As a business coach, I work with clients on setting goals, creating strategies, and maximising their potential.
It’s just as important for me to apply these principles to my own life and business.
Each year, I take myself through a structured process to reflect on the past year and plan for the year ahead.
Here’s a look at how I approach this personally, combining business insights with personal reflection to finish the year strong and hit the ground running in the next.
Step 1: Reflect on the Year
Before planning for the future, I take time to dig into the successes and challenges of the past year. These are the questions I ask myself:
- What went well and why?
I list out my wins, achievements, and milestones. Whether it’s a business breakthrough, a new client win, or a personal accomplishment, I explore what made it possible and how I can build on it. - Where were the misses and why?
It’s not always comfortable, but I assess where I fell short. Were my goals realistic? Did I focus my energy in the right places? - What or who created energy?
I reflect on the people, activities, or habits that energised me this year. I actively plan to prioritise these in the year ahead. - What drained energy or created stress?
Identifying what didn’t serve me – whether it’s an unhelpful routine, certain commitments or people or even my own habits – is key to making changes for next year. - What were my key learnings?
Growth comes from reflection. I always ask: What lessons has this year taught me? How have I grown personally and professionally?
Step 2: Look Ahead to 2025
This is where I shift my focus forward and start creating a vision for the year to come. These are the steps I follow:
- Refresh my long-term vision.
I revisit my 3, 5, and even 10-year goals. Where do I want to be in the long run, and what needs to shift in my short-term plans to align with this? - Picture a great year ahead.
I visualise what a successful 2025 looks like. What do I want to achieve? How do I want to feel? What does balance look like for me next year? - Set goals and priorities.
Using the ‘Be-Do-Have’ framework, I outline:- Be: Who do I want to become as a coach, a leader, and a person?
- Do: What actions will I take to make that happen?
- Have: What results or outcomes am I working toward?
- Identify key themes for the year.
These are the main areas I’ll focus on – whether it’s refining my coaching approach, expanding my network, or prioritising my personal wellbeing.
Step 3: Create the Plan
Dreams need structure to become reality, so I always translate my vision into a tangible plan. Here’s how I approach it:
- Map out my year.
I plot key events, milestones, and deadlines on an annual calendar. This gives me a bird’s-eye view of the year ahead. - Set quarterly goals and initiatives.
Breaking the year into quarters helps me stay focused. Each quarter has specific priorities to ensure steady progress. - Build a budget.
For my business, I plan where to invest resources to maximise growth and maintain stability. - Create a personal development plan.
I think about my ‘wheel of life’ – health, wealth, relationships, skills, fun, and more. Where do I need to grow or invest more time? - Commit to a default diary.
My default diary is my weekly roadmap. It’s how I allocate time for coaching, business growth, investments, personal priorities, and, crucially, time to recharge and downtime.
Why This Matters
This isn’t just a one-off exercise for me – it’s the foundation of how I stay focused, aligned, and energised. To keep my ‘mojo’ up.
By taking the time to reflect, dream, and plan, I’m not only clearer on where I’m going, but I also enjoy the process of getting there.
If you’re ready to finish 2024 with intention and set yourself up for success in 2025, why not give this process a try?
And if you’d like a little guidance, I’d love to help.
I’m offering a free 45-minute coaching session where we can explore your goals, clarify your vision, and build a plan to make 2025 your best year yet.
CLICK HERE to book your session. Let’s get started!
