I love January! Not only because I get to escape the harsh winters in Florida, but also because it's a perfect opportunity to start fresh with new goals. Last year, I was inspired by a good friend who chose two words as her focus for the year (in her case, she chose Clarity and Abundance). Her simple approach is a natural complement to the traditional process of goal setting (both professional and personal) and has helped me to reflect on where I am today and where I want to go in the future.
Last year, I chose the words Family and Gratitude. Though both are still very important to me and part of my core, I decided to go in a different direction for 2020. This year, I'm focusing on Joy and Health. For me, pursuing joy means spending more time with people who bring me joy, while also focusing on activities that bring both joy and good health for my mind, body, and spirit. I feel my best when I'm in my zone of eating healthy, getting consistent exercise, and sleeping well. The holidays and recent personal stress distracted me from my normal routines of self-care, so I'm seizing the moment to recommit.
In the short time since I committed to pursuing Joy and Health in 2020, I've used those words as screens when I plan my days and make decisions. I can already see the positive effects on my choices. My wish and challenge to all of you is to come up with a word or two that can serve as your intention for 2020. Let your word(s) guide your actions and energies to bring you greater happiness and success this year.
Here are a few questions to prompt your thinking:
What do you want more of in your life?
What challenges are you trying to overcome?
What virtues or traits do you want to strengthen?
If we haven't talked recently, I would love the opportunity to catch up with you and hear the words you've chosen to screen your 2020 decisions. I'll continue to be active on LinkedIn, and have also created a Facebook page to keep all of my professional activities in one place. Please like, follow, and stay in touch!
Talent Champions podcast episodes to support your goals
We've covered many topics on the Talent Champions podcast related to goal setting, leadership skills, and personal improvement. Here are some of my favorite episodes related to those topics that I'll be re-listening to this month.
Be More Productive with Kory Kogon
Kory packed so much into this interview that I'm still working on implementing in my own life! She covered everything from managing priorities and technology to helpful tips and tactics to help you squeeze valuable time into your day. I guarantee you'll learn something useful.
How to Build the Career of Your Dreams with Janice Ellig
This was our first episode of 2020, and I walked away from my conversation with Janice feeling so inspired to pursue my goals. You'll gain a great deal of wisdom from Janice, especially if you're at a transition point in your career.
Using Feedback for Good with Jim Moore
Authentic and useful feedback doesn't have to be scary for givers or receivers—if you have a structure in place for making it a productive process. Seeking feedback from trusted advisors on the areas you need to improve can also be an important part of setting your goals and intentions for the year.
Everyday Approaches to Reducing Stress and Anxiety with Peggy Sealfon
I asked Peggy if it's even possible to be productive, successful, AND healthy in today's business world. As someone who's been in the trenches on this topic for years (both in grappling with her personal stresses and now helping clients do the same), Peggy has a lot of helpful information that doesn't require you to add yet another task to your to-do list.
The next Talent Champions episode will be all about building confidence—another area we can all continue to improve. If you aren't already receiving emails when Talent Champions episodes are released, click here to join our mailing list. Talent Champions is a free podcast, sponsored by FranklinCovey, and available on all major podcast distribution platforms.