Your Spring Review

It’s the end of the first quarter of the year and this is a great time to review and reflect on the last three months and plan for the rest of the year. It is standard practice in most organisations to break the year down into smaller discrete chunks and then to set targets for each of these chunks and for the year as a whole. Well, the same should apply to you and I.

For many years now, like many of you, I have set goals at the start of the year for the forthcoming twelve months. I have then broken this goal down into sub-goals and actions for each quarter of the year and this has then been my focus. Breaking my goal down into smaller goals is important as it helps me prioritise and focus.

Quarterly Review

The important bit however is that at the end of each quarter March 31st, June 30th, Sept 30th and Dec 31st I set aside 2 hours and review how I did against my quarterly goals and ask myself these questions:

1. What did I achieve? How do I feel about it?
2. What didn’t I achieve and why?
3. What could I have done differently?
4. What have I learnt from the last three months?
5. Do I need to change anything for the next three months?

You see what I am doing is taking time out to review what I have accomplished and learning from it. The learning is the important bit as this is what will push me forward onto the next three months. I take the learnings and adjust my goals and targets accordingly. This is what all successful businesses do they set goals, make themselves accountable, review progress and make adjustments.

It’s not just businesses that do this. Think about professional sports people they follow the same process actions, review, adjust, action, review, adjust Without review and adjustment you can never move forward and get yourself into a position to achieve what you want to.

Whether you are on track to achieve your goals or if you’re struggling to stick to your New Years resolution make time this week to make changes and follow the 5 point plan.

1. Free up two hours this week

I’ve put this as an action as I want you to commit to this if you are really serious you will look in your calendar now and book in two hours – move appointments if you have to. You are the most important person in your life so make the time for yourself

2. List all the things you have accomplished since January 1st 2005

Spend 45 minutes identifying all the things you have accomplished in the last 90 days. However big or small accomplishments are accomplishments so write them down. If you had a New Years resolution how have you done?

3. Identify your learnings

Now what you have you learned about yourself, your environment, and your goals? Spend an hour really thinking hard about what has worked well, what hasn’t worked so well, what has made you proud and happy, what has frustrated you, what have you discovered about yourself, what do you want to changeReally analyse what has happened in the last three months and try to understand what you can do differently from April to July

4. Set goals and actions for the next three months

OK nearly there. Now what are your goals for the next three months and what actions will you take? Think about what you have learnt about yourself and the last three months and set yourself some challenging but realistic goals and actions. Make a plan for the next three months.A tip from me have three