Why you should "start" before you start
So you’ve made it through Thanksgiving and now you’re just counting down the days until the winter holiday. You’re finishing your shopping, planning for the holidays… and 2021 objectives just seem so far away. 2021? That’s NEXT year! But why should you “start” your 2021 intentions in 2020? (If you don’t have your 2021 intentions set, I’m offering complimentary goal setting sessions between now and the end of the year).
Why Start before the Start
Confirm you’ve got the right goal
Find your stumbling blocks
Build your Confidence
Confirm you’re working on the Right Goal
Imagine you are trying to grow your client base and think your issue is sales. Where in Sales is the challenge? Is it in attraction, engagement, or conversion? Take the month of December and try booking and hosting some Sales calls and tracking your metrics. Is the goal you should focus on getting leads, encouraging those leads to book calls, or final conversion in your sales call? That will help know where you come out of the gates strong in January.
Find your Stumbling Blocks
This here’s the biggie. There’s the saying “There is no failure, only feedback” but boy wouldn’t it feel good to get some initial missteps out of the way before January starts?
Trying to exercise more? Try picking out your program and going through the motions for a few days with no/low weight. Are your shoes still good? Do you have the right sports bra for the activity? What equipment do you need?
Trying to improve your eating? Take a crack at creating a meal plan and recipes. Do you know where all of the food is at the grocery store? How long will it take you to cook meals, and can you prep over the weekend?
Trying to read more? Order the books you want to read in January. Read a chapter of each to make sure they’ll hold your attention for a reading habit.
Kicking off a new Morning Routine? Take December to order your non-iPhone alarm clock and find a new place for your phone to charge at night.
Launching initiatives at work? Socialize your initiative and your roadmap with those involved by the end of the year. Do you have the committed resources? Can you find a reliable time for weekly/monthly check ins?
Build your Confidence
Habits are rooted in identity, and changing habits and process is as much of a function of adopting a new identity as is actually performing the habit. The best way to get some reinforcement of the new habit is to get some wins, to prove to your ego that you’re able to do this new task. That way you roll into January not, “I need to make this change,” but, “I AM changing. I am a healthy eater/morning routine/exercise/winning the sales game”. Help your new identity gain some reps, some “time under tension” prior to when you are officially kicking off the year.
