This is the first post in a continuing series designed to help you create a great 2008 - using questions to reflect on last year, and project into the future. All of the questions and additional information can be found in this tool, available for you to download now.

Here then is the first of the 13 projection questions . . .

What excites me about the New Year?

The list of things that excite me about 2008 is a long one. Here are some key ones:

- I am excited by the opportunity to travel overseas with my family.
- I am excited about writing my next book.
- I am excited to learn more about social networks, and build connections with more people.
- I am excited to complete some major projects with my wife.
- I am excited to impact the lives of many people and organizations through our consulting training and speaking services.
- I am excited to help people on their paths towards becoming remarkable leaders.
- I am excited about watching my kids grow up.

Thinking about the things that excite us is a great place to start in goal and resolution setting. While we'll talk more about that tomorrow, I encourage you to start getting excited, by thinking about what excites you!

Also posted in Leadership, Learning and Training.

Labels: goals, questions, resolutions

Digg it | del.icio.us | Add to Technorati

At this time of the year, either just before or just after the New Year begins, many people set resolutions for the coming year. One of the reasons that many people don't succeed with the resolutions they set is that they haven't put those resolutions in context - they haven't reflected on the past to set goals that will have a better chance of success.

This is why I created the 26 Questions to Make Your 2008 Great tool.



Over the last couple of weeks, I have been answering the first thirteen reflection questions. Here is the list, and the links to those posts.

1. What did I learn this year?
2. What did I accomplish this year?
3. Which accomplishments am I proudest of?
4. Knowing what I know now, what would I have done differently?
5. What will be my greatest lasting memories of this year?
6. In what ways did I contribute?
7. What were my biggest challenges or obstacles?
8. What obstacles did I overcome?
9. Who are the most interesting people I met?
10. How have they changed my life?
11. How am I different now than I was at the start of the year?
12. What am I most grateful for?
13. What else do I want to reflect on?

Reflection is of course only half the picture. The picture of Janus, the Roman God of beginnings and endings (and the root of the name of January) at the start of this post is on purpose. We must look back to learn and set context, then when we look forward in projection, we will have much greater success.

In this spirit, I will blog for the next thirteen days on the 13 projection questions in my free tool. I invite you to join me to read and answer the questions for yourself. I hope you will comment and if you blog, pick one or more of these questions to answer on your blog as well.

The point of all of this is to help all of us create a great 2008.

Thanks for joining me on this journey.

Also posted in Leadership, Learning and Training.

Labels: learning, questions, reflection, resolutions

Digg it | del.icio.us | Add to Technorati