’s over, let’s move on and pay attention to what’s next.

So – stop!  As you look back at what actually happened, note the things that went well.  What are you proud of?  What made you feel joyful, happy, and good about yourself?

What can you learn from these successes of yours?  What can you bring forward and keep doing more of – so you can have more success?

What was surprising?

We’re taught not to brag, boast, or appear arrogant.  And so it can be startlingly difficult to notice, even privately, the things we did well, the ways in which we succeeded.

So take another look from another perspective.

What surprised you?  What was unexpected?

While it’s true that unexpected surprises can sometimes be the result of mistakes, you’ve undoubtedly already spent more than enough time reviewing those mistakes.

What was surprisingly good?  What was unexpectedly fun?

And what is there to learn from those good, fun experiences?  How can you bring this sense of fun and enjoyment into the new year, into your ongoing work and the new projects you have in mind?

Relax

None of this should feel like a struggle or cause any feelings of tension or strain. 

This isn’t about forcing anything.  It’s not even about planning anything for the future.  (That comes in the next article!) 

It’s about taking stock with appreciation instead of with criticism.  It’s about recognizing what you’ve accomplished not just for the sake of recognition (though that’s important too), but so that you can learn from it:  learn more about what you’re good at, learn more about what comes naturally for you, learn more about what’s fun and enjoyable, and learn more about what others appreciate in your work.

Don’t stop learning from your mistakes.  And never forget to learn from your successes.

“Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it.”  Maya Angelou (1928-), American author and poet with over 30 honorary degrees and nominations for both the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize